Withhold Right is a free payroll withholding calculator built specifically for small business owners and bookkeepers who run their own payroll. It calculates how much to withhold from each paycheck — federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax — using official IRS and state formulas.
Federal income tax — Uses the Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems from IRS Publication 15-T (2026 edition). Supports all W-4 configurations: filing status, multiple jobs checkbox, dependents credit, other income, itemized deductions, and additional withholding.
FICA — Social Security and Medicare — Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare at 1.45%, and the Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) for wages above $200,000. Year-to-date wages are used to correctly stop Social Security withholding once the wage base is reached.
State income tax— Implemented for 11 states using each state’s official withholding formula and 2026 tax tables. Supports state W-4 forms, allowances, and state-specific standard deductions.
Bonus and supplemental wages— The IRS flat-rate optional method: 22% for cumulative supplemental wages under $1 million, 37% above. State supplemental rates are applied using each state’s published flat optional rate.
Federal calculations are built directly from IRS Publication 15-T, Table for Percentage Method of Withholding. State calculations are sourced from each state revenue authority’s employer withholding guide or instructions for the current tax year.
For standard inputs — single or married filer, no exotic W-4 elections — results match IRS and state withholding tables exactly. Complex situations (multiple jobs, non-resident aliens, stock options) may require additional adjustments not captured here. Withhold Right is not tax advice; consult a CPA or enrolled agent for edge cases.
All calculations run entirely in your browser. Withhold Right never sees, stores, or transmits employee names, Social Security numbers, wage amounts, or any other personal information. No account is required. Closing the tab clears everything.
Nine no-income-tax states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming) are also supported — federal and FICA only. Additional states are added regularly.
Free, accurate, no account required.
Open Calculator →