Wondering how much will my bonus be taxed? This calculator gives you the exact answer for 2026. Enter your bonus and we apply the flat 22% federal supplemental withholding, Social Security (6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base), Medicare (1.45%), and your state rate to show precisely how much your bonus is taxed and what you take home. Most bonuses lose 29.65%-35%+ to withholding before any year-end refund.
For 2026, a separately paid bonus has 22% federal income tax withheld (37% on any amount over $1 million) plus 7.65% FICA. Add state tax, and a typical bonus is taxed around 30-40% at withholding. The calculator above shows your personal number; the sections below explain every component so you know exactly where the money goes.
Assuming a separate bonus, full FICA, and no state tax, here is the federal-plus-FICA withholding by bonus size:
| Bonus | Federal 22% | Social Security 6.2% | Medicare 1.45% | Net (no state) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 | $62 | $14.50 | $703.50 |
| $3,000 | $660 | $186 | $43.50 | $2,110.50 |
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $310 | $72.50 | $3,517.50 |
| $15,000 | $3,300 | $930 | $217.50 | $10,552.50 |
| $50,000 | $11,000 | $3,100 | $725.00 | $35,175.00 |
If your bonus looked like it was taxed at 40%+, one of these is usually the cause:
Because 22% is just withholding, taxpayers in the 10% or 12% bracket frequently over-pay on a bonus and recover the excess at filing. To keep more up front, increase pre-tax 401(k) or HSA contributions in the bonus pay period — that lowers taxable wages and the income-tax withheld.
Maria earns $48,000 and gets a $5,000 bonus. Payroll withholds $1,100 (22%) federal. But her marginal rate is only 12%, so her true federal tax on the bonus is about $600. The $500 difference comes back as part of her refund. The calculator shows withholding; your return determines the final number.
No. The 2025-2028 OBBBA deductions cover qualified overtime premium and tips only. A bonus is not overtime or a tip, so it gets no OBBBA deduction. If you also earn overtime, see our no-tax-on-overtime calculator for that separate benefit.
For federal income tax, employers withhold a flat 22% on bonuses up to $1 million (37% above $1 million). Add 7.65% FICA (6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 + 1.45% Medicare) and any state tax. So a typical bonus loses about 29.65% to 35%+ to withholding, though your final tax is settled on your return.
If it feels like 40%, your employer likely used the aggregate method (bonus combined with your paycheck), you live in a high-tax state, or you are in a high federal bracket. Federal 22% + FICA 7.65% + a 5-10% state rate already reaches 35-40%. Some of that withholding may come back as a refund if you over-paid.
No. Withholding is an estimated prepayment. Your actual bonus tax equals the bonus times your true marginal rate, reconciled when you file. If 22% was withheld but your marginal rate is 12%, you recover the difference; if your rate is 24%+, you may owe more.
Start with the gross bonus. Subtract 22% federal withholding (or 37% over $1M), subtract 6.2% Social Security (until your year-to-date wages reach $184,500), subtract 1.45% Medicare, then subtract your state tax. The remainder is your take-home. The calculator above does this automatically.
Yes, for income tax. Directing part of the bonus into a pre-tax 401(k) lowers taxable wages and the income-tax withholding, though Social Security and Medicare still apply to the contributed amount.
The 22% is a federal income-tax withholding rate, not your final tax. On your return, the bonus is added to your other income and taxed at your marginal bracket. The 22% is just how much your employer set aside up front.
Yes. Signing bonuses, retention bonuses, referral bonuses, and year-end bonuses are all supplemental wages taxed under the same 22% federal supplemental rule plus FICA and state tax.
In 41 states, yes. Nine states have no wage income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming), so a bonus earned there avoids state tax.