Tax year 2026
W-4 calculator
Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to hold back. Change an entry below and watch what it does to your paycheck.
Estimated take-home pay · 2026
Biweekly pay · Single · California
$2,461.79 per paycheck
from $3,269.23 before taxes · 26 paychecks a year
Where each dollar goes
- Take-home pay75.3%$64,007
- Federal income tax11.6%$9,870
- Social Security and Medicare7.6%$6,503
- State taxes5.4%$4,621
Line by line
Per paycheckPer yearPay
Taxes
Federal income tax$379.62$9,870
2026 brackets after the $16,100 standard deduction, worked out for the year and spread over your paychecks. IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
Social Security$202.69$5,270
6.2% of wages up to $184,500. Traditional 401(k) contributions do not reduce it. SSA wage base · 2026
Medicare$47.40$1,233
1.45% of wages, with no cap. IRS Pub. 15 · 2026
California income tax$135.23$3,516
California taxes income at graduated rates from 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% on taxable income over $1 million, after the state standard deduction and exemption credits. State disability insurance (SDI) is a separate paycheck line. California · 2026
California SDI$42.50$1,105
California disability and paid family leave, withheld from the employee. The 2026 rate is 1.3% with no wage ceiling. CA EDD · 2026
Tap a line to see how it was worked out. Each paycheck is the year's figure divided by 26 and rounded to the cent.
Show the math
Federal income tax for the year
| Wages | $85,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | −$16,100.00 |
| Taxable income | $68,900.00 |
| Tax from the 2026 brackets | $9,870.00 |
| Federal income tax | $9,870.00 |
California income tax for the year
| Wages taxed by the state | $85,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | −$5,900.00 |
| Taxable income | $79,100.00 |
| Tax from the rate schedule | $3,673.86 |
| Exemption credits | −$158.00 |
| California income tax | $3,515.86 |
Sources for these figures
- IRS newsroom, tax year 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (PDF)
- Tax Foundation, 2026 federal income tax brackets
- IRS Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS, 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500
- SSA, Contribution and benefit base
- IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide
- IRS, Questions and answers for the Additional Medicare Tax
- California Franchise Tax Board, Tax News October 2026: 2026 Indexing
- California EDD, SDI contribution rates
What if
Estimate for tax year 2026. Your real paycheck depends on your W-4, your benefits and your employer's payroll system. This is education, not tax, payroll or financial advice.
What each step of the W-4 does
- Step 1, filing status. Sets the standard deduction and the width of the tax brackets used for withholding. In 2026 the standard deduction is $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly and $24,150 head of household.
- Step 2, two jobs or a working spouse. When the box is ticked, each job withholds as if it had half the standard deduction and brackets half as wide, so that two incomes are not each taxed as if they were the only one. In the calculator this is the “Two jobs” box.
- Step 3, dependents. A dollar amount for the year: $2,200 for each child under 17 and $500 for each other dependent. Enter the number of children and dependents in the calculator and the credit is applied.
- Step 4(a), other income. Income with no withholding, such as interest or a side job, so the tax on it is collected through your paycheck.
- Step 4(b), deductions. Deductions you expect beyond the standard deduction. For 2025 through 2028 this also covers the deductions for tips and overtime.
- Step 4(c), extra withholding. A flat amount taken from every paycheck.
When to fill in a new W-4
When you start a job, marry or divorce, have a child, take a second job, start earning tips or overtime, or get a large refund or tax bill. Your employer uses the newest form you give them. For a full check against your own tax situation, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator; this page shows how each entry moves a paycheck but does not fill in the form for you.
Questions
Should I claim 0 or 1?
That question belongs to the old form. Since 2020 the W-4 has no allowances. You give your filing status, tick a box if you have two jobs or a working spouse, and enter dollar amounts for dependents, other income, deductions and any extra withholding.
How do I get more money in each paycheck?
Make sure Step 3 includes the credit for each child, and enter expected deductions in Step 4(b), including the new deductions for tips and overtime if you qualify. Less tax is then withheld. If too little is withheld over the year you will owe the difference, and possibly a penalty, when you file.
How do I stop owing tax every April?
Tick the Step 2 box if you or your spouse have a second job, or put a flat extra amount per paycheck in Step 4(c). The calculator shows what either does to your take-home pay.
Does changing my W-4 change my state withholding?
Not always. Many states have their own withholding form. Check with your employer's payroll department.