Bonus Tax Calculator (2026)
A bonus is supplemental pay, and it is usually withheld at a flat federal rate rather than your normal bracket. Employers apply 22% to supplemental wages up to a yearly threshold, and a higher rate on the part above it. FICA comes out on top, and then the your state state layer applies.
Bonus tax calculator (2026)
| Federal withholding (flat 22%) | $1,100 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | $383 |
| Texas withholding | $0 |
| You keep about | $3,517 |
Assumes your year-to-date wages are under the $184,500 Social Security wage base. Withholding, not your final tax — it reconciles on your return.
| Federal supplemental withholding | Rate |
|---|---|
| Supplemental wages up to $1,000,000 in the year | 22% |
| Portion above $1,000,000 | 37% |
Bonus withholding by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently asked questions
Why is my bonus taxed so high?
What you see is withholding, not your final tax. Federal rules withhold supplemental pay like a bonus at a flat 22%, which is often more than your normal rate, so the bonus looks heavily taxed. It squares up when you file, where your real rate is applied to your total income.
Does your state have a flat bonus withholding rate?
It depends on the state. The breakdown above shows your state's supplemental rate if it has one, or notes when the aggregate method applies instead.
Federal: IRS 2026 brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) · FICA: IRS Topic 751 · Wage base: SSA. Rates current as of July 16, 2026. Annual-liability estimates, not payroll withholding — see methodology.