2025 Gross-Up Paycheck Calculator: Federal, State and Local taxes

The most accurate paycheck calculators for the last 20 years! Use this gross pay to net pay calculator to gross up wages based on net pay. For example, if an employee receives $500 in take-home pay it will calculate the gross amount that must be used when calculating payroll taxes. It determines the amount of gross wages before taxes and deductions that are withheld, given a specific take-home pay amount.

How to Use PaycheckCity’s Gross-Up Calculator

Our gross-up calculator helps you determine the gross amount needed to achieve a specific net pay. This is particularly useful for employers who want to ensure employees receive a specific after-tax amount. Follow these steps to use the calculator effectively.

What You’ll Need

Desired net pay amount
State of employment
Pay date
Filing status information

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select Your State

Choose your state from the dropdown menu. This ensures that state-specific tax rates are applied. If you only want to calculate federal taxes, select the “Federal” option.

2. Enter the Check Date

Input the date for which you want to calculate the gross-up amount. This is important because tax rates can change, and the calculator will use the most current rates for your selected date.

3. Enter the Desired Net Pay

Input the net pay amount you want the employee to receive after all taxes and deductions.

4. Select the Pay Frequency

Choose the appropriate pay frequency (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly) from the dropdown menu.

5. Choose the Filing Status

Select the employee’s filing status:

Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household

6. Enter Allowances and Additional Withholding

Input the number of allowances claimed on the W-4 form
Add any additional withholding amounts, if applicable

7. Include Any Pre-tax Deductions

If there are any pre-tax deductions (e.g., 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums), enter them in the appropriate fields.

8. Add Supplemental Wages (if applicable)

If you’re grossing up a bonus or other supplemental wages, enter this information in the designated field.

9. Calculate the Gross-Up Amount

Click the “Calculate” button to see your results.

10. Analyze Your Results

Review the detailed breakdown, which includes:

Calculated Gross Pay
Federal Withholding
State Withholding (if applicable)
FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
Any deductions entered
The resulting Net Pay (which should match your desired amount)

Tips for Accurate Calculations

Double-check all entered information, especially the desired net pay amount
Ensure you’ve selected the correct state and filing status
Consider any upcoming changes in tax laws that might affect the calculation
For complex situations, consult with a payroll professional

Understanding Gross-Up Calculations

Gross-up calculations are iterative, meaning the calculator performs multiple calculations to find the correct gross amount
The final gross amount will be higher than the desired net pay to account for taxes and deductions
Gross-up calculations are commonly used for bonuses, relocation expenses, or to provide a specific after-tax value to employees

Need assistance? Contact our support team for help with your gross-up calculations.

How Your Paycheck Works

What’s a gross-up calculator?

Also known as a net-to-gross calculation, a gross-up calculator lets you enter a net pay (aka your take-home pay after taxes) and calculate how much gross pay is needed to earn that value. You can use this tool to calculate approximately how much you want to earn to receive a specific paycheck amount.

Are bonuses taxed differently than regular pay?

Yes. Bonuses are taxed more than regular pay because they are considered supplemental income. They are always federally taxed, no matter which tax bracket you’re in.

Bonuses are taxed either by using the percentage method or the aggregate method. PaycheckCity has both percentage and aggregate bonus free calculators.

What is the percentage method for bonuses?

The percentage method is used if your bonus comes in a separate check from your regular paycheck. Your employer withholds a flat 22% (or 37% if over $1 million). This percentage method is also used for other supplemental income such as severance pay, commissions, overtime, etc. Supplemental wages are still taxed Social Security, Medicare, and FUTA taxes.

What is the aggregate method for bonuses?

The aggregate method is used if your bonus is on the same check as your regular paycheck. Your employer will withhold tax from your bonus plus your regular earnings according to your W-4 answers. Your bonus will be taxed the same as your regular pay, including income taxes, Medicare, and Social Security.

Will my bonus be taxed even if I claim exempt in my W4?

Yes, the flat 37% rate applies even if an employee claims exemption in their federal Form W-4 from federal income tax withholding.

Are bonuses taxed by states?

Yes, some states will tax bonus income or supplemental income. Select a state for the calculator to give you the most accurate results.

What are my withholding requirements?

Employers and employees are subject to income tax withholding. There are federal and state withholding requirements. Find federal and state withholding requirements in our Payroll Resources.

What’s the difference between single and head of household?

