Bonus Tax Calculator
Estimate how much of a bonus you might take home after federal supplemental withholding, Social Security, Medicare, and an optional state rate. Defaults to the common 22% flat supplemental method for TY2026. Click any i for detail.
Bonus inputs
Bonus / supplemental wages ($)
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Bonus amount
The supplemental payment — annual bonus, commission burst, or separate bonus check. |
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Federal withholding method
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Withholding method
IRS allows a flat 22% supplemental rate for many bonuses, or an aggregate method with regular wages. Flat 22% is the common paycheck default. |
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Filing status
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Filing status
Used for the aggregate sketch and Additional Medicare threshold logic. |
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Year-to-date wages before bonus ($)
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YTD wages
Wages already paid this calendar year before the bonus. Used for Social Security wage-base room, Additional Medicare, and the aggregate federal sketch. |
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State tax rate on bonus (%)
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State rate
Optional flat state withholding rate on the bonus. Set 0 if your state won’t withhold on supplemental wages or you’re modeling federal+FICA only. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter the bonus or supplemental wage amount.
- Choose flat 22% federal supplemental or the aggregate sketch.
- Enter year-to-date wages (needed for FICA caps and aggregate).
- Optionally set a state withholding percent on the bonus.
Results explained
The headline is estimated net bonus after modeled withholding. Flat mode applies 22% federal to the bonus. Aggregate mode sketches federal tax on year-to-date wages plus the bonus, minus tax on year-to-date alone. FICA uses remaining Social Security wage-base room and Medicare (with Additional Medicare when past $200k YTD for employer withholding).
Quick reference: supplemental wages (TY2026)
Payroll systems can choose permitted IRS methods; this page shows the usual planning numbers.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Federal supplemental flat rate | 22% |
| Social Security | 6.2% until $184,500 YTD wages |
| Medicare | 1.45% + 0.9% over $200k employer withholding threshold |
| State | Optional flat % you enter |
For a full state wage paycheck, pick a state tool such as Arkansas or Idaho.
How the estimate is built
Flat: federal = 0.22 × bonus. Aggregate sketch: federal ≈ tax(YTD+bonus) − tax(YTD) using annual brackets after the standard deduction. SS = 6.2% × min(bonus, wage-base room). Medicare = 1.45% × bonus (+ 0.9% on dollars past the $200k withholding threshold). State = bonus × optional rate. Net = bonus − all of the above.
Example scenario
A $10,000 bonus with $80,000 YTD, flat 22% federal, 5% state → federal $2,200, SS $620, Medicare $145, state $500 → about $6,535 net (before any Additional Medicare).
FAQ
Why is federal often 22% on bonuses?
IRS rules let employers withhold a flat 22% on many supplemental wages instead of running the full percentage method. Your eventual tax on the return can be higher or lower than 22%.
Will I get some of this back?
If 22% exceeds your marginal rate, you may be over-withheld for the year and recover it when you file. If your marginal rate is higher, you may owe more.
Social Security on bonuses?
Yes, until wages hit the 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500). Enter YTD wages so we can limit SS withholding correctly.
Is aggregate the same as my payroll system?
No — payroll follows Publication 15-T. Our aggregate option is a simplified “tax on YTD+bonus minus tax on YTD” sketch for education.