How accurate is this bonus net estimate?

It should be directionally close if you enter the same rates your payroll system uses, but it is still an estimate. Real paystubs can differ because employers may use aggregate methods, consider year‑to‑date withholding, apply wage base limits, or include local taxes and deductions that this calculator doesn’t model.

How do I handle local or city income taxes on my bonus?

This calculator doesn’t have a separate local tax field. To approximate, you can add your local percentage to the state rate input so the total withholding includes that extra layer of tax.

What if I am over the Social Security wage base when I receive the bonus?

Once your combined wages for the year exceed the Social Security wage base, that portion of FICA stops and only Medicare continues. To reflect this, reduce the FICA rate you enter to include just the Medicare portion (plus any additional Medicare surtax if it applies).

Does this calculator account for pretax 401(k) or HSA contributions from my bonus?

No. It assumes the entire gross bonus is taxable for federal, state, and FICA. If your employer allows pretax contributions to come out of a bonus, your actual taxable amount and withholding may be lower than what this tool shows.

Why might my net bonus be different from what my paycheck shows?

Employers can choose different IRS‑approved methods for withholding on supplemental wages, may mix your bonus with regular pay, and must consider your year‑to‑date income and tax already withheld. Some also withhold extra to avoid underpayment. Because this tool uses only flat percentages that you supply, it’s normal for your final paystub to differ somewhat.

finance calculator

Bonus Net Calculator

See net bonus after federal, state, and FICA withholding from a gross bonus.

Results

Federal withholding: $1,650
State withholding: $375
FICA withholding: $574
Total withholding: $2,599
Net bonus: $4,901

Overview

This bonus net calculator helps you estimate how much of a cash bonus you actually keep after taxes. Employers usually treat bonuses as “supplemental wages,” which means they often use flat withholding rates that look very different from the percentage you see on your regular paycheck.

By entering your gross bonus and the federal, state, and FICA withholding rates your employer uses, you can see a clear breakdown of how much goes to each bucket and what lands in your bank account. This is useful for planning big purchases, adjusting withholding expectations, or comparing different bonus offers.

The output is an estimate only—it mirrors the flat rates you enter and assumes no extra deductions or local taxes—so it won’t match your paystub penny‑for‑penny. But it gives you a fast, transparent way to understand how taxes chew into your bonus.

How to use this calculator

Grab your most recent paystub or HR documentation and note the federal, state, and FICA withholding rates used for bonuses or supplemental pay.
Enter the full gross bonus amount before any taxes or deductions (for example, a $7,500 year‑end bonus).
Enter the federal withholding rate your employer uses for bonuses (for many W‑2 employees this is a flat supplemental rate).
Enter your state withholding rate for bonuses; if you are unsure, you can use your usual marginal state tax rate or your state’s supplemental wage guidance.
Enter the FICA rate—commonly 7.65% for employees who are below the Social Security wage base; reduce the Social Security portion if you are already above the cap.
Review the calculated federal, state, and FICA withholding amounts and confirm they look reasonable relative to your gross bonus.
Use the net bonus amount to plan how much will actually hit your bank account and whether you want to adjust withholding elsewhere.

Inputs explained

Gross bonus: The total bonus amount your employer is paying before any taxes or deductions. This is what is shown as the bonus line item on your paystub, not the net deposit.
Federal rate (%): The federal supplemental withholding rate your employer uses for bonuses. Many W‑2 employees see a flat rate (for example, 22% up to a certain amount). If your employer uses your normal withholding method instead, you can approximate with your marginal federal rate.
State rate (%): Your state income tax withholding rate for supplemental wages. Some states publish a specific flat rate for bonuses, while others use your regular withholding method. If unsure, use your marginal state tax rate or a rate from your paystub.
FICA (%): The combined Social Security and Medicare rate applied to your wages. For most employees below the Social Security wage base, this is 7.65% (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). Reduce the Social Security portion if you have already exceeded the annual wage base, or increase slightly if you are subject to the additional Medicare surtax.

Outputs explained

Federal withholding: The estimated dollar amount withheld from your bonus for federal income tax based on the rate you entered.
State withholding: The estimated dollar amount withheld for state income tax on the bonus.
FICA withholding: The estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld on your bonus, assuming the FICA rate you provided.
Total withholding: The sum of federal, state, and FICA withholding. This is the total tax bite from the bonus under the assumptions you entered.
Net bonus: The bonus amount left after all modeled withholding. This is a rough estimate of what will land in your bank account from the bonus payment.

How it works

You enter your gross bonus and the withholding rates your employer will apply for federal, state, and FICA taxes.

Each rate is converted from a percentage to a decimal (for example, 22% becomes 0.22) and multiplied by the gross bonus to calculate each withholding amount.

Federal withholding is typically based on the IRS supplemental wage rules (often a flat percentage), but here it’s simply Gross bonus × Federal rate.

State withholding is modeled as Gross bonus × State rate so you can adapt for your state’s recommended supplemental rate or your usual marginal rate.

FICA withholding combines Social Security and Medicare as Gross bonus × FICA rate; in reality Social Security stops at the wage base, while Medicare continues and may include surtax at higher incomes.

Total withholding is the sum of federal, state, and FICA withholding.

Net bonus is the amount left after total withholding: Net = Gross bonus − Total withholding.