Someone who qualifies as head of household may be taxed less on their income than if filing as single. This is because the tax brackets are wider meaning you can earn more but be taxed at a lower percentage. This status applies for people who aren’t married, but adhere to special rules. If you’ve paid for more than half the cost of your household (with a qualifying dependent), consider this status. Be sure to double check all the stipulations before selecting, however. Picking the wrong filing status could cost you time and money.

How is Federal Withholding (Federal Income Tax) calculated?

The more taxable income you have, the higher tax rate you are subject to. This calculation process can be complex, so PaycheckCity’s free calculators can do it for you! To learn how to manually calculate federal income tax, use these step-by-step instructions and examples.

The federal income tax is a tax on annual earnings for individuals, businesses, and other legal entities. All wages, salaries, cash gifts from employers, business income, tips, gambling income, bonuses, and unemployment benefits are subject to a federal income tax.

For each payroll, federal income tax is calculated based on the answers provided on the W-4 and year to date income, which is then referenced to the tax tables in IRS Publication 15-T. For 2024, rates are 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, or 37%.

2024 Tax Rate	Single	Married Filing Jointly	Head of Household
10%	$0 to $11,600	$0 to $23,200	$0 to $16,550
12%	$11,601 to $47,150	$23,201 to $94,300	$16,551 to $63,100
22%	$47,151 to $100,525	$94,301 to $201,050	$63,101 to $100,500
24%	$100,526 to $191,950	$201,051 to $383,900	$100,501 to $191,950
32%	$191,951 to $243,725	$383,901 to $487,450	$191,951 to $243,700
35%	$243,726 to $609,350	$487,451 to $731,200	$243,701 to $609,350
37%	$609,351 or more	$731,201 or more	$609,351 or more

What’s the W-4 form, and why is important?

You filled out a W-4 form when you were hired. The W4 form determines the amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck. Completing it accurately ensures proper withholding. States have their own state withholding forms too.

How much are Social Security and Medicare taxes?

Social Security tax is 6.2% on $147,000 of earned income. The maximum Social Security tax for employees is $9,114.

Medicare tax is 1.45%. There is a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax for employees on wages earned after $200,000 ($250,000 for married filing jointly, or $125,000 for married filing separately). This means when an employee’s income reaches that threshold in a calendar year, the employer should withhold 2.35% total for Medicare. Learn more about Social Security and Medicare taxes.

What was updated in the Federal W4 in 2020?

In 2020, the IRS updated the Federal W4 form that eliminated withholding allowances. The redesigned Form W4 makes it easier for your withholding to match your tax liability. Here’s how to answer the new questions:

Step 2: check the box if you have more than one job or you and your spouse both have jobs. This will increase withholding.
Step 3: enter an amount for dependents.The old W4 used to ask for the number of dependents. The new W4 asks for a dollar amount. Here’s how to calculate it: If your total income will be $200k or less ($400k if married) multiply the number of children under 17 by $2,000 and other dependents by $500. Add up the total.
Step 4a: extra income from outside of your job, such as dividends or interest, that usually don't have withholding taken out of them. By entering it here you will withhold for this extra income so you don't owe tax later when filing your tax return.
Step 4b: any additional withholding you want taken out. Any other estimated tax to withhold can be entered here. The more is withheld, the bigger your refund may be and you’ll avoid owing penalties.

If your W4 on file is in the old format (2019 or older), toggle "Use new Form W-4" to change the questions back to the previous form. Employees are currently not required to update it. However if you do need to update it for any reason, you must now use the new Form W-4.

Are some deductions not taxed by federal income tax?

Yes, some examples of pre-tax deductions include 401(k), health insurance, and flexible spending accounts (FSA). To calculate pre-tax deductions, check the Exempt checkboxes, meaning the deduction will be taxed.

What are pre-tax and post-tax deductions?

Pre-tax deductions are deducted before federal/state withholding taxes are imposed. Post-tax deductions are deducted after being taxed. An example of a post-tax deduction is a Roth 401(k).

How can I reduce my taxes?

Explore deductions and credits available, such as contributions to retirement accounts, to potentially lower your taxable income.

State Gross-Up Calculators

Select your state from the list below to see its gross-up calculator.

The calculators on this website are provided by Symmetry Software and are designed to provide general guidance and estimates. These calculators should not be relied upon for accuracy, such as to calculate exact taxes, payroll or other financial data. Neither these calculators nor the providers and affiliates thereof are providing tax or legal advice. You should refer to a professional adviser or accountant regarding any specific requirements or concerns.

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