How your bonus is taxed
When you get a bonus, your employer doesn't run it through your normal paycheck tables. The IRS treats a bonus as supplemental wages, and the standard way to handle a separately-paid bonus is the percentage method: withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax (this rises to 37% on any supplemental pay above $1 million in a year). On top of that come Social Security (6.2%) up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare (1.45%) with no cap, and your state's bonus tax. The calculator above applies all four, so the take-home figure reflects what should actually hit your account.
If you only worked part of the year, many bonus plans prorate the amount. Set "Months worked" below 12 and the tool scales the bonus down — a $6,000 full-year bonus becomes $3,000 if you were employed six months.
State bonus tax rates differ a lot
Federal withholding is the same everywhere, but state tax on a bonus is where the take-home really changes. Some states publish a specific supplemental withholding rate just for bonuses — New York is 11.7% and California is 10.23%, for example. Nine states have no income tax at all, so a bonus there only loses federal tax and FICA. Other states tax bonuses through their regular withholding, so the figure used here is a close estimate based on the state's flat or representative rate.
Which states don't tax bonuses
These nine states have no state income tax, so they take 0% from a bonus: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. A $10,000 bonus in Texas keeps roughly $7,235 after federal tax and FICA; the same bonus in New York loses another ~$1,170 in state tax.
2026 bonus tax rate by state
State withholding applied to a bonus (federal 22% and 7.65% FICA are added on top of these):
| State | 2026 bonus rate |
|---|
Percentage vs aggregate method
There are two ways an employer can withhold on a bonus. The percentage method — used by this calculator — applies the flat 22% federal rate to a bonus paid on its own, which is simple and predictable. The aggregate method lumps the bonus in with your regular paycheck and withholds on the combined total using your normal tax tables; because that can briefly push the pay period into a higher bracket, it sometimes withholds more. Either way it's only withholding — when you file, the bonus is taxed at your real marginal rate and any difference is settled.
Why your bonus looks so heavily taxed
This is the question almost everyone asks when a bonus lands smaller than expected. The flat 22% federal rate is often higher than your actual marginal rate, so if you're in the 12% or 22% bracket you may have had too much withheld — and you get the difference back at tax time. For higher earners in the 32–37% bracket, the 22% can be too low, meaning a bit more is owed at filing. The calculator shows the up-front take-home so you know what to expect in the deposit, not the final settled tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my bonus be after taxes?
Subtract 22% federal, 7.65% FICA, and your state's bonus rate. A $6,000 bonus nets about $4,221 before state tax, and less once your state is applied. Use the calculator above for your exact state.
What is the bonus tax rate in 2026?
A flat 22% federal supplemental rate (37% above $1M a year), plus 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500, 1.45% Medicare, and a state rate from 0% to about 11.7%.
Which states do not tax bonuses?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — the nine states with no income tax.
Why is my bonus taxed so much?
Bonuses are supplemental wages, usually withheld at a flat 22% federal rate plus FICA and state tax. It's withholding, not final tax — over-withholding returns at filing.
How is a bonus taxed in California?
California withholds 10.23% on bonuses on top of 22% federal and 7.65% FICA, so close to 40% can be withheld up front.
Is a bonus taxed differently than my salary?
It's usually withheld differently (flat 22%) but it's still ordinary income, taxed at your real rate when you file.
How much is a 10% bonus on $60,000?
$6,000 gross; about $4,221 take-home after federal withholding and FICA, before state tax.