Bonus Tax Calculator
See how much tax is withheld from your bonus and your net take-home in 2026.
Updated June 2026Your Bonus
Enter your gross bonus. Employers typically withhold a flat 22% federal on bonuses paid separately from your salary.
Your Net Bonus
Withholding breakdown
Effective withholding: 29.65%. This uses the IRS percentage method (federal) + FICA. State tax is not included and varies by state. Any over-withholding comes back at tax time.
How It Works
Enter Your Bonus
Input the gross bonus amount your employer is paying.
See the Withholding
Federal 22% supplemental method + Social Security + Medicare.
Get Your Net
See exactly how much of the bonus you take home.
How Bonuses Are Taxed in 2026
Bonuses are supplemental wages. When paid separately from your salary, the IRS percentage method applies a flat 22% federal withholding (37% above $1 million), on top of the usual 7.65% FICA (Social Security + Medicare). That is why a bonus often feels like it shrinks by ~30% before it hits your account.
Important: 22% is the withholding rate, not your final tax. Your bonus is taxed at your real marginal rate when you file. If your effective rate is below 22%, the over-withholding comes back as a refund; if you are a high earner, you may owe more.
Two methods employers use
The percentage method (flat 22%) is most common for separate bonus checks and is what this calculator uses. The aggregate method lumps the bonus with your regular paycheck and withholds at your normal rate, which can withhold more or less depending on your salary.
Want to keep more of it?
Routing the bonus into a 401(k), HSA, or traditional IRA defers the income tax (FICA still applies). It is one of the few legal ways to reduce the tax bite on a windfall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax is taken out of a bonus in 2026?
When a bonus is paid separately from your regular paycheck, employers use the IRS percentage method: a flat 22% federal withholding (37% on amounts over $1 million), plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. So roughly 30% is withheld before any state tax. On a $10,000 bonus, that is about $2,965 withheld, leaving $7,035.
Why is my bonus taxed at 22%?
It is not actually taxed at 22% — it is withheld at 22%. Bonuses are "supplemental wages," and the IRS lets employers withhold a flat 22%. Your bonus is still taxed at your normal marginal rate when you file, so if your rate is lower you get the difference back as a refund.
Is there a way to pay less tax on a bonus?
You cannot change the withholding rate, but you can reduce taxable income: contributing the bonus (or part of it) to a 401(k), HSA, or traditional IRA defers the income tax. The FICA portion still applies.
Does the bonus tax calculator include state tax?
This calculator shows federal supplemental withholding plus FICA. State withholding on bonuses varies widely (some states have their own supplemental rate, some have none). Use our paycheck calculator with your state selected for a state-specific estimate.
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Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.