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Taxes · bonuses and supplemental pay · 2026
Bonus Tax Calculator
See what a bonus check will look like after the 22% federal supplemental rate, Social Security, Medicare and state tax — or work backward from the take-home you want.
Your bonus
For a bonus paid separately from regular wages, using the flat-rate method most employers use.
Estimated take-home from this bonus
$3,517.50
from a $5,000.00 bonus, after withholding
Estimate · flat-rate method
- Gross bonus
- $5,000.00
- Federal income tax
- −$1,100.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$310.00
- Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% over $200k)
- −$72.50
- State income tax
- Not included — no state chosen
- State payroll programs
- $0.00
- Take-home
- $3,517.50
- Total withheld
- $1,482.50 (29.7%)
Why bonuses look over-taxed
Withholding isn't your final tax. Your employer withholds a flat 22% federal rate on a separate bonus, whatever your bracket. If your real top bracket is 12%, you'll likely get some back at tax time; if it's 24% or higher, you may owe a little more. Calculation tax.bonus-supplemental v1.0.0.
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How bonuses are taxed
The IRS treats bonuses, commissions, severance and similar payments as supplemental wages. They're taxed as ordinary income — the same as salary — but withholding works differently. When a bonus is paid separately from your regular pay (or listed separately on the stub), most employers withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax. Once your supplemental wages for the year pass $1 million, the part above $1 million must be withheld at 37%.
Bonus − 22% federal − 6.2% Social Security − 1.45% Medicare − state = take-home
Example: $5,000 bonus, no state income tax → $3,517.50 take-home.
Flat-rate vs. aggregate method
Employers can choose. Under the flat-rate (percentage) method — this calculator — the bonus is withheld at 22% on its own. Under the aggregate method, the bonus is added to a regular paycheck and withholding is figured on the total as if you earned that much every pay period, which can withhold much more. If income tax wasn't withheld from your regular wages this year, the employer must use the aggregate method.
Social Security and Medicare on bonuses
Bonuses are subject to Social Security (6.2%, until your wages for the year reach $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000). Enter wages already paid this year if you're near either line.
State tax on bonuses
Nine states have no wage income tax. Several others publish a flat supplemental rate; the rest usually use their regular withholding method on the bonus plus your normal pay, which depends on your pay and allowances — so we show it as unknown rather than guess, unless you enter a rate.
| State | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5% | supplemental wages (optional) |
| Arkansas | 3.7% | bonuses and commissions |
| California | 10.23% | bonuses and stock options |
| Kansas | 5% | supplemental wages shown separately when federal withholding uses a flat percentage |
| Maine | 5% | supplemental wages paid separately from regular wages |
| Minnesota | 6.25% | supplemental payments paid separately (or Method 2 when listed separately) |
| Montana | 5% | supplemental wages paid separately (optional) |
| New York | 11.7% | supplemental wages (optional) |
| North Carolina | 4.09% | supplemental wages (optional flat method if tax withheld from regular wages) |
| Ohio | 2.75% | bonus and supplemental compensation |
| Oregon | 8% | supplemental wages paid at a different time than regular payday (optional) |
| Rhode Island | 5.99% | supplemental wages |
| Virginia | 5.75% | supplemental wages (optional, if tax withheld from regular wages) |
Bonus take-home examples (no state income tax)
| Bonus | Federal (22%) | Social Security + Medicare | Take-home | Withheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $703.50 | 29.65% |
| $2,500 | $550.00 | $191.25 | $1,758.75 | 29.65% |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $3,517.50 | 29.65% |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $7,035.00 | 29.65% |
| $25,000 | $5,500.00 | $1,912.50 | $17,587.50 | 29.65% |
| $50,000 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $35,175.00 | 29.65% |
Grossing up a bonus
Employers sometimes "gross up" a payment so the employee receives a set amount after tax — common for relocation help or a promised net bonus. Choose The take-home I want and enter the net amount; the calculator finds the smallest gross bonus that delivers it after federal, FICA and (where known) state withholding.
Gross = net ÷ (1 − total withholding rate) = bonus to pay
Example: $1,000 net with 22% + 7.65% withheld → $1,000 ÷ 0.7035 = $1,421.46.
Will I get it back at tax time?
Possibly part of it. Your bonus is added to your other income on your tax return and taxed at your actual rates. If 22% is more than your top federal bracket (single filers with taxable income under $50,400 in 2026 are in the 12% bracket), the extra withholding comes back as part of your refund. Use the paycheck calculator for your regular pay and the bonus and commission calculator to see how bonuses fit in total compensation.
Sources
- Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 9, 2026.
State bonus rates: see each state's paycheck page for its source.