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Bonus Tax Calculator 2026

See how much of your bonus you take home after the 22% federal flat rate, Social Security, Medicare, and state withholding, and whether you will get some back at tax time.

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Other bonuses already paid this yearOnly matters for bonuses over $1 million.

How bonuses are taxed in 2026

The IRS treats bonuses as supplemental wages. Most employers use the flat method and withhold 22% for federal income tax, or 37% on the part of your bonuses over $1 million in a year. Some employers instead add the bonus to a regular paycheck and withhold as if you earned that much every pay period, which can take out even more.

Withholding is only a prepayment. Your actual tax depends on your total income for the year. That is why this calculator shows two numbers: what comes out of the bonus check, and what the bonus really adds to your tax bill.

Social Security (6.2%) stops once your total wages for the year pass $184,500. Medicare (1.45%) has no cap, and an extra 0.9% applies to wages over $200,000.

Bonus take-home examples

Single filer earning $60,000, federal taxes only. "Back at filing" is withholding minus the tax the bonus actually adds.

Bonus	Federal withheld	Social Security and Medicare	Bonus check	Back at filing
$1,000	$220.00	$76.50	$703.50	$100.00
$2,500	$550.00	$191.25	$1,758.75	$250.00
$5,000	$1,100.00	$382.50	$3,517.50	$500.00
$10,000	$2,200.00	$765.00	$7,035.00	$650.00
$25,000	$5,500.00	$1,912.50	$17,587.50	$650.00

State bonus withholding rates

States with a flat rate withhold that percentage from bonuses. Others add the bonus to your regular pay for withholding.

