Is my data stored or shared?

No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No salary data, personal information, or results are ever transmitted to our servers, stored in a database, or shared with third parties.

How is FICA tax calculated?

FICA consists of two parts: Social Security tax at 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base), and Medicare tax at 1.45% on all wages. High earners above $200,000 pay an additional 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax. Your employer matches the 6.2% and 1.45% portions.

Methodology & Transparency

How We Calculate Your Paycheck

Every calculation on PrivatePaycheck is based on official IRS and state revenue sources. Below is the exact methodology — no black boxes, no estimates.

Federal Income Tax

We apply the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T percentage method tables for automated payroll systems. The standard deduction is subtracted from gross wages before applying progressive tax brackets.

Rate	Single — Taxable Income	Married Filing Jointly
10%	$0 – $11,925	$0 – $23,850
12%	$11,926 – $48,475	$23,851 – $96,950
22%	$48,476 – $103,350	$96,951 – $206,700
24%	$103,351 – $197,300	$206,701 – $394,600
32%	$197,301 – $250,525	$394,601 – $501,050
35%	$250,526 – $626,350	$501,051 – $751,600
37%	Over $626,350	Over $751,600

Standard deduction: $15,000 (Single) · $30,000 (Married Filing Jointly) · $21,900 (Head of Household)

FICA Tax (Social Security & Medicare)

FICA is split into two mandatory federal payroll taxes. Your employer pays a matching amount on top of your contribution.

Tax	Rate	Wage Limit (2026)
Social Security	6.2%	Up to $184,500
Medicare	1.45%	No limit
Additional Medicare	0.9%	Above $200,000 (single)

Source: SSA.gov — 2026 Social Security wage base announced October 2025.

State Income Tax

State tax rates are pulled from each state's official department of revenue. We update rates each January. Nine states have zero income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.

States with flat rates (e.g. Colorado 4.4%, Illinois 4.95%) apply a single percentage to taxable income. States with progressive brackets (e.g. California up to 13.3%, New York up to 10.9%) use stepped tables identical in structure to the federal method.

California also includes SDI (State Disability Insurance) at 1.1% on all wages — included in our CA calculator automatically.

2026 New Law Deductions (One Big Beautiful Bill)

The legislation signed in 2025 introduced four new above-the-line deductions for federal income tax. These reduce your federal taxable income — they do not affect FICA or most state taxes.

Deduction	Max Amount	Who Qualifies
No Tax on Overtime	$12,500 / year	W-2 employees earning overtime per FLSA
No Tax on Tips	$25,000 / year	Tipped workers in qualifying occupations
Senior Deduction	$6,000 / year	Age 65+, income below $75,000 (phaseout)
Trump Account	$2,500 employer + $1,000 gov seed	Children under 8 at account opening

These deductions are effective for tax years 2025–2028. Self-employed / 1099 workers do not qualify for the overtime deduction.

Pay Frequency Annualization

We annualize your per-period wages to determine the correct bracket, then divide the annual tax by your pay periods. This matches the IRS's own recommended annualization method from Pub 15-T, Worksheet 1.

Frequency	Pay Periods / Year
Weekly	52
Bi-weekly	26
Semi-monthly	24
Monthly	12

Official Sources Used

IRS Publication 15-T (2026) — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods SSA.gov — 2026 Social Security Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500)IRS Topic 751 — Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates IRS Newsroom — 2026 Tax Inflation Adjustments

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the PrivatePaycheck calculator?

We use the official 2026 IRS Pub 15-T withholding tables, the $184,500 SSA wage base, and official state rates. Results are accurate for standard W-2 employees. For 1099/self-employed income, use our dedicated 1099 calculator which includes self-employment tax (15.3%).

Does the calculator include the 2026 overtime tax exemption?

Yes. Our overtime and no-tax-on-overtime calculators include the up-to-$12,500 overtime deduction from the One Big Beautiful Bill, effective for tax years 2025–2028.

Is my salary data stored or shared?

Never. All calculations run in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers, stored in any database, or shared with any third party — including advertisers.

What is the 2026 standard deduction?

$15,000 for Single · $30,000 for Married Filing Jointly · $21,900 for Head of Household. Applied automatically to every federal calculation.

Why does my take-home differ from my actual paycheck?

Our calculator covers federal tax, FICA, and state income tax. Your actual paycheck may also include voluntary deductions (401k, health insurance, FSA) or local city taxes (e.g. NYC, Philadelphia). Add these in the Advanced Options section for a closer match.

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