{
  "slug": "how-much-tax-will-i-owe-on-a-bonus",
  "title": "How Much Tax Will I Owe on a Bonus?",
  "heading": "How Much Tax Will I Owe on a Bonus?",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-tax-will-i-owe-on-a-bonus",
  "summary": "A $5,000 bonus withheld at the IRS supplemental flat rate of 22% federal plus 7.65% FICA has about $1,483 withheld, leaving $3,517.",
  "description": "The IRS allows employers to withhold bonuses at a flat 22% federal supplemental rate (37% above $1 million in a year) instead of your regular withholding bracket, plus standard FICA taxes (7.65% for Social Security and Medicare) and any state tax. This calculator applies those withholding rates to estimate your actual take-home bonus.",
  "formula": "Federal Withholding = Bonus × 22% (or 37% above $1M). FICA = Bonus × 7.65%. State Tax = Bonus × State Rate. Net Bonus = Bonus − All Withholding.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=how-much-tax-will-i-owe-on-a-bonus",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "bonus",
      "label": "Bonus amount",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "stateTaxRate",
      "label": "State tax rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 13
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "netBonus",
      "label": "Net (take-home) bonus",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "totalWithholding",
      "label": "Total withheld",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "federal",
      "label": "Federal withholding (22%/37%)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "fica",
      "label": "FICA (Social Security + Medicare)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Bonus amount: 5000 $",
      "State tax rate: 5 %"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Net (take-home) bonus: $3,267.50",
      "Total withheld: $1,732.50",
      "Federal withholding (22%/37%): $1,100.00",
      "FICA (Social Security + Medicare): $382.50"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter bonus amount ($).",
      "Enter state tax rate (%).",
      "Read your net (take-home) bonus on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "bonus": 3000,
        "stateTaxRate": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "bonus": 5000,
        "stateTaxRate": 5
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "bonus": 8000,
        "stateTaxRate": 8
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How much tax will I owe on a bonus?",
      "a": "A $5,000 bonus withheld at the 22% federal supplemental rate plus 7.65% FICA and a 5% state rate has $1,732.50 withheld, leaving a net bonus of about $3,267.50."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is the 22% withholding rate my final tax rate on the bonus?",
      "a": "No — 22% is just the employer withholding rate; when you file your return, your bonus income is taxed at your actual marginal bracket, meaning you could owe more or get some of the withholding back as a refund."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why is my bonus taxed more than my regular paycheck?",
      "a": "It usually isn't taxed at a higher rate long-term, but the 22% flat supplemental withholding often exceeds your effective average tax rate on a single paycheck, making the withholding feel disproportionately large in that moment."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does my employer have to use the flat 22% method?",
      "a": "No — employers can instead add the bonus to your regular paycheck and withhold at your normal marginal bracket rate (the 'aggregate method'), which can result in different withholding than the flat method depending on your income level."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-will-i-take-home-after-tax",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-will-my-raise-be-after-tax"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — How Much Tax Will I Owe on a Bonus? (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-tax-will-i-owe-on-a-bonus)"
}