Bonus Tax Calculator
See what you actually keep from a bonus. The IRS withholds a flat 22% for federal tax, plus Social Security, Medicare, and state tax. Enter your bonus to get the take-home — a $5,000 bonus nets about $3,268 at a 5% state rate.
FICA is Social Security (6.2%) + Medicare (1.45%). This is withholding, not your final tax — the rest settles when you file.
Why a bonus is taxed differently
A bonus counts as supplemental wages, and the IRS lets employers withhold federal tax on it at a flat 22% instead of running it through your normal paycheck tables. Anything over $1 million in a year is withheld at 37%. On top of that come Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and your state.
That flat 22% is why a bonus feels overtaxed — it is often higher than the rate on your regular pay. The key point is that it is withholding, not your final bill. If 22% is more than you actually owe, the extra comes back as a refund when you file.
Want the bonus to land on a round take-home number? The gross-up calculator works it backward. For regular wages, the paycheck calculator estimates the full deductions.
Frequently asked questions
A bonus is supplemental pay. The IRS flat method withholds 22% for federal income tax (37% on amounts over $1 million), plus Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, and any state tax. That withholding is not your final tax — it settles when you file.
The flat 22% federal rate often takes out more than your normal paycheck percentage, so a bonus feels heavily taxed. If 22% is more than your real tax rate, you get the difference back as a refund at tax time.
At a 5% state rate, $5,000 loses 22% federal ($1,100), 6.2% Social Security ($310), 1.45% Medicare ($72.50), and $250 state — about $1,732 — leaving roughly $3,268 take-home.
You cannot change the withholding rate, but adding the bonus to a 401(k) or HSA can reduce taxable income. The flat 22% is only withholding; your actual liability depends on your total income for the year.