Bonus Tax Calculator: How Much of Your Bonus You Keep
Enter a bonus and your state to see the flat federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare, and a state estimate, plus what actually reaches your account. Bonuses are not taxed at a higher rate; they are withheld at a flat 22% federally, and the difference settles when you file.
The gross bonus, before anything is withheld
Determines whether Social Security is already capped
Statewide estimate; local taxes excluded
Lands in your account
$2,853
57% of your $5,000 bonus
Total withheld
$2,148
43% of the bonus
Federal flat withholding
$1,100
22% flat supplemental rate
Withholding, line by line
| Line item | How it's figured | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Federal supplemental withholding | 22% flat supplemental rate | $1,100 |
| Social Security | 6.2% of the bonus | $310 |
| Medicare | 1.45% of the bonus | $73 |
| State income tax (estimate) | 13.3% top-rate approximation | $665 |
| Total withheld | $2,148 | |
| Lands in your account | $2,853 |
Educational estimate for the 2026 tax year, not tax advice. Federal figures follow IRS inflation adjustments; state estimates use statewide rates and standard deductions only and exclude local income taxes (city, county, school district), State Disability Insurance, and credits. Where a state publishes separate married tables, married thresholds may be approximated. Verify your exact withholding with a tax professional or your payroll provider.
Not included above: the additional 0.9% Medicare withholding payroll adds once your total pay for the year passes $200,000, and any state supplemental flat rates that differ from the statewide rates modeled here.
Withheld at a flat rate, taxed at your real one
The "bonuses get taxed harder" myth survives because the check really does arrive lighter. The IRS classifies bonuses, commissions, and RSU vests as supplemental wages, and most employers use the percentage method: a flat 22% federal withholding, no W-4 math, plus Social Security (until the annual wage base is met), Medicare, and usually a state cut. None of that changes what you owe. On your return, a bonus is ordinary income taxed by the same brackets as salary; withholding is just a deposit against that bill, and the gap between the flat rate and your true rate comes back or comes due in April.
Running the numbers on a $5,000 bonus
Say you get a $5,000 bonus mid-year with room left under the Social Security wage base. Federal withholding takes $1,100, Social Security $310, and Medicare about $73, so roughly $3,518 survives before any state withholding. In a no-income-tax state that is the deposit; in a bracketed state the calculator subtracts a top-rate approximation, since many states publish their own flat supplemental rates that sit near the top of their schedules. If your marginal federal rate is below 22%, part of that federal line is effectively a forced savings account that returns to you as a refund.
When the flat rate misses, and by how much
The flat rate overshoots for most earners in lower brackets and undershoots for high earners, and the law forces a switch to 37% on supplemental wages above $1,000,000 in a year. There is also a second employer approach, the aggregate method, where the bonus rides along with a normal paycheck and gets withheld as if you earned that total every period; it tends to hold back more. Either way, the useful number is the net. Planning around the amount that actually lands, rather than the headline bonus, is how you avoid committing money you never receive. Our paycheck calculator shows how your regular checks are taxed for comparison, and our guide to saving versus investing a windfall covers what to do with the bonus once it clears.
Frequently asked questions
Are bonuses taxed at a higher rate than regular pay?
No. A bonus is ordinary income on your tax return, taxed by the same brackets as your salary. What differs is withholding: employers typically hold back a flat 22% federal rate on supplemental wages instead of using your W-4, so the check can feel heavily taxed even though your true rate is settled when you file.
Why did my employer withhold even more than this estimate?
Two common reasons. Some employers use the aggregate method: the bonus is added to a regular paycheck and withheld as if you earned that much every period, which usually overshoots. And local income taxes, State Disability Insurance, or 401(k) deferrals taken from the bonus all stack on top of the lines shown here.
What happens if my bonus is over $1 million?
Federal withholding on supplemental wages is required at 37% for the portion above $1,000,000 in a year; the flat 22% rate applies only up to that line. The calculator switches to the blended math automatically once your bonus crosses it.
Will I get some of the withholding back at tax time?
Often, yes. If your actual marginal tax rate is below the flat 22% withholding rate, the difference comes back as a refund when you file. If you earn enough that your marginal rate is higher, the flat rate under-withholds and you may owe; some people add extra W-4 withholding in bonus years to cover it.
How accurate is this bonus calculator?
Educational estimate for the 2026 tax year, not tax advice. Federal figures follow IRS inflation adjustments; state estimates use statewide rates and standard deductions only and exclude local income taxes (city, county, school district), State Disability Insurance, and credits. Where a state publishes separate married tables, married thresholds may be approximated. Verify your exact withholding with a tax professional or your payroll provider.
Does this calculator save my numbers?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
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