Planning estimator
401(k), HSA and Payroll Benefits Take-Home Pay Calculator
Estimate how traditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), HSA, FSA, insurance premiums, commuter benefits, taxes and local rates may affect average monthly take-home pay.
Phase 1 paycheck planning estimate
Federal tax, payroll tax, contribution limits, no-tax states, selected flat-rate presets, and manual state/local estimates.
Important: This calculator provides a simplified planning estimate. It is not tax, legal, payroll, benefits, or investment advice. Actual results may differ based on employer plan rules, payroll timing, withholding elections, credits, deductions, bonuses, other income, state and local treatment, HSA eligibility, FSA rules, and personal circumstances.
Phase 1 scope: This version focuses on wage income, federal income tax, payroll tax, contribution limits, no-state-income-tax selections, selected flat-rate state presets, and manual state/local rates. Full graduated state modules and detailed local tax tables are planned for later phases.
Privacy note: We do not save or store the numbers you enter in this calculator. The estimate is calculated in your browser.
How to use this calculator: Enter your filing status, pay frequency, state or local tax details, annual income, and planned annual paycheck deductions. The take-home pay target is the amount you hope to keep; it does not fill in the other fields automatically. It is used to compare your estimate and, in target mode, to estimate possible contribution room.
Filing, Pay and Location
Used for 401(k) and HSA catch-up contribution limits.
Used only when “Manual state rate” is selected. Flat presets are simplified planning estimates.
Need help choosing a state or local rate? See the State Tax Lookup Table.
Income
Use annual wage amounts. This calculator estimates annual tax liability and average monthly take-home pay.
Retirement Paycheck Deductions
Enter annual amounts unless a field says otherwise. Traditional 401(k) is generally pre-tax for income tax; Roth 401(k) is after-tax but still reduces take-home pay.
Employer match and true-up rules can matter for retirement planning, but this calculator focuses on employee paycheck deductions and average take-home pay.
HSA, FSA and Other Pre-Tax Benefits
Enter annual amounts for HSA, FSA, premiums, commuter benefits and other pre-tax payroll deductions.
Only people covered by an eligible high-deductible health plan and meeting HSA eligibility rules may contribute to an HSA. Employer contributions count toward the annual HSA limit.
FSA elections may be subject to use-it-or-lose-it rules, carryover limits, grace periods, and employer plan terms.
Tax Treatment Notes
Why can HSA savings be higher than 401(k) savings?
HSA payroll contributions may reduce federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. Traditional 401(k) contributions generally reduce income tax but not Social Security or Medicare tax.
HSA payroll contributions may reduce federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. Traditional 401(k) contributions generally reduce income tax but not Social Security or Medicare tax.
Why can Medicare wages stay higher than federal wages?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal taxable wages but generally do not reduce Medicare wages. Roth 401(k) contributions reduce take-home pay but do not reduce taxable wages.
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal taxable wages but generally do not reduce Medicare wages. Roth 401(k) contributions reduce take-home pay but do not reduce taxable wages.
Age and Contribution Limit Notes
401(k) catch-up contributions
For 2026, the regular employee 401(k) limit is $24,500. If your plan permits catch-up contributions, age 50 or older generally adds an $8,000 catch-up. Ages 60 through 63 get a higher $11,250 catch-up instead. Traditional and Roth 401(k) employee contributions share the same employee limit.
For 2026, the regular employee 401(k) limit is $24,500. If your plan permits catch-up contributions, age 50 or older generally adds an $8,000 catch-up. Ages 60 through 63 get a higher $11,250 catch-up instead. Traditional and Roth 401(k) employee contributions share the same employee limit.
HSA catch-up contributions
For 2026, HSA limits are $4,400 for self-only HDHP coverage and $8,750 for family HDHP coverage. Age 55 or older can add a $1,000 HSA catch-up. Employer and employee HSA contributions count toward the same annual HSA limit.
For 2026, HSA limits are $4,400 for self-only HDHP coverage and $8,750 for family HDHP coverage. Age 55 or older can add a $1,000 HSA catch-up. Employer and employee HSA contributions count toward the same annual HSA limit.
Where to Find These Numbers
A final paystub is usually better than a W-2 for annual gross pay and benefit deductions. A prior W-2 can still help you identify how items were reported.
| Calculator input | Where it may appear |
|---|---|
| Annual gross wages | Often easiest to find on the final paystub as gross pay. W-2 Box 1 is federal taxable wages after some pre-tax deductions; Boxes 3 and 5 may differ. |
| Bonus or supplemental wages | Often shown separately on paystubs. On a W-2, bonuses are usually included in wage boxes rather than separately labeled. |
| Other annual taxable wages | May include taxable fringe benefits, taxable awards, RSU/stock compensation, or other wage items. Look at paystub earnings lines and W-2 Boxes 1, 3, and 5. |
| Traditional 401(k) | W-2 Box 12, Code D for 401(k) elective deferrals. It generally reduces Box 1 but not Social Security or Medicare wages. |
| Roth 401(k) | W-2 Box 12, Code AA for designated Roth 401(k) contributions. It is after-tax, so it usually remains included in wage boxes. |
| HSA payroll and employer HSA | W-2 Box 12, Code W generally includes employer HSA contributions plus employee HSA contributions made through payroll. |
| Health FSA | Usually best found on paystubs or benefits elections. A health FSA funded only by salary reduction may not appear as a separate W-2 item. |
| Dependent care FSA | W-2 Box 10 reports dependent care benefits. |
| Medical, dental and vision premiums | Usually shown on paystubs or benefits elections. W-2 Box 12, Code DD may show employer-sponsored health coverage cost, but it is not the same as your pre-tax premium deduction. |
| Commuter, parking and other pre-tax payroll deductions | Often shown on paystubs, benefits portals, or sometimes W-2 Box 14/14a with employer-specific labels. Examples can include transit, parking, or other employer benefit deductions, but tax treatment varies. |
Contribution Summary
| Contribution | Planned annual amount | 2026 limit | Remaining | Tax treatment |
|---|
Tax Savings Summary
Detailed Outputs
Gross pay$0
Income-tax-reducing deductions$0
Federal taxable income$0
State taxable income$0
Social Security wages$0
Medicare wages$0
Related: State Tax Lookup Table for 401(k), HSA and Take-Home Pay Planning, 2026 Federal Income Tax Calculator, 2026 Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator.