Bonus Tax Calculator
Estimate federal, FICA, and state withholding on a bonus using the supplemental wage method.
Inputs
| Federal withholding | $2,200 |
| FICA withholding | $765 |
| State withholding | $500 |
Federal supplemental withholding commonly uses 22% up to $1M and 37% above that threshold.
Last reviewed: February 9, 2026
Bonus Withholding Dataset
| Bonus amount | Total withholding | Estimated net bonus |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $1,040 | $1,961 |
| $10,000 | $3,465 | $6,535 |
| $25,000 | $8,663 | $16,338 |
| $50,000 | $17,325 | $32,675 |
Top Bonus Presets by State
Common Use Cases
Year-end bonus planning
Estimate take-home before annual bonus payout.
State comparison
Compare expected net bonus across state withholding rates.
Comp package negotiation
Evaluate total value of cash bonus offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does bonus withholding seem high?
Supplemental wage methods can front-load withholding rates.
What is the role of YTD wages?
They affect Social Security withholding once wage-base limits are reached.
Can I estimate bonus net by state?
Yes, adjust the state rate or use state presets.
Is this exact payroll output?
No, it is a planning estimate.
Do local city taxes appear here?
Not automatically; include them by adjusting state rate as approximation.
Methodology & Data Quality
This bonus tax calculator is a planning tool. We publish how estimates are computed so results are easy to audit.
Last reviewed: February 9, 2026
How we calculate
- Apply supplemental federal withholding rate to bonus amount.
- Estimate FICA on bonus wages with year-to-date wage context.
- Apply user state withholding rate and return estimated net bonus.
Assumptions
- Federal supplemental withholding defaults follow IRS wage guidance.
- State withholding is entered as an effective planning percentage.
- Year-to-date wages help approximate Social Security wage-base behavior.
Limitations
- Payroll departments may use aggregate method instead of flat-rate approach.
- City/local withholding and benefit deductions may not be captured.
- Final paystub values can differ from estimates.