Tax Calculator
Estimate income tax, effective tax rate, and after-tax income using a simplified progressive model for learning and scenario comparison.
For educational purposes only. This calculator provides general estimates and does not provide financial, trading, tax, or legal advice.
Runs locally in your browser. No account. No signups.
How This Tax Estimate Works
This calculator estimates taxes by applying a simplified progressive bracket model to an estimated taxable income amount. It then reports total estimated tax, effective tax rate, and an after-tax income estimate. The goal is clarity and comparison: it is not designed for filing, compliance, or exact liability.
Note: bracket thresholds and deduction defaults in this tool are simplified and may not match official IRS tables for a given year.
What the calculator does (high-level)
- Selects a simplified bracket set based on tax year and filing status.
- Estimates income tax by applying bracket rates to the taxable income amount.
- Optionally subtracts credits (simplified dollar reduction, not modeled with phaseouts).
- Optionally adds an extra flat percentage as a rough state/local add-on.
- Optionally adds payroll taxes (simplified employee-side Social Security and Medicare estimate).
- Converts annual results into per-paycheck numbers using your selected pay frequency.
Quick mode vs. Detailed mode
- Quick mode: you enter taxable income directly. Best when you already have a taxable income estimate.
- Detailed mode: you enter gross income and simplified deductions; the calculator derives taxable income.
Illustrative Example (Not Filing-Accurate)
Suppose a scenario uses $60,000 taxable income and adds a 5% flat add-on to approximate a local tax. The calculator will:
- Apply simplified progressive brackets to estimate income tax.
- Add the extra flat tax as an approximation (60,000 × 5%).
- Show total estimated tax, effective rate, and after-tax income, plus per-paycheck amounts.
Real tax outcomes can differ due to rule details, income composition, phaseouts, deductions, credits, payroll definitions, and jurisdiction rules.
Marginal vs. effective tax rate
In a progressive model, a higher tax rate generally applies only to the portion of income that falls within a higher bracket. That’s why your effective rate (total estimated tax divided by income) is typically lower than your top marginal rate.
Withholding vs. tax liability
Withholding is a payment method (what gets withheld from paychecks). Tax liability is what a full-year filing model determines after applying rules, deductions, credits, and income types. This tool is focused on simplified concept-level estimates and comparisons.
How to Use This Calculator
Step 1: Choose your mode
- Quick Estimate: enter an annual taxable income number directly.
- Detailed Estimate: enter gross income and let the calculator derive an estimated taxable income.
Step 2: Pick tax year and filing status
These settings switch the simplified bracket set and the simplified standard deduction used in Detailed mode. The intent is comparison across scenarios, not exact filing results.
Step 3: Add optional assumptions only if they help your comparison
- Extra flat tax rate: a rough add-on for state/local context (not a full jurisdiction model).
- Payroll taxes: adds a simplified employee-side estimate (useful for understanding “income tax vs payroll tax”).
- Compare two scenarios: shows Scenario A vs Scenario B side-by-side for fast “what-if” checks.
Step 4: Read the outputs correctly
- Estimated total tax: combined estimate from income tax + extra flat add-on + optional payroll taxes (and minus simplified credits in Detailed mode).
- Effective tax rate: total estimated tax divided by the income figure used (taxable in Quick mode; gross in Detailed mode).
- After-tax income: remaining amount after the estimate (simplified).
What This Calculator Includes (and What It Doesn’t)
Included (simplified)
- Progressive bracket-style income tax estimate based on selected filing status.
- Effective tax rate and after-tax income estimate.
- Optional flat percentage add-on to approximate state/local income taxes.
- Optional simplified payroll tax estimate (employee-side Social Security and Medicare).
- Optional scenario comparison with side-by-side outputs.
Not included (common real-world factors)
- Full treatment of tax credits (eligibility rules, phaseouts, refundable vs. nonrefundable details).
- Itemized deduction limits and category-by-category rules.
- AMT, NIIT, and other special taxes.
- Capital gains brackets, qualified dividends, and mixed income composition.
- Self-employment tax and employer payroll components.
- W-4 withholding mechanics, paycheck-specific withholding tables, and timing effects.
- State-by-state bracket structures, local taxes, and municipal filing rules.
This page prioritizes clarity and education over legal/filing precision.
Tax Concepts Glossary (Quick Reference)
Gross income
The total income figure before deductions and certain adjustments (simplified in this calculator).
Taxable income
The portion of income the bracket model applies to, after deductions and certain adjustments.
Standard deduction vs. itemized deductions
In many tax systems, you either take a standard deduction or list itemized deductions. This calculator uses a simplified standard deduction default by year and status, or uses your entered itemized total (without modeling category limits).
Tax credits
Credits in this calculator are treated as a simplified dollar reduction after the bracket estimate. Real credits can have rules, limits, phaseouts, and refundable details that are not modeled here.
Payroll taxes
If enabled, this calculator estimates simplified employee-side Social Security and Medicare. Real payroll treatment can vary by wage definitions, benefit elections, and employer systems.
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Misreading the Output)
- Entering gross income in Quick mode: Quick mode expects taxable income. If you only know gross income, use Detailed mode.
- Assuming the extra flat rate equals real state tax: many jurisdictions are bracketed or have different rules by income type.
- Confusing withholding with liability: withholding is a payment method; liability depends on full filing rules and your full-year situation.
- Treating estimates as exact: use the output for learning and rough comparisons, not filing accuracy.
- Comparing mismatched inputs: if you compare scenarios, keep year/status/frequency consistent so you’re isolating the change you care about.
Related Tools & Guides
If you’re exploring take-home pay and budgeting concepts, these pages may help for education and comparison:
Tax Calculator FAQ
Is this calculator accurate enough to file taxes?
No. This tool provides educational estimates using simplified assumptions. It is not a filing tool and does not model all rules, credits, limitations, income types, or jurisdiction-specific requirements.
What does “taxable income” mean here?
Taxable income is the portion of income that is subject to income tax after deductions and certain adjustments. In Quick mode, you enter an estimated taxable income directly. In Detailed mode, the calculator approximates taxable income from gross income and simplified deduction inputs.
What’s the difference between marginal and effective tax rates?
Marginal rates apply only to the income within a bracket (typically the last dollars of income). Effective tax rate is total estimated tax divided by the income figure used for the calculation.
Does the extra flat tax rate represent my real state tax?
Not necessarily. It is a simplified add-on for rough comparisons. Many states use brackets, have deductions/credits, or treat income types differently.
Why does my paycheck withholding look different from this estimate?
Withholding depends on payroll settings and employer systems, and it’s a payment method rather than an exact reflection of liability. Actual tax liability depends on filing rules and your full-year situation. This tool is meant for education and comparison.
What does the payroll taxes toggle do?
If enabled, the calculator adds a simplified employee-side estimate for Social Security and Medicare. It does not model employer-side taxes, all payroll definitions, or every payroll nuance.
Does this calculator store or send my information?
No. Calculations run locally in your browser and inputs are not stored or transmitted.
Can this calculate capital gains taxes or qualified dividends?
Not in a detailed filing-accurate way. This calculator is designed around a simplified “regular income” progressive model.
For broader context, see: How Taxes Affect Your Money, Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rate, and Withholding vs. Actual Tax Bill.
Reviewed & Updated
Calculator logic and on-page content reviewed for clarity and educational accuracy. Last review: December 2025.