Bonus tax calculator
Estimate your take-home bonus after tax — with the US 22% federal supplemental rate built in.
Estimated take-home bonus
- Gross bonus
- $5,000
- Deduction rate
- 22%
- Tax withheld
- $1,100
- Take-home
- $3,900
- Estimate only. In the US, employers often withhold a flat 22% federal rate on bonuses; Social Security and Medicare (FICA) and any state tax are deducted on top.
- Withholding is not your final tax — your actual liability is reconciled when you file your return.
How your bonus is taxed
A bonus almost never lands in your account at full value, and the reason is withholding. In the United States, bonuses count as supplemental wages, and employers commonly withhold a flat 22% for federal tax — separate from how your regular paycheck is taxed. On top of that come Social Security and Medicare (FICA) and any state income tax. This calculator lets you set a single combined deduction rate and shows what actually reaches you.
The key thing to understand is that withholding is not the same as your final tax bill. The 22% is a flat rate the employer applies up front; your true liability depends on your total income for the year and is reconciled when you file your return. If too much was held back, the excess comes back as a refund. Outside the US the mechanics differ — a bonus is usually taxed at your marginal rate plus social contributions — so you can enter your own effective percentage to model it.
Treat the result as a planning estimate rather than an exact net figure, since real-world deductions depend on your full circumstances. Download the PDF summary to keep a record of the estimate when budgeting around a bonus.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax will I pay on my bonus?
In the US, employers commonly withhold a flat 22% federal rate on bonuses (the supplemental wage rate), with Social Security, Medicare and any state tax on top. This tool estimates your take-home from the deduction rate you enter.
Why is so much taken out of my bonus?
Bonuses are treated as supplemental wages and are often withheld at a flat rate that may be higher than your usual paycheck withholding. It can look like the bonus is 'taxed more', but it is withholding — your real tax is settled when you file.
Is a bonus taxed at a higher rate?
Not in terms of your actual tax rate. The 22% US figure is a withholding rate, not your final tax rate. If too much was withheld, you get it back as a refund; if too little, you owe the difference at filing.
What is the 22% bonus tax rate?
It is the IRS flat federal withholding rate for supplemental wages such as bonuses, up to $1 million. Above $1 million, the excess is withheld at the top federal rate. This is the default in the calculator for the US.
How do I estimate my take-home bonus in other countries?
Outside the US, bonuses are usually taxed at your marginal income-tax rate plus social contributions. Enter your combined effective deduction percentage to estimate the net amount.
Will my bonus push me into a higher tax bracket?
Only the portion of income above a bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate — not your whole income. A bonus can increase withholding for that period, but it does not retroactively raise the tax on your other earnings.
Source: IRS — Publication 15 (supplemental wages) Rates effective 2026-01-01