State	Bonus withholding	Details
Alabama	5% flat	Alabama employers may withhold a flat 5% on bonuses and other supplemental wages.
Alaska	No income tax	Alaska has no state income tax on wages.
Arizona	Added to regular pay	Arizona withholds bonuses at the same percentage the employee chose on Form A-4 (2.0% if no form is on file).
Arkansas	3.7% flat	Arkansas withholds a flat 3.7% on bonuses and commissions.
California	10.23% flat	California withholds 10.23% on bonuses and stock options (6.6% on other supplemental pay) when using the flat rate method.
Colorado	Added to regular pay	Colorado has no separate bonus rate; bonuses are withheld with regular wages using the 4.4% withholding worksheet.
Connecticut	Added to regular pay	Connecticut withholds on bonuses by adding them to regular wages for the pay period.
Delaware	Added to regular pay	Delaware withholds on bonuses by annualizing regular wages with and without the bonus and withholding the difference.
District of Columbia	Added to regular pay	The District of Columbia treats bonuses as regular wages for withholding and has no flat bonus rate.
Florida	No income tax	Florida has no state income tax on wages.
Georgia	4.99% flat	Georgia withholds 4.99% on bonuses paid on or after May 11, 2026 (5.19% before that date).
Hawaii	Added to regular pay	Hawaii withholds on bonuses by adding them to regular wages for the pay period.
Idaho	5.3% flat	Idaho employers may withhold a flat 5.3% on separately paid bonuses or combine them with regular wages.
Illinois	4.95% flat	Illinois withholds its flat 4.95% income tax rate on wages, including bonuses.
Indiana	2.95% flat	Indiana withholds 2.95% state tax on bonuses without exemptions, plus county tax.
Iowa	3.8% flat	Iowa withholds 3.8% on bonuses paid separately when federal tax is withheld at a flat rate.
Kansas	5% flat	Kansas withholds a flat 5% on separately stated bonuses when federal tax is withheld at a flat rate.
Kentucky	Added to regular pay	Kentucky has no separate bonus rate; bonuses are withheld with regular wages using the 3.5% flat tax formula.
Louisiana	Added to regular pay	Louisiana withholds on bonuses the same way as regular payroll, even when paid separately.
Maine	5% flat	Maine employers may withhold a flat 5% on bonuses paid separately from regular wages.
Maryland	6.5% flat	Maryland withholds a lump sum annual bonus at the top state rate of 6.5% plus the highest local rate for the county.
Massachusetts	5% flat	Massachusetts withholds 5% on bonuses, rising to 9% on amounts above the $1,107,750 surtax threshold.
Michigan	4.25% flat	Michigan withholds a flat 4.25% on bonuses paid separately from regular payroll.
Minnesota	6.25% flat	Minnesota withholds a flat 6.25% on bonuses paid separately, and it is optional when paid with regular wages.
Mississippi	Added to regular pay	Mississippi withholds on bonuses by adding them to regular wages for the pay period.
Missouri	4.7% flat	Missouri employers may withhold a flat 4.7% on bonuses paid separately from regular wages.
Montana	5% flat	Montana employers may withhold a flat 5% on bonuses paid separately from regular wages.
Nebraska	3.5% flat	Employers may choose a flat 3.5% rate on bonuses or add them to regular wages; the flat rate is optional.
Nevada	No income tax	Nevada has no state income tax on wages.
New Hampshire	No income tax	New Hampshire has no state income tax on wages.
New Jersey	Added to regular pay	New Jersey has no flat bonus rate; bonuses are withheld using the regular tables, combined with wages or without allowances if paid separately.
New Mexico	5.9% flat	When federal withholding on a bonus uses the flat rate, New Mexico withholds a flat 5.9%.
New York	11.7% flat	Employers may withhold a flat 11.70% on separately identified bonuses or use the aggregate method; the flat rate is optional.
North Carolina	4.09% flat	Employers may withhold a flat 4.09% on separately identified bonuses or use the aggregate method; the flat rate is optional.
North Dakota	1.5% flat	Employers may withhold a flat 1.50% on separately identified bonuses or use the aggregate method; the flat rate is optional.
Ohio	2.75% flat	Ohio withholds bonuses at its top income tax rate, which is 2.75% for 2026.
Oklahoma	4.5% flat	Employers may withhold bonuses at the top rate of 4.5% or use the aggregate method; the flat rate is optional.
Oregon	8% flat	Employers may use a flat 8% on bonuses paid separately from regular wages; the flat rate is optional.
Pennsylvania	3.07% flat	Pennsylvania withholds its flat 3.07% income tax on bonuses, the same as on regular pay.
Rhode Island	5.99% flat	Rhode Island sets a 5.99% supplemental rate for bonuses paid separately; employers may instead use the aggregate method.
South Carolina	Added to regular pay	South Carolina publishes no flat bonus rate, so bonuses are withheld using the regular withholding tables.
South Dakota	No income tax	South Dakota has no state income tax on wages.
Tennessee	No income tax	Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Texas	No income tax	Texas has no state income tax on wages.
Utah	Added to regular pay	Utah publishes no separate bonus rate, so bonuses are withheld with the regular 4.45% formula (4.5% before June 1, 2026).
Vermont	Added to regular pay	Vermont has no fixed bonus rate; bonuses use the wage tables, though nonperiodic payments may be estimated at 30% of federal withholding.
Virginia	5.75% flat	Employers may withhold a flat 5.75% on bonuses paid separately or use the aggregate method; the flat rate is optional.
Washington	No income tax	Washington has no state income tax on wages.
West Virginia	Added to regular pay	West Virginia has no flat bonus rate; bonuses are withheld by annualizing pay with the regular withholding tables.
Wisconsin	Added to regular pay	Wisconsin uses the aggregate method or optional flat percentages of 3.54% to 7.65% that depend on the employee's annual salary.
Wyoming	No income tax	Wyoming has no state income tax on wages.

Frequently asked questions

How much tax is taken out of a bonus?

Most employers withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax, plus 6.2% Social Security (until your wages reach $184,500) and 1.45% Medicare. Many states also withhold a flat bonus rate. Bonuses over $1 million in a year are withheld at 37% federally.

Are bonuses taxed higher than regular pay?

No. A bonus is taxed as ordinary income at the same rates as your salary. It often looks higher because employers withhold a flat 22%, which can be more than your actual tax rate. Any extra withholding comes back as a refund or a smaller balance due when you file.

Will I get bonus tax back?

If your top federal tax bracket is 10% or 12%, the 22% flat withholding is usually more than the tax your bonus adds, so you may get some back when you file. If you are in the 24% bracket or higher, you may owe a little more.

Can I lower the tax on my bonus?

You can often send part of a bonus to a 401(k) if your employer allows it, which lowers federal and most state income tax. You cannot choose a lower flat withholding rate, but you can adjust your Form W-4 for the rest of the year.