W-4 Withholding Estimator
Check if your employer is withholding enough federal tax. See your estimated refund or balance due and get W-4 adjustment suggestions.
Filing Status
Annual Gross Salary
Standard deduction for this status: $16,100
Pay Frequency
Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works?
Check "Yes" if you hold more than one job or are married filing jointly and your spouse also works. This corresponds to W-4 Step 2(c).
Dependents Under 17
$2,500 credit each (W-4 Step 3)
Other Dependents
$500 credit each (W-4 Step 3)
Other Income (not from jobs)
Interest, dividends, retirement income, etc. (W-4 Step 4(a))
Deductions Beyond Standard
Itemized deductions minus standard deduction, student loan interest, IRA contributions, etc. (W-4 Step 4(b))
Extra Withholding per Paycheck
Additional amount to withhold from each paycheck (W-4 Step 4(c))
Your projected withholding is close to your estimated tax bill. No W-4 changes needed.
See your full take-home pay
The app covers all deductions, state taxes, and updates in real time.
How federal tax withholding works
Each pay period, your employer looks up IRS Publication 15-T to figure out how much federal income tax to pull from your check. That calculation depends on what you put on your W-4: filing status, whether you have multiple jobs, how many dependents you claimed, and anything you entered in Steps 4(a) through 4(c).
Withholding is just an estimate. Your real tax bill gets settled when you file your return. Ideally, the two numbers land close together so you don't owe a big balance in April or hand the government an interest-free loan all year.
The 2026 W-4 form, step by step
- Step 1: Personal information and filing status. Everyone fills this out.
- Step 2: Multiple jobs or spouse works. You can use the checkbox, the Multiple Jobs Worksheet, or the IRS estimator.
- Step 3: Dependent credits, $2,500 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependent. These lower your withholding.
- Step 4(a): Other income not from jobs. This increases withholding.
- Step 4(b): Deductions above the standard deduction, including the new tip and overtime deductions. This reduces withholding.
- Step 4(c): Extra withholding per paycheck. This also increases withholding.
- Step 5: Sign and date. Required.
2026 standard deductions
| Filing Status | Standard Deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Married Filing Separately | $16,100 |
2026 federal income tax brackets
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 | Up to $24,800 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Federal withholding per paycheck (biweekly, 2026)
| Annual Salary | Single | Married (Jointly) | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $100.77 | $30.00 | $60.96 |
| $50,000 | $146.92 | $68.46 | $105.69 |
| $60,000 | $193.08 | $109.23 | $151.85 |
| $75,000 | $295.00 | $178.46 | $221.08 |
| $100,000 | $506.54 | $293.85 | $368.77 |
| $125,000 | $720.54 | $409.23 | $580.31 |
| $150,000 | $951.31 | $590.00 | $807.35 |
| $200,000 | $1,412.85 | $1,013.08 | $1,268.88 |
| $250,000 | $1,973.23 | $1,441.08 | $1,804.58 |
| $300,000 | $2,620.55 | $1,902.62 | $2,442.63 |
New for 2026: no tax on tips, overtime, and car loan interest
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added three deductions starting in 2026:
- Qualified tips deduction: up to $25,000 for cash tips in traditionally tipped occupations. W-2 employees only. Phases out at $150K/$300K MAGI.
- Qualified overtime deduction: up to $12,500 ($25,000 MFJ) for overtime pay required under FLSA. Phases out at $150K/$300K MAGI.
- Car loan interest deduction: interest on loans for domestically manufactured vehicles.
You can enter these on the W-4 Step 4(b) Deductions Worksheet to lower your withholding now instead of waiting for a refund.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about W-4 withholding and how this estimator works
What is a W-4 withholding estimator?
It tells you whether your employer is pulling the right amount of federal income tax from each paycheck. Plug in your salary, filing status, and W-4 details, and the tool compares your projected annual withholding to your estimated tax bill. You'll see right away if you're on track for a refund or if you'll owe money at filing time.
How do I know if I'm withholding enough federal tax?
Run your numbers through the estimator above. If your total annual withholding falls well short of your tax liability, you'll probably owe money in April. The IRS says to recheck your withholding any time something big changes: new job, marriage, a new kid, that kind of thing.
What changed on the 2026 W-4 form?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) brought a few updates. There's now an exemption checkbox, the Deductions Worksheet has new lines for qualified tips and overtime deductions, and the standard deduction amounts went up ($16,100 single / $32,200 MFJ / $24,150 HoH).
What does the "Multiple Jobs" checkbox on W-4 Step 2 do?
It tells your employer to withhold at a higher rate because your combined income from multiple jobs (or your spouse's job) could land you in a higher bracket. If you leave it unchecked, each employer withholds as though that's your only job, and you'll likely end up under-withheld.
How often should I update my W-4?
At least once a year, and any time your life changes in a way that affects your taxes: marriage, divorce, a new child, a second job, a big raise. You can hand your employer a new W-4 as often as you want.
Does the W-4 affect my Social Security or Medicare taxes?
No. The W-4 only controls federal income tax. Social Security (6.2% on the first $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus an extra 0.9% above $200,000) are withheld at flat rates no matter what your W-4 says.
What's the difference between withholding and actual tax owed?
Withholding is the estimate your employer pulls from each paycheck during the year. Your actual tax gets calculated when you file, based on your total income, deductions, and credits. Overpaid? You get a refund. Underpaid? You owe the difference.
Can I claim "no tax on tips" or "no tax on overtime" on my W-4?
Yes. Starting in 2026, the W-4 Deductions Worksheet (Step 4(b)) has lines for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and qualified overtime pay (up to $12,500 single / $25,000 MFJ). Filling those in lowers your withholding so the tax break shows up in each paycheck instead of as a lump-sum refund later. The deduction phases out at $150,000 ($300,000 MFJ).
Need More Than a Quick Calculation?
The full app tracks your full paycheck all year — overtime, bonuses, deductions, and 50-state taxes built in.