Texas uses the federal wage floor for many covered jobs and does not have a broad individual state income tax.
2026 federal withholding method
Texas paycheck calculator
Estimate a regular paycheck using annual salary, pay frequency, 2026 IRS Publication 15-T, W-4 Steps 2 through 4, Social Security, Medicare, and user-entered deductions.
Texas does not impose a personal income tax. Texas state wage withholding is $0, and unemployment tax is paid by employers rather than deducted from employee wages. Benefits, local taxes, exemptions, garnishments, and employer-specific deductions may still change take-home pay.
TX wage snapshot
What to check before using this estimate
Federal weekly overtime is the main baseline for many covered nonexempt workers.
Final pay timing can differ depending on whether the employee resigns or is discharged.
Method
How the paycheck estimate works
Federal income tax withholding
The calculator follows the automated percentage method in IRS Publication 15-T for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later. Filing status and W-4 Steps 2, 3, and 4 can change the result.
Social Security and Medicare
The estimate uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 and accepts year-to-date wages so the current paycheck can stop Social Security withholding at the annual limit.
State employee payroll deductions
Texas does not impose individual income tax on wages. Texas unemployment tax is an employer obligation, so the calculator does not subtract it from employee take-home pay. Approved exemptions and employer-paid amounts are not inferred.
Sources and update checks: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), SSA contribution and benefit base, Texas Comptroller tax ruling, Texas unemployment tax basics, Texas Minimum Wage Law. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.
Worked example
$85,000 salary paid biweekly in Texas
This example uses a 2020-or-later Form W-4, single filing status, no Step 2 checkbox, no Step 3 or Step 4 adjustments, and year-to-date wages below every applicable cap. Benefits, local items, and voluntary deductions are $0.
| Paycheck item | Estimated amount | How it is treated |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $3,269.23 | $85,000 divided by 26 pay periods |
| Federal income tax withholding | $379.62 | 2026 Publication