Calculate tax on your bonus with the 22% flat or aggregate method, plus Social Security, Medicare, and state tax — and see your real take-home bonus.
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Bonuses feel like they're taxed more than your regular pay — and the withholding often is higher. The IRS treats bonuses as 'supplemental wages,' and most employers withhold federal income tax at a flat 22% (37% on any amount over $1 million), on top of Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), plus state tax. This calculator shows exactly how much will be withheld and what you'll actually take home, using either the flat percentage method or the aggregate method, and reminds you of the key point most people miss: withholding isn't your final tax bill.
A bonus tax calculator estimates the tax withheld from a work bonus and your net take-home amount. Because bonuses are supplemental wages, they're withheld differently from regular pay. The percentage method applies a flat 22% federal rate when the bonus is paid as a separate check; the aggregate method adds the bonus to a regular paycheck and withholds based on your W-4, which roughly tracks your marginal tax bracket. Both methods also include Social Security and Medicare (FICA) and any state tax. Enter your bonus to see the federal, FICA, and state amounts and your net bonus.
Formula (Percentage Method)
See your take-home before a holiday or performance bonus hits your account.
Estimate the net on a new-job signing bonus, often paid as a separate check at 22%.
Commissions are supplemental wages too — estimate the withholding the same way.
See whether the flat or aggregate method withholds more for your situation.
Model the 37% federal rate that applies to bonus amounts over $1 million.
Gauge whether your bonus withholding will lead to a refund or a balance due.
Know exactly how much of your bonus lands in your bank account after all withholding.
Compare the flat 22% percentage method and the aggregate method side by side.
Goes beyond the 22% to add Social Security, Medicare, and your state's supplemental rate.
Understand why 22% was withheld and whether you're likely to get some back at tax time.
Test different bonus sizes and states, including the 37% rate on amounts over $1 million.
Bonuses are supplemental wages. Employers usually withhold federal income tax at a flat 22% (37% on any portion over $1 million), plus Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), and any state tax. So roughly 30% or more is commonly withheld — but this is withholding, not your final tax.
The 22% is the IRS flat percentage-method rate for supplemental wages. Adding Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and a state supplemental rate (which can be 5–11%) can push total withholding toward 35–40%. The federal rate jumps to 37% only on amounts over $1 million.
Under the flat method with no state tax, a $10,000 bonus has $2,200 federal, $620 Social Security, and $145 Medicare withheld — about $2,965 total — leaving roughly $7,035 take-home. A state supplemental tax would reduce that further; for example, California's ~10.23% would withhold another $1,023.
Possibly. The 22% flat rate is just withholding. At tax time, your bonus is taxed at your actual marginal rate. If your marginal rate is below 22%, you'll likely get the difference back as a refund; if it's higher, you may owe more. This calculator's aggregate mode estimates the marginal-rate amount.
The percentage (flat) method withholds 22% and is used when the bonus is a separate check. The aggregate method adds the bonus to a regular paycheck and withholds based on your W-4, which approximates your marginal bracket. The aggregate method can withhold more or less than 22% depending on your income.
Not ultimately — they're taxed at the same rates as ordinary income on your return. They often feel taxed more because the flat 22% withholding can exceed your actual marginal rate, especially for lower-to-middle incomes, which leads to a refund of the over-withheld amount.