Bonuses are withheld at a flat federal rate. See what actually lands in your account.
A bonus tax calculator estimates the take-home amount of a work bonus after the flat federal supplemental withholding rate, Social Security, Medicare, and a state estimate.
Employers usually withhold federal tax on bonuses at a flat 22% supplemental rate (for amounts under $1 million), rather than at your regular paycheck rate. Combined with Social Security, Medicare, and state tax, that can make a bonus look like it lost a third or more, even if your actual tax rate is lower.
The 22% is withholding, not your true tax. When you file, the bonus is taxed at your real marginal rate like any income, so if that's below the withheld amount you get the difference back as a refund (and if it's higher, you owe a bit more). The calculator estimates the take-home; the final settlement happens at tax time.
Employers withhold federal tax on bonuses at a flat 22% supplemental rate, plus Social Security, Medicare, and state tax. It's withholding, not your final tax.
Possibly. If your real marginal rate is below the 22% withheld, the difference comes back as a refund when you file.
No, it's withheld at a flat rate, but ultimately taxed as ordinary income at your normal marginal rate.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.