Withholding
Withholding is the income tax your employer takes out of each paycheck and sends to the IRS on your behalf, based on the W-4 you fill out. Get it right and you roughly break even at tax time; too little means a bill, too much means a refund of your own money.
A big refund isn't a win — it means you gave the government an interest-free loan all year. Adjusting your W-4 after a raise, marriage, or new child keeps withholding aligned with what you actually owe.
Put it to work
Take-Home Pay Calculator
See your actual paycheck after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), health premiums, and state tax — per paycheck and per year (2026 figures).
Federal Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax: total tax, effective and marginal rates, and a bracket-by-bracket breakdown using official IRS figures.