How Paycheck State Calc works
Paycheck State Calc works out what lands in your account each pay period: federal withholding, FICA, and the state and local deductions that general calculators skip. Every rate on the site carries its source document and the date it was verified. This page explains the method, the states covered and what the calculator leaves out.
How to use a calculator
- Pick your state from the menu or the state list.
- Enter your pay: an annual salary, or an hourly rate with hours per week.
- Pick your pay frequency: weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly.
- Set your federal filing status and Form W-4 elections.
- Set the state fields that apply. Examples: California DE 4 filing status and allowances; New York IT-2104 status and allowances plus a New York City or Yonkers residence option; Michigan MI-W4 exemptions and the Detroit city tax; Washington WA Cares exemption; Pennsylvania local EIT rate.
- Read the result line by line. Each deduction is shown separately, with its rate and wage base, so you can match it to your pay stub.
The numbers you type are calculated in your browser. They are not transmitted to us and are not stored on our servers.
How the numbers are calculated
- Federal income tax withholding uses the percentage-method tables in IRS Publication 15-T for the current tax year, applied to your pay frequency and W-4 elections rather than approximated from a bracket.
- Social Security is 6.2% up to the annual wage base ($184,500 for 2026). Medicare is 1.45% with no cap, plus an additional 0.9% above $200,000 of wages from one employer.
- State lines follow each state's own rules, which is why states differ in kind and not just in rate.
- Sources: every rate is stored with its source document and verification date. A state whose figures are not verified does not get a page. Current figures were verified on 2026-10-30.
States live (2026 tax year)
| State | What the page computes |
|---|---|
| Texas | No state income tax; federal withholding and FICA |
| Florida | No state income tax; federal withholding and FICA |
| Washington | No income tax on wages; Paid Family & Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums |
| California | State withholding from DE 4 elections, SDI |
| New York | State withholding, New York City or Yonkers resident tax, DBL, Paid Family Leave |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% flat state tax, UC contribution, your local EIT rate |
| Illinois | State income tax |
| Michigan | 4.25% flat tax with $5,900 per exemption, Detroit city tax |
The other 42 states are listed on the home page as in progress.
What is not included
- New York: supplemental wages (bonuses) use a flat rate under Method III, which this calculator does not apply. Yonkers nonresident earnings tax is not included; the Yonkers option covers the resident surcharge. Head of household is not a New York withholding status: New York publishes only single and married withholding schedules, so choose Single or Married from your IT-2104. New York City tax applies to residents only.
- Pennsylvania: the Local Services Tax (up to $52 a year, set by your municipality) is not included. Local earned income tax rates vary by municipality, so enter your own rate in the Local EIT field.
- All states: pre-tax deductions your employer runs (for example retirement or health plans) and your employer's own payroll choices are outside the calculator. Your pay stub is the final word; the calculator shows each line so you can find the difference.
Employer view
Each state page also shows the employer cost per period and annualised, and asks for rates that differ per employer (such as an unemployment rate from your state notice).
FAQ
Which tax year does the calculator use? The 2026 tax year, with figures verified on 2026-10-30.
Where do the rates come from? Federal withholding from IRS Publication 15-T; state figures from each state's official withholding tables, cited with the document and verification date on each state page.
Which states are covered? Texas, Florida, Washington, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan.
Does it include bonuses in New York? No. Supplemental wages under Method III are not applied.
Does it include Yonkers nonresident tax? No. The Yonkers option covers the resident surcharge only.
Does it include the Pennsylvania Local Services Tax? No. LST (up to $52 a year, set by your municipality) is not included. Enter your local EIT rate yourself.
How is head of household handled in New York? It is not a New York withholding status. New York publishes only single and married withholding schedules, so the calculator asks you to choose Single or Married from your IT-2104.
Is my salary data stored? No. Calculations run in your browser and the numbers are not transmitted to us.
What if a figure looks out of date? Tell us on the contact page and we re-check it against the primary document.