What "withholding" is
Withholding is the federal tax your employer takes out of each paycheck and sends to the IRS on your behalf, based on the W-4 you filled in. This estimator spreads your estimated annual federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) evenly across your pay periods, so you can see roughly what each paycheck should have deducted.
Why it's an estimate, not your exact stub
Real payroll systems use the IRS percentage-method tables and your specific W-4 entries (dependents, extra withholding, multiple jobs), so your actual stub may differ. Employers also tend to over-withhold slightly, which is why many people get a refund. This tool assumes a single filer taking the standard deduction, with no extra W-4 adjustments.
Using it to check your W-4
If your real withholding is much higher than this estimate, you may be giving the IRS an interest-free loan — a smaller refund but more cash each month could be better. If it's much lower, you could owe at tax time. Adjust your W-4 with your employer to close the gap.
Example: $60,000, paid biweekly
Federal income tax is about $4,978 and FICA $4,590 a year — roughly $368 per biweekly paycheck withheld, leaving about $1,940 net (before any state tax).
Does this include state tax?
No — it's federal income tax and FICA only. Your state and any local taxes are withheld separately and vary by location.
Why is my real paycheck different?
Your W-4 details, pre-tax deductions (401(k), health insurance), and your employer's exact withholding tables all change the number. This is a clean single-filer estimate.
More United States calculators
This estimator spreads estimated annual federal income tax and FICA across pay periods for a single filer in 2026 and is for general information only — not financial or tax advice. It excludes state/local tax, W-4 adjustments, pre-tax deductions and credits, and shows an estimate rather than exact payroll withholding. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator for your exact position. Sources: IRS, SSA.