IRS Withholding Tax Calculator
Estimate your federal income tax withholding per paycheck for tax year 2025. Enter your pay, filing status and dependents.
IRS Withholding Tax Calculator
Estimate your federal income tax withholding per paycheck for tax year 2025. Enter your gross pay, filing status and dependents — the calculator annualises your pay, applies the standard deduction and the 2025 federal brackets, then divides the result by your pay periods.
Enter your pay above and press Calculate. Your estimated federal withholding per paycheck will appear here.
Estimate only, for planning. This is a simplified calculation, not the IRS Publication 15-T withholding method, not official IRS withholding, and not tax advice. Check your W-4 with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator or a tax professional. Plugin v1.0.0
Key Notes
- This is a simplified estimate for tax year 2025 — not the official IRS withholding calculator and not tax advice.
- Example: $2,000 biweekly pay, Single, no children = about $158.13 federal withholding per paycheck.
- 2025 standard deduction: $15,750 single, $31,500 married filing jointly, $23,625 head of household.
- Child Tax Credit: up to $2,000 per qualifying child under 17.
- Update your W-4 if your pay, filing status, or dependents change.
How the IRS withholding calculator works
Enter your gross pay per paycheck, how often you are paid, your filing status, and your dependents. The calculator annualises your pay, subtracts the standard deduction for tax year 2025, applies the federal income tax brackets, subtracts the Child Tax Credit where it applies, and divides the result by your pay periods. The figure is your estimated federal income tax withholding per paycheck.
This is an estimate for planning only. It is not the IRS Publication 15-T withholding method and it is not tax advice. If your pay, deductions, or family situation change, update your W-4 and check the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
What affects your withholding
Your filing status, how often you are paid, pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k), and the number of qualifying children all change the result. A larger paycheck does not mean a higher rate on all of your income — federal tax is progressive, so each bracket applies only to the income in that bracket.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official IRS withholding calculator?
No, this is not the official IRS withholding calculator. This is a simplified IRS withholding tax calculator estimate made by MyTaxGurus. For the official IRS withholding calculator figure, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and your W-4.
Does it include Social Security and Medicare?
When people ask “does the IRS withholding tax calculator include Social Security and Medicare”, the answer is: those are shown separately in the results as information only. The main withholding figure is federal income tax only.
Why might my actual withholding differ?
If you search “why is my tax withholding different from the calculator”, the usual reasons are bonuses, overtime, multiple jobs, a working spouse, and itemised deductions, which are not in this simplified calculation. Your employer uses Publication 15-T and your W-4, which can give a different result.
How much tax is withheld from a $2,000 biweekly paycheck?
For the query “how much tax is withheld from a $2000 biweekly paycheck”, for a single filer with no children in 2025, about $158.13 per paycheck in federal income tax, on $52,000 annual gross pay. Your result changes with filing status, pay frequency, and dependents.
How do I calculate my federal tax withholding?
To calculate federal tax withholding, annualise your gross pay, subtract the 2025 standard deduction ($15,750 single, $31,500 married filing jointly), apply the federal tax brackets progressively, subtract credits like the $2,000 Child Tax Credit, then divide by your pay periods.
What is the standard deduction for 2025?
For “what is the standard deduction for 2025”, it is $15,750 for single and married filing separately, $31,500 for married filing jointly, and $23,625 for head of household.
How do I change my withholding?
To change your withholding, submit a new Form W-4 to your employer. The W-4 no longer uses allowances — you now enter dependents, other income, and any extra withholding you want per paycheck.
How many dependents should I claim for withholding?
For “how many dependents should I claim for withholding”, claim qualifying children under 17 and other dependents as they apply to you. Each qualifying child can reduce your tax by up to $2,000 through the Child Tax Credit, and other dependents by $500 each.
Does tax withholding include state tax?
For “does tax withholding include state tax”, no. This IRS withholding tax calculator estimates federal income tax only. State tax, local tax, and other deductions are separate and are not included in the result.
Why is too much or too little tax withheld from my paycheck?
If you ask “why is too much tax withheld from my paycheck” or “why is too little tax withheld”, it usually happens after a pay rise, a new job, marriage, a new child, or a change in deductions. Check your W-4 after any of those changes, and use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to check.