Formula

Let G = gross bonus
Let f = federal rate (as decimal)
Let s = state rate (as decimal)
Let c = FICA rate (as decimal)

Federal withholding = G × f
State withholding = G × s
FICA withholding = G × c
Total withholding = G × (f + s + c)
Net bonus = G − (G × f + G × s + G × c)

When to use it

Previewing the take‑home from an upcoming annual, performance, or signing bonus so you can decide how much to allocate toward savings, debt payoff, or purchases.
Comparing bonus offers between employers in different states by adjusting the state rate and seeing how much net bonus you would actually keep.
Checking how a change in your federal or state tax bracket might affect how much of future bonuses you keep after withholding.
Estimating how much extra tax will be withheld if your employer pays a large one‑time bonus in addition to your normal paycheck.
Pairing with a gross‑up calculator to figure out what gross bonus is needed to deliver a specific net amount in your bank account.

Tips & cautions

If you are near or above the Social Security wage base, split FICA into its components and only apply the Social Security portion to the part of the bonus that is still below the cap; for this tool, that means lowering the FICA rate you enter.
To approximate local or city income taxes, add their percentage to the state rate field so the calculator captures their effect in total withholding.
Remember that payroll systems may use different methods (aggregate vs percentage) for bonuses, especially if they’re combined with regular wages. This tool assumes a simple flat‑rate percentage for each tax.
Use your marginal tax rates instead of average rates when you want to approximate the incremental tax cost of the bonus.
If you expect major changes in income this year (marriage, second job, big deductions), treat this as an estimate and revisit once your overall tax picture is clearer.
Uses flat percentages for federal, state, and FICA withholding and does not model progressive tax brackets or year‑to‑date withholding already paid.
Does not automatically apply the Social Security wage base limit or additional Medicare surtax thresholds; you must adjust the FICA rate yourself.
Does not model local/city income taxes, unemployment taxes, or special one‑time levy rules your jurisdiction may have.
Ignores pretax deductions (401(k), HSA, cafeteria plans) or after‑tax deductions that may change your taxable wages for the bonus.
Not a tax preparation or payroll engine—actual paystub numbers may differ due to employer‑specific setups and IRS/state rules.

Worked examples

$7,500 gross, 22% federal, 5% state, 7.65% FICA

Convert rates to decimals: 22% → 0.22, 5% → 0.05, 7.65% → 0.0765.
Federal withholding = $7,500 × 0.22 = $1,650.
State withholding = $7,500 × 0.05 = $375.
FICA withholding = $7,500 × 0.0765 ≈ $574.
Total withholding ≈ $1,650 + $375 + $574 = $2,599.
Net bonus ≈ $7,500 − $2,599 = $4,901.

$3,000 gross, 22% federal, 0% state, 7.65% FICA

Federal withholding = $3,000 × 0.22 = $660.
State withholding = $3,000 × 0.00 = $0 (no state income tax).
FICA withholding = $3,000 × 0.0765 ≈ $230.
Total withholding ≈ $660 + $0 + $230 = $890.
Net bonus ≈ $3,000 − $890 = $2,110.

$15,000 bonus, higher brackets with adjusted rates

Assume you’re in a higher bracket and enter 28% federal, 6% state, and 5% FICA (because you’re above the Social Security wage base).
Federal withholding = $15,000 × 0.28 = $4,200.
State withholding = $15,000 × 0.06 = $900.
FICA withholding = $15,000 × 0.05 = $750.
Total withholding = $4,200 + $900 + $750 = $5,850.
Estimated net bonus ≈ $15,000 − $5,850 = $9,150.

Deep dive

This bonus net calculator applies federal, state, and FICA withholding to your gross bonus so you can see an estimated take‑home amount before payday.

Use it to preview year‑end or signing bonuses, compare offers between states, or pair with a gross‑up calculator to target a specific net bonus.

FAQs

How accurate is this bonus net estimate?: It should be directionally close if you enter the same rates your payroll system uses, but it is still an estimate. Real paystubs can differ because employers may use aggregate methods, consider year‑to‑date withholding, apply wage base limits, or include local taxes and deductions that this calculator doesn’t model.
How do I handle local or city income taxes on my bonus?: This calculator doesn’t have a separate local tax field. To approximate, you can add your local percentage to the state rate input so the total withholding includes that extra layer of tax.
What if I am over the Social Security wage base when I receive the bonus?: Once your combined wages for the year exceed the Social Security wage base, that portion of FICA stops and only Medicare continues. To reflect this, reduce the FICA rate you enter to include just the Medicare portion (plus any additional Medicare surtax if it applies).
Does this calculator account for pretax 401(k) or HSA contributions from my bonus?: No. It assumes the entire gross bonus is taxable for federal, state, and FICA. If your employer allows pretax contributions to come out of a bonus, your actual taxable amount and withholding may be lower than what this tool shows.
Why might my net bonus be different from what my paycheck shows?: Employers can choose different IRS‑approved methods for withholding on supplemental wages, may mix your bonus with regular pay, and must consider your year‑to‑date income and tax already withheld. Some also withhold extra to avoid underpayment. Because this tool uses only flat percentages that you supply, it’s normal for your final paystub to differ somewhat.

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This tool is for educational and planning purposes only and does not provide tax, payroll, or legal advice. It uses flat withholding rates you enter and does not model full tax law, wage base limits, surtaxes, deductions, or your complete financial situation. Actual bonus withholding and net pay will be determined by your employer’s payroll system and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Consult your payroll department or a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your circumstances.