Bonus Tax Calculator

See the 22% federal supplemental withholding, FICA and state tax on any bonus, and what actually reaches your account.

Bonus amount (gross)

Your state

Already earned this year (for the Social Security cap)

Paid as

Why bonuses feel "taxed more": they usually aren't — at tax-return time a bonus is taxed like any other income. Employers often withhold at the IRS supplemental flat rate of 22%, which can be higher than your normal rate, so the check looks smaller. Any over-withholding comes back as a refund.

You keep (estimate)

Illustration of an open envelope releasing a bonus payment as a gold coin, with a 22 percent badge showing the share withheld for tax — A bonus is withheld differently from regular pay — the final tax, settled on your return, is not.

About the Bonus Tax Calculator

What it calculates. What a bonus check actually deposits: the bonus minus federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare and an estimated state tax — with both IRS withholding methods shown, because which one your employer uses changes the size of the check (though never your final tax bill).

How the calculation works

The IRS treats bonuses as "supplemental wages". Paid as a separate check, federal withholding is a flat 22% (37% on the part of supplemental wages above $1 million in a year). Paid together with regular wages (the aggregate method), payroll withholds as if the combined amount were your normal pay — the tool approximates that with the 2026 single-filer brackets. FICA always applies: Social Security only until your year-to-date wages reach the $184,500 cap (which is why the tool asks what you have already earned), plus Medicare at 1.45% and the 0.9% high-earner surtax where it applies.

Worked example: a $5,000 bonus in Texas, $60,000 already earned, paid as a separate check → federal withholding $1,100 (22%), Social Security $310.00, Medicare $72.50, state tax $0 → you keep $3,517.50. If your real marginal rate turns out to be 12%, roughly $500 of that federal withholding comes back in your refund — it was a prepayment, not a penalty.

Limitations & common mistakes

Withholding ≠ tax owed. The single most common bonus misunderstanding. Your return settles the bonus at your actual marginal rate; this tool estimates the check, not the final liability.
The aggregate method is an approximation here. Real payroll annualises your combined check through the full W-4 withholding tables, so treat that mode as directional.
401(k) elections usually apply to bonuses too. Many plans deduct your usual percentage from bonus pay as well — a smaller deposit than this tool shows may simply mean more went into your retirement account.

Bonus FAQ

Why was 22% taken when my tax rate is lower?: Because 22% is the IRS flat withholding rate for separately-paid supplemental wages, regardless of your personal bracket. The difference is refunded (or reduces your balance due) when you file.
Can I ask payroll to withhold less on my bonus?: You cannot pick a special bonus rate, but a current, accurate W-4 affects the aggregate method, and increasing your pre-tax 401(k) percentage for the bonus period legally reduces the taxable amount.
Do bonuses count toward the Social Security cap?: Yes — they are wages. Once your year-to-date wages pass $184,500 (2026), the 6.2% stops applying, including to bonuses paid after that point.

Related guide: Why Your Bonus Check Looked So Small →

Disclaimer: results are estimates for education only and are not tax, financial or legal advice. Withholding rules and brackets are tax year 2026 figures from IRS.gov; verify with the IRS or a qualified professional.