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Bonus Estimator

See what a one-time bonus really pays after taxes.

Your gross pay for the year, not counting this bonus. It decides which tax brackets your bonus lands in.

Pick your state to include state income tax.

Advanced settings
How your employer withholds federal tax

A flat rate on the bonus alone is the most common. Some employers instead add the bonus to a regular paycheck and withhold on the total, which can take out more (or less) up front.

Traditional comes out before income tax, so it lowers the tax on your bonus. Roth comes out after tax. Neither lowers Social Security or Medicare tax. The 2026 limit is $24,500 a year (this doesn't count anything you contribute from regular pay).

Pick your state above and this fills in automatically.

Your bonus after taxes

$1,407.00

$2,000.00 bonus — you keep about 70%

  • You keep$1,407.00
  • Federal income tax (22% flat)−$440.00
  • Social Security (6.2%)−$124.00
  • Medicare (1.45%)−$29.00
  • State income tax−$0.00

Income tax withheld

$440.00

Income tax you'll owe

$240.00

Bonuses aren't taxed at a special higher rate — they're added to your other income for the year. Your bonus really adds about 12% in federal tax, less than the 22% withheld, so you'd likely get about $200.00 back when you file.

An estimate, not tax advice. Federal figures use 2026 rules for a single filer with no other income: the 22% flat rate on bonuses (37% over $1,000,000.00) or the combined-paycheck method. State tax uses the flat bonus rate where the state publishes one (California, New York, Minnesota), an estimate from its regular rates elsewhere, or the rate you enter. City and county tax is included only where you answer the question above. “Tax you'll owe” assumes the rest of your year's withholding matches what you owe. Your pay stub has the real numbers.