Bonus tax calculator for 2026. See how much of a bonus survives federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare and state tax, and compare the flat 22% supplemental method with the aggregate method.
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| $10,000 bonus on $80,000, single, Texas | $7,035 take home (22% method) |
| $5,000 bonus on $150,000, single, California | $3,052 take home (22% method) |
| $20,000 bonus on $200,000, joint, Florida | $15,310 take home (22% method) |
The percentage method withholds a flat 22% of the bonus for federal income tax, ignoring everything else on your W-4. It is simple and it is what most payroll systems default to. The aggregate method adds the bonus to a regular pay period, withholds using your normal brackets, and subtracts what was already withheld, this usually withholds less for middle incomes and more for high ones.
Whichever method is used, FICA is the same: 6.2% Social Security until the wage base runs out, and 1.45% Medicare with no cap. On a $10,000 bonus paid to someone earning $80,000 in Texas, the two methods differ by $0 in take home.
Bonuses are supplemental wages, and the IRS lets employers withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax instead of running them through the bracket tables. It is a withholding rate, not a tax rate, the actual tax is worked out on your return, and you get a refund if too much was withheld.
No. A bonus is taxed as ordinary income at exactly the same rates as salary. It can feel heavier because withholding uses the flat 22% method, which is often more than your real marginal rate.
Yes, unless your wages for the year have already passed the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Once they have, no further Social Security is withheld on anything, bonus included.