2026 tax year · updated Oct 15, 2026

W-4 withholding calculator

Your employer withholds federal income tax from each paycheck using your Form W-4 and the IRS percentage method tables. A single filer paid $2,500 every two weeks has $216 withheld per paycheck in 2026. Enter your pay and W-4 to see your withholding, whether you are headed for a refund or a bill, and how much extra to withhold.

Federal tax withheld per paycheck

$216

Projected amount owed: $0

Withheld for the year: $5,620
Federal income tax owed: $5,620
Extra to withhold per paycheck (Step 4(c)): $0

Tax owed assumes the standard deduction plus any Step 4(b) amount and the Step 3 credits. Full refund estimate

Federal withholding per paycheck in 2026

Biweekly pay, no other entries on the W-4 (federal income tax only):

Federal income tax withholding per biweekly paycheck
Salary	Single	Married jointly	Head of household	Single, Step 2 checked
$30,000	$55	$0	$23	$97
$50,000	$147	$68	$106	$253
$75,000	$295	$178	$221	$476
$100,000	$507	$294	$369	$706
$150,000	$951	$590	$807	$1,310
$200,000	$1,413	$1,013	$1,269	$1,983

How your withholding is calculated

Your taxable pay per paycheck is turned into a yearly amount, plus any other income from Step 4(a).
Step 4(b) deductions are subtracted, and unless the Step 2 box is checked, so is $12,900 (married filing jointly) or $8,600 (other statuses). This gives the adjusted annual wage.
The employer looks up the tax on that amount in the 2026 percentage method table for your filing status; the Step 2 tables are used when the box is checked.
The yearly tax is divided by your number of paychecks, Step 3 credits are subtracted the same way, and any Step 4(c) extra is added.

The tables build in the standard deduction and the 2026 tax brackets, so one job with a basic W-4 withholds about the tax you owe. Withholding drifts off when you have income the employer doesn't see (a second job, a spouse's pay, freelance work, investment income) or credits you don't claim in Step 3.

Fixing your W-4

Owing at tax time: add the calculator's extra amount in Step 4(c), or list the missing income in Step 4(a). Freelance income can instead be covered with estimated tax payments.
Big refund: claim your dependents in Step 3 and expected extra deductions in Step 4(b), and remove any extra withholding.
New job, marriage, a baby or a raise: give your employer a new W-4. You can change it at any time during the year.

For the full picture of your return, use the tax refund calculator; for take-home pay, the take-home pay calculator.

Sources: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, Worksheet 1A and the 2026 Annual Percentage Method tables; IRS, About Form W-4; IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. See our methodology.

Frequently asked questions

How much federal tax will be withheld from my paycheck?

It depends on your pay, pay frequency and Form W-4. A single filer paid $2,500 every two weeks with a basic W-4 has $216 of federal income tax withheld per paycheck in 2026, $5,620 for the year, which is about the tax owed on those wages.

How do I fill out a W-4 to avoid owing taxes?

Complete Step 2 if you have more than one job or your spouse works, list other income such as a side job in Step 4(a), or add an extra amount per paycheck in Step 4(c). Example: $15,000 of side income not on the W-4 leaves a single filer owing about $3,150; $121 extra per biweekly paycheck covers it.

Should I check the box in Step 2 of the W-4?

Check it if you have two jobs at once, or are married filing jointly and both spouses work, and the jobs pay about the same. It switches your employer to withholding schedules with half the standard deduction and narrower brackets, so more is withheld. For jobs with very different pay, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator or the Multiple Jobs Worksheet is more accurate.

How do I get a bigger paycheck instead of a big refund?

Lower your withholding: remove any extra amount in Step 4(c), or enter deductions you expect beyond the standard deduction in Step 4(b). Check that you still withhold enough, because an under-withheld year can bring a bill and possibly a penalty.

Does my W-4 affect Social Security and Medicare?

No. The W-4 only sets federal income tax withholding. Social Security and Medicare are withheld at fixed rates, and state withholding usually has its own form.

News · October 16, 2026Social Security benefits rise 3.6% in 2027, and the tax cap goes to $192,300: SSA set a 3.6% COLA for 2027. Earnings subject to Social Security tax rise from $184,500 to $192,300, so top earners pay up to $483.60 more.