Bonus Tax Calculator 2026
What's Withheld at 22% — and What You'll Really Owe
See how much of your bonus you'll take home after the 22% federal withholding, FICA and state tax, compare the aggregate method, and find out whether you'll get some back at tax time.
Read the full answer — method, rates and figures
Quick answer: In 2026 a bonus paid separately from your regular wages is usually withheld at a flat 22% federal rate (37% on supplemental pay above $1,000,000 in the year), plus 6.2% Social Security (up to the $184,500 wage base) and 1.45% Medicare, and state tax. On a $10,000 bonus with an $80,000 salary in a state with no income tax, $2,200 federal and $765 FICA are withheld, so $7,035 reaches your account.
Your employer may instead use the aggregate method — adding the bonus to a regular paycheck — which often withholds more ($2,822 here, paid biweekly). Withholding is not the final tax: the bonus is taxed at your ordinary rates when you file, and any difference comes back as a refund or is due.
IRS Publication 15 (2026), checked 25 September 2026.
How much of my bonus will I take home?
$10,000 bonus, $80,000 salary, no state income tax: $7,035 after 22% federal withholding and FICA.
Take-home (flat 22%)
$7,035
Federal withheld
$2,200
FICA
$765
Aggregate method
$2,822
Withheld: $2,200 federal, $620 Social Security, $145 Medicare — $7,035 take-home. The aggregate method would withhold $2,822 federal instead. The bonus actually adds $2,200 to your 2026 federal tax, so at filing you'd break even on it (flat method, assuming your regular withholding is right).
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Take-home (flat 22%)
$7,035
Federal withheld
$2,200
FICA
$765
Adds to 2026 federal tax
$2,200
Bonus after tax: $1,000 to $50,000 (2026)
What a bonus paid separately from your salary takes home after the flat 22% federal withholding and FICA, for a single filer on a $80,000 salary with no state income tax. The last column is what you get back (or owe) on that bonus when you file.
| Bonus | Federal | Take-home | At filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 | $704 | $0 |
| $2,000 | $440 | $1,407 | $0 |
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $3,518 | $0 |
| $10,000 | $2,200 | $7,035 | $0 |
| $15,000 | $3,300 | $10,553 | $0 |
| $20,000 | $4,400 | $14,070 | $0 |
| $25,000 | $5,500 | $17,588 | $0 |
| $50,000 | $11,000 | $35,175 | −$164 |
At this salary the bonus is taxed in the 22% bracket, so the flat withholding matches the tax owed until a large bonus pushes part of it into 24% (from the $50,000 row). "At filing": + = refund, − = extra owed. Take-home also deducts FICA: Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), $765 on a $10,000 bonus.
$10,000 bonus after tax by state
Same $80,000 single filer. The state column is the extra state income tax the bonus adds for the year; what your employer withholds can differ, because many states set their own supplemental withholding rate.
| State | State tax | Take-home | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $930 | $6,105 | 2025 |
| New York | $547 | $6,488 | 2026 |
| New Jersey | $637 | $6,398 | 2026 |
| Connecticut | $600 | $6,435 | 2025 |
| Virginia | $575 | $6,460 | 2026 |
| Illinois | $495 | $6,540 | 2026 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $6,535 | 2026 |
| Georgia | $499 | $6,536 | 2026 |
| Michigan | $425 | $6,610 | 2026 |
| North Carolina | $399 | $6,636 | 2026 |
| Arizona | $250 | $6,785 | 2025 |
| Pennsylvania | $307 | $6,728 | 2026 |
| Ohio | $282 | $6,753 | 2025 |
| Texas | none | $7,035 | — |
| Florida | none | $7,035 | — |
| Washington | none | $7,035 | — |
State tax from each state's published single-filer schedule (the "Schedule" column is its tax year; 2025 where the 2026 schedule is not yet published), local taxes excluded. Pick your state in the calculator above for your own salary.
See your regular take-home in the paycheck calculator, or in the Texas and Florida versions with no state income tax.
Last reviewed 2 November 2026 by the Richify AI agent team.
Reviewed by Felix, Richify's AI CFO — an AI author, presented as one.
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Flat method: 22% of the bonus (37% on supplemental pay above $1,000,000 this year). Aggregate method: the 2026 Publication 15-T withholding on one paycheck plus the bonus, minus the withholding on the paycheck alone, for a Form W-4 with no adjustments. Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base; Additional Medicare starts at $200,000. Tax you actually owe = the extra 2026 federal tax the bonus adds to your salary after the standard deduction. State figure = the extra annual state tax — many states withhold at their own supplemental rate. Rules from IRS Publication 15 (2026), checked 25 September 2026.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your bonus and annual salary.
- Choose your filing status, pay frequency and state.
- Add any bonuses already paid this year (for the $1 million rule).
- Compare the flat 22% and aggregate withholding, the take-home, and the tax you'll actually owe.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax is taken out of a bonus?
Federal income tax is usually withheld at a flat 22% if the bonus is paid or identified separately and your employer withholds from your regular pay. On top of that come 6.2% Social Security (until your wages reach $184,500), 1.45% Medicare (plus 0.9% once your wages pass $200,000), and any state and local tax.
Why was my bonus taxed so much?
Probably the aggregate method: your employer added the bonus to a regular paycheck and withheld as if you earned that much every pay period, which pushes the annualized figure into a higher bracket. It's only withholding — at tax time the bonus is simply added to your income, and the excess comes back as a refund.
Are bonuses taxed at a higher rate?
No. Bonuses are ordinary income, taxed at the same rates as your salary when you file. The 22% is only a withholding rate.
If your top bracket is 12%, you'll likely get some back; if it's 24% or more, you may owe a little more.
What is the 37% bonus rule?
Once an employee's supplemental wages from one employer (and businesses under common control) exceed $1,000,000 in a calendar year, the excess must be withheld at 37%, regardless of Form W-4.
Can I reduce the tax on my bonus?
You can ask to put part of it into your 401(k) (pre-tax contributions lower income tax, though not FICA), up to the annual limit, if your plan allows deferrals from bonuses. The tax owed is the same whichever withholding method is used; only the timing differs.
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Further Reading
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