Income Tax Estimator: Tax Owed & Net Income (2026)
Use this income tax estimator when you already know — or want to test — an effective total tax-rate assumption. It converts that rate into estimated tax dollars and net income. It does not infer your filing status or state brackets; use the state-aware take-home calculator when you want those components modeled separately.
On this page: Calculator · Reference table · Which rate to use · FAQs
Estimated tax: $
Net income after tax: $
Quick flat-rate estimate only. For a bracket-based federal/FICA estimate with state planning inputs, use the take-home pay calculator.
Estimated tax and net income: quick reference table (2026)
Here's estimated income tax and net income at common salary levels using flat effective rates:
| Gross Income | Tax (20% rate) | Net (20%) | Tax (25% rate) | Net (25%) | Tax (30% rate) | Net (30%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $8,000 | $32,000 | $10,000 | $30,000 | $12,000 | $28,000 |
| $50,000 | $10,000 | $40,000 | $12,500 | $37,500 | $15,000 | $35,000 |
| $60,000 | $12,000 | $48,000 | $15,000 | $45,000 | $18,000 | $42,000 |
| $75,000 | $15,000 | $60,000 | $18,750 | $56,250 | $22,500 | $52,500 |
| $100,000 | $20,000 | $80,000 | $25,000 | $75,000 | $30,000 | $70,000 |
| $120,000 | $24,000 | $96,000 | $30,000 | $90,000 | $36,000 | $84,000 |
| $150,000 | $30,000 | $120,000 | $37,500 | $112,500 | $45,000 | $105,000 |
Flat-rate scenarios only. For comparison, the standardized 2026 single-filer benchmark at $75,000 is about $61,593/year after federal income tax and employee FICA in Texas or Florida and about $57,397/year in California. Use the take-home pay calculator for a bracket-based planning estimate.
Which effective tax rate should I enter?
Enter an effective total tax rate: the average share of gross income represented by the taxes you want this simple calculator to model. Do not enter your top federal bracket by itself. For employees, a useful planning rate can include federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and applicable state/local taxes.
| Gross salary | TX / FL federal + FICA | California federal + FICA + CA PIT/SDI |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | ~15.3% | ~19.2% |
| $75,000 | ~17.9% | ~23.5% |
| $100,000 | ~20.8% | ~27.8% |
| $150,000 | ~24.1% | ~32.7% |
Standardized 2026 examples for a single filer with no pre-tax benefits or local taxes. Texas and Florida have no individual state income tax on wages; California includes the site's validated 2026 PIT-withholding model plus 1.3% SDI. Your own effective rate can be materially different.
For a bracket-based planning estimate, use the take-home pay calculator. For the federal inputs, see the IRS 2026 adjustments.
How this tax estimator works
This calculator applies a single flat effective rate to your gross income:
- Estimated tax = Gross income × effective tax rate
- Net income after tax = Gross income × (1 − effective tax rate)
Example: $75,000 gross at 25% effective rate = $18,750 estimated tax · $56,250 net.
This is a simplified estimate. Actual tax can be higher or lower than the result because progressive brackets, deductions, credits, payroll taxes, state/local rules, and benefits are not inferred from the gross-income number alone. For a bracket-based planning calculation, use the take-home pay calculator, which separates federal income tax, employee FICA, and state assumptions.
Build an effective tax rate from your pay stub
If you have a recent pay stub, you can create a personalized starting rate instead of guessing. Add the taxes you want this tool to represent — for example federal income-tax withholding, employee Social Security and Medicare, and state/local income taxes — then divide that total by the same period's gross pay.
Effective tax-rate estimate = selected taxes ÷ gross pay × 100. If year-to-date gross wages are $30,000 and the taxes you want to model total $5,400, the historical rate is 18%. Enter 18% above to turn a future gross-income scenario into estimated tax dollars and net income.
Keep benefit contributions separate from taxes. A 401(k), HSA, health-insurance premium, garnishment, or other payroll deduction can change the deposit you receive, but it should not automatically be counted as “tax” in this rate. Also remember that a year-to-date withholding ratio is a budgeting input, not a prediction of your final refund or balance due.
Income tax estimate vs. withholding estimate
This page answers a deliberately simple scenario question: if I assume X% of gross income goes to the taxes I selected, how many dollars does that leave? It is useful for budgeting and sensitivity testing because you control the rate.
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator serves a different purpose: it helps employees and pension recipients estimate federal income-tax withholding and prepare Form W-4 or W-4P changes. It is the better choice when your question is whether enough federal income tax is being withheld from paychecks.
For a salary-level estimate that separately models 2026 federal income tax, employee FICA, and state assumptions, use the take-home pay calculator. This separation keeps the tools from pretending that one flat percentage can reproduce every payroll or tax-return calculation.
Ready to file? Reconcile the estimate on your tax return
TurboTax↗ — supports federal and state filing and reconciles withholding with return calculations
FreeTaxUSA↗ — free federal filing, low-cost state return for any income level
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Related income & pay calculators
- Take-home pay calculator 2026 federal/FICA calculation with state-aware planning assumptions
- Net hourly wage calculator Estimate after-tax hourly pay at any wage and effective tax rate
- Salary calculator Annual salary to monthly, biweekly, weekly, and hourly — with after-tax estimates
- Biweekly paycheck calculator Convert any salary to biweekly net pay with a full reference table
- Compare take-home pay by state Side-by-side: enter one salary and compare any two states instantly
- Effective tax rate explained Why your effective rate is always lower than your top bracket
Tax estimator: FAQs
What is an effective tax rate?
An effective tax rate is tax divided by the income base being measured. It is an average, not the marginal rate on your next dollar of taxable income.
How accurate is this tax estimator?
The arithmetic is accurate for the effective rate you enter, but that rate is an assumption. The calculator does not independently compute your progressive federal brackets, state deductions, credits, benefits, or local taxes.
Can I use this for budgeting?
Yes, as a quick scenario tool. A good starting point is your own year-to-date withholding divided by gross income, adjusted for known changes. For a benchmark, the site's 2026 federal-income-tax-plus-FICA effective rates are about 15.3% at $50,000, 17.9% at $75,000, 20.8% at $100,000, and 24.1% at $150,000 in a no-state-income-tax wage example.
Does this calculator include state taxes?
Only if you include them in the effective rate you enter. For a state-aware planning estimate, use the take-home pay calculator or a dedicated state paycheck calculator.
What effective tax rate should I enter?
Use a rate that reflects the taxes you want to model, ideally informed by your own payroll history. Do not simply enter your top federal bracket, because an effective total rate can include lower federal brackets, payroll taxes, and applicable state/local taxes.
How is this different from the take-home pay calculator?
This page applies one user-entered percentage to gross income. The take-home pay calculator separately models federal income tax, optional FICA, and state-tax assumptions, so it is better for bracket-based planning.