W-4 Withholding Calculator
Estimate how much federal income tax should be withheld from each paycheck so you neither owe a lot at tax time nor get an oversized refund. Enter your annual salary, pay frequency, filing status, optional other income, pre-tax deductions, and deduction method (standard or itemized). We use 2024 federal brackets to estimate annual tax, then divide by pay periods to get estimated withholding per paycheck. This is for planning only—use the IRS withholding estimator or a tax professional for your actual W-4.
W-4 withholding estimate
2024 brackets. For planning only.
How this is calculated
Total income = annual salary + other income. Taxable income = total income − pre-tax deductions − (standard or itemized) deduction. Standard deduction depends on filing status (2024 values); if you choose Itemized, enter your total itemized deductions. Federal tax is computed with the same progressive brackets as our tax calculator. Estimated withholding per paycheck = estimated annual tax ÷ number of pay periods per year (52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semi-monthly, 12 monthly). If you enter extra withholding per paycheck, we show whether you would over- or under-withhold for the year.
Use this tool for
Use it when starting a new job, after a raise, or when you want to adjust your W-4 to target a smaller refund or avoid a balance due. Pair with the tax calculator to see your total liability and with the take-home pay calculator to see net pay after withholding.
Common questions
Are the rates up to date?
We use representative rates. Verify with your state revenue department or tax advisor.
