About the Bonus Tax Calculator
This bonus tax calculator shows how much will be withheld from a bonus check and what lands in your bank account. Most US employers use the IRS percentage method for supplemental wages: a flat 22% federal income tax withholding on bonuses, rising to 37% on any supplemental pay above $1 million in the year. Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are withheld too, plus state tax where it applies.
Enter the bonus, the wages you have already been paid this year and your state supplemental rate. The calculator stops Social Security once you reach the annual wage base ($184,500 in 2026, $176,100 in 2025), adds the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on pay above $200,000, and lets you route part of the bonus into a traditional 401(k), which lowers income tax withholding but not FICA.
Keep in mind that withholding is not the same as your final tax. Bonuses are taxed as ordinary income; when you file, the bonus is added to your other income and taxed at your normal brackets. If your top bracket is 12%, the 22% withheld is likely to come back as a refund; if you are in the 32% bracket or higher, you may owe more in April.
With the default inputs, the bonus take-home pay is $7,035.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the bonus tax calculator
- 1Enter the gross bonus amount.
- 2Enter the wages you have already received this year from the same employer.
- 3Add any 401(k) percentage your plan takes from bonuses.
- 4Enter your state supplemental withholding rate (0 if none).
- 5Review the take-home amount and each tax withheld.
Formula and method
Employers may withhold federal income tax on supplemental wages at a flat 22% (the percentage method), which is mandatory at 37% for supplemental pay above $1 million in a calendar year. A traditional 401(k) deferral is removed before income tax withholding but not before Social Security and Medicare.
Social Security is 6.2% on the part of the bonus that fits under the remaining wage base after your year-to-date wages. Medicare is 1.45% of the whole bonus plus 0.9% on the part of cumulative wages above $200,000. State tax is your state supplemental rate applied to the bonus after 401(k) deferrals. Some employers instead use the aggregate method, which can withhold more or less.
- Bonus
- Gross supplemental pay
- Wage base
- Social Security taxable maximum ($184,500 in 2026)
- 401k
- Portion of the bonus deferred into a traditional 401(k)
Worked examples
$10,000 bonus in a no-income-tax state
Federal withholding is 22% of $10,000 = $2,200, Social Security is $620 and Medicare $145. With no state tax, $2,965 is withheld and you take home $7,035.
$25,000 bonus, 10% to 401(k), 5% state rate
The $2,500 401(k) deferral leaves $22,500 for income tax: $4,950 federal and $1,125 state. FICA still applies to the full $25,000 ($1,550 + $362.50). After taxes and the 401(k), $14,512.50 reaches your account.
$50,000 bonus for a $180,000 earner
Only $4,500 of room is left under the 2026 wage base, so Social Security is just $279. Medicare is 1.45% of $50,000 ($725) plus 0.9% of the $30,000 above $200,000 ($270). Federal withholding is $11,000, leaving $37,726.
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal tax rate on bonuses?+
Employers usually withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax on bonuses and other supplemental wages. Supplemental pay above $1 million in a year must be withheld at 37%.
Are bonuses taxed more than regular pay?+
No. Bonuses are ordinary income taxed at the same brackets as salary. They can look more heavily taxed because of the flat 22% withholding, but any difference is reconciled when you file your return.
How can I reduce tax on my bonus?+
Contribute part of it to a traditional 401(k) or HSA if your plan allows, which lowers income tax. Some people also time bonuses into a lower-income year, but FICA is due either way.
Why was more than 22% taken from my bonus?+
Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%) and state tax are withheld on top of the 22% federal rate. If your employer combined the bonus with a regular paycheck (the aggregate method), the withholding may also be higher.
Will I get some of my bonus tax back?+
If your actual marginal federal rate is below 22% (the 10% or 12% bracket), the over-withholding usually comes back as a refund. In the 24% bracket or above you may owe a little more at filing.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.