About

Plain-English paycheck math, with the assumptions shown next to every result.

TakeHome Buddy is an independent publisher of free US payroll calculators. We are not affiliated with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, any state revenue department, or any payroll or tax-software company.

What this site does

TakeHome Buddy estimates how much of a US paycheck you actually keep. Enter a salary or hourly wage, a pay frequency, a filing status and an optional 401(k) contribution, and the calculator shows federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and, where we publish the data, state income tax. Each state calculator also includes the state's own rules, worked examples at common salaries and answers to common questions.

Where the numbers come from

Federal brackets and the standard deduction follow IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 for 2026, and the Social Security wage base follows the Social Security Administration's 2026 contribution and benefit base. State figures come from each state's revenue department publications. We only publish a state once its rate and deductions have been checked against an official source, which is why some states are not listed yet. The methodology page walks through the formulas and the known limits.

How we keep it accurate

• Tax figures are reviewed each tax year and when a state changes its rates.
• Every calculator page states its assumptions and simplifications.
• Reported errors are checked against the official source and corrected when confirmed.

How our content is made

The explanations, FAQs and page text on this site are drafted with the help of AI tools. The calculators themselves are not AI-generated: they run deterministic code on published tax tables, so the same inputs always produce the same result. We do not use AI to invent figures. Tax rates, brackets and deductions are checked against the official sources listed on the methodology page, and an automated check blocks a state from being published until its data has a recorded source.

Advertising and independence

The site is supported by advertising. Ads do not influence the calculations, and we do not accept payment to change a result or to favor a product.

Important limits

Results are estimates for general information. They are not tax, legal or financial advice, and your actual withholding depends on your employer and your Form W-4. See the terms of use. To report a problem, visit the contact page.