Income Tax Calculator

Estimate your federal and state income tax, FICA, and take-home pay (single filer, example brackets).

2025 federal tax brackets, single filer (example)

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For educational purposes only. Consult a financial advisor.

What is an Income Tax Calculator?

An income tax calculator gives you a quick estimate of how much federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) you'll pay on your salary — and what's left as take-home pay. It's a simple way to get a ballpark figure for budgeting or comparing job offers, without filling out a full tax return.

How to Use This Income Tax Calculator

  1. Enter your gross annual income — your total salary before any deductions.
  2. Enter any pre-tax deductions, such as 401(k) contributions or pre-tax health insurance premiums, which reduce your taxable income.
  3. Enter your state income tax rate — the default value is an example only, since rates vary widely by state (and some states have no income tax at all).
  4. Review the breakdown of federal tax, state tax, FICA, and your estimated annual take-home pay.

How is Income Tax Calculated?

This calculator uses example 2025 federal tax brackets for a single filer, applied to your taxable income (gross income minus pre-tax deductions and a standard deduction of $15,000). Federal tax brackets are progressive — each portion of your income is taxed at the rate for that bracket, not your entire income at one flat rate.

FICA: Social Security is calculated at 6.2% of gross income, and Medicare at 1.45% of gross income (these are example rates reflecting commonly used payroll tax rates).

Example: For a $75,000 gross income with no pre-tax deductions and a 5% example state tax rate, taxable income after the standard deduction is $60,000. Federal tax is calculated progressively across the brackets, FICA comes to roughly $5,738 (6.2% + 1.45% of $75,000), and state tax is roughly $3,750 — leaving an estimated take-home pay. (Note: all figures in this example are for illustration purposes only and are based on a single-filer example and do not represent your actual tax situation.)

Income Tax in the US

The US uses a progressive federal income tax system with brackets that apply to a single filer's taxable income in this calculator (married filing jointly, head of household, and other filing statuses have different brackets and standard deductions). On top of federal tax, most states charge their own income tax — rates range from 0% in several states to over 10% in others — while Social Security and Medicare (FICA) are withheld from nearly every paycheck regardless of state. The federal tax year runs January through December, with returns typically due by April 15.

Tips for Using This Income Tax Calculator

  • Increase your pre-tax deductions field to see how contributing more to a 401(k) or similar account can lower your taxable income and tax bill.
  • Look up your actual state income tax rate — it can range from 0% to over 10%, so the default example rate may be far from your real number.
  • Remember this calculator assumes a single filer with the standard deduction — your actual filing status, credits, and itemized deductions can change your real tax bill significantly.
  • Use this calculator alongside the Take-Home Paycheck Calculator to see how annual figures translate into a per-paycheck amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this calculator use my actual tax bracket?

It uses example 2025 federal tax brackets for a single filer. Your actual bracket depends on your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), which can have different bracket thresholds and standard deductions.

What is FICA and why is it included?

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, which funds Social Security (6.2% of wages) and Medicare (1.45% of wages). These are withheld from almost every paycheck in addition to federal and state income tax.

Why is the state tax rate just an example?

State income tax rates vary enormously — some states have no income tax at all, while others have rates above 10%, often with their own brackets. Enter your actual state's rate for a more accurate estimate.

What are pre-tax deductions?

Pre-tax deductions are amounts taken from your paycheck before income tax is calculated, such as traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contributions and many employer health insurance premiums. They reduce your taxable income.

Does this calculator account for tax credits?

No. This calculator estimates tax based on income, the standard deduction, and example brackets only. Tax credits (such as the Child Tax Credit) and itemized deductions are not included and could significantly change your actual tax bill.

Is this calculator a substitute for filing my taxes?

No. This tool is for general estimation and educational purposes only. For an accurate tax calculation and filing, use official IRS resources or consult a qualified tax professional.

Disclaimer: The information, rates, and figures provided on this page are for educational and illustrative purposes only. All rates and examples shown are sample values based on a single-filer example and do not reflect your actual tax situation. Tax rules and rates change frequently. Always consult a qualified tax professional before making any financial decisions.