About ActualPaycheck

ActualPaycheck answers one question: how much of my salary actually lands in my bank account?

Most paycheck calculators bury the answer under sign-up forms and sales pitches. Ours runs instantly in your browser, needs no account, and shows where every dollar goes: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and state payroll programs such as disability insurance and paid family leave.

Where the numbers come from

Federal figures use the IRS's 2026 brackets, standard deduction, Social Security wage base and Child Tax Credit. State figures come from each state's own revenue department: withholding guides, rate schedules and form instructions. The nine states without a wage income tax, plus 20 states with one, have been checked against those official sources for 2026. Pages for the remaining states are clearly marked as estimates until they are verified.

Every number on every page, including the salary tables, comes from the same calculation engine as the interactive calculator, so the pages and the tool always agree. The full list of rules and simplifications is on our methodology page.

Found a mistake?

Tax rules change every year. If something looks off, tell us the state, salary and filing status, and we'll check it against the official tables.

ActualPaycheck provides estimates for informational purposes only. It is not tax, legal or financial advice.