Bonus Tax Calculator
Estimate the taxes withheld from a bonus and your take-home amount, using the 2026 IRS flat 22% supplemental rate, Social Security, Medicare and optional state tax.
Results
| Item | Value |
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Take-home for other bonus amounts
| Bonus | Withheld | Take-home |
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Quick Answer
Most bonuses have federal income tax withheld at a flat 22%, plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. On a $5,000 bonus that is $1,100 + $310 + $72.50, so you take home about $3,517.50 before any state tax.
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Table of Contents
- Bonus Tax Calculator
- Quick Answer
- Related Calculators
- How This Bonus Tax Calculator Works
- How to Use the Bonus Tax Calculator
- Core Formulas
- Key Terms
- Worked Example
- Real-Life Examples
- Flat-Rate vs Aggregate Method
- Take-Home on Common Bonuses
- What Changes Your Bonus Tax
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References & Sources
How This Bonus Tax Calculator Works
Enter the bonus, the wages you have already been paid this year, and any earlier bonuses. Add your state’s withholding rate and any 401(k) share if they apply. The calculator applies the IRS flat 22% rate for supplemental wages (37% on the part of supplemental pay over $1 million in the year), Social Security up to the 2026 wage base, Medicare and the Additional Medicare Tax, and shows your take-home bonus.
Quick explanation: bonuses are often withheld at a flat rate, not your usual paycheck rate.
- Federal: 22% flat, or 37% over $1 million.
- FICA: 6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare.
- Final tax: settled on your tax return, so you may get some back or owe more.
How to Use the Bonus Tax Calculator
- Enter your bonus amount.
- Enter wages and bonuses already paid this year.
- Enter your state withholding rate, if any.
- Enter a 401(k) share, if you defer part of the bonus.
- Press Calculate and read your take-home bonus.
Core Formulas
- Federal withholding: 22% × bonus (37% on supplemental pay over $1 million for the year)
- Social Security: 6.2% × the part of the bonus below the $184,500 wage base
- Medicare: 1.45% × bonus, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 for the year
- Take-home: bonus − all withholding − 401(k) contribution
Key Terms
- Supplemental wages: pay outside regular wages, such as bonuses and commissions.
- Flat-rate method: withholding a set percentage, 22%, from supplemental wages.
- FICA: Social Security and Medicare taxes.
- Wage base: the yearly cap on wages subject to Social Security tax, $184,500 in 2026.
- Additional Medicare Tax: an extra 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in a year.
Worked Example
A $10,000 bonus, with $80,000 paid so far this year and a 5% state rate.
- Federal: 22% × $10,000 = $2,200
- Social Security: $620, Medicare: $145, state: $500
- Take-home: $6,535.00
Real-Life Examples
- Year-end bonus: a $2,500 bonus nets about $1,758.75 before state tax.
- Sign-on bonus: see what actually lands in your account.
- High earners: once wages pass $184,500, Social Security stops for the rest of the year.
- Saving more: putting 10% of a $5,000 bonus into a 401(k) lowers federal withholding by $110.
Flat-Rate vs Aggregate Method
- Flat-rate (percentage): 22% of the bonus, simple and common when bonuses are paid separately.
- Aggregate: the bonus is added to regular pay and withheld using the normal tables, which can be higher or lower.
- Over $1 million: the 37% rate is required on the excess.
Take-Home on Common Bonuses
Before state tax, assuming wages below the Social Security wage base and $200,000.
| Bonus | Federal (22%) | FICA (7.65%) | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $703.50 |
| $2,000.00 | $440.00 | $153.00 | $1,407.00 |
| $5,000.00 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $3,517.50 |
| $10,000.00 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $7,035.00 |
| $20,000.00 | $4,400.00 | $1,530.00 | $14,070.00 |
| $50,000.00 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $35,175.00 |
What Changes Your Bonus Tax
- Withholding method: some employers add the bonus to a regular paycheck (aggregate method).
- State and local tax: rates vary, and some states have no income tax.
- Year-to-date pay: high earners may pass the Social Security wage base.
- 401(k): deferring part of the bonus lowers federal income tax withholding, though Social Security and Medicare still apply to the full bonus.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking the bonus is taxed more. Withholding may be higher, but your final tax is based on total income.
- Forgetting FICA. Social Security and Medicare apply too.
- Ignoring state tax. Many states also withhold from bonuses.
- Assuming every employer uses 22%. Some use the aggregate method.
- Forgetting the 401(k) limit. Yearly contribution limits still apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually 22% federal income tax, 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare, plus any state tax.
They are often withheld at a flat 22%, but your actual tax rate is decided when you file.
IRS Publication 15 says the supplemental withholding rate remains 22%, or 37% over $1 million.
Yes, unless your wages for the year have passed the $184,500 wage base.
If too much was withheld for your full-year tax, you may get a refund when you file.
Putting part of it into a 401(k) or other pre-tax plan can lower income tax.
It is income like salary. Only the withholding method may differ.
Supplemental wages over $1 million in a year are withheld at 37%.
In most states with income tax, yes. Enter your state’s rate.
The employer adds the bonus to regular pay and withholds as if it were one paycheck.
Several taxes apply at once, and withholding is not tailored to your full-year situation.
No. It is an estimate. Check your pay stub and a tax professional.
References & Sources
| Source | Used For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| IRS, Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide | Supplemental wage withholding at 22% and 37%, Social Security and Medicare rates. | https://www.irs.gov/publications/p15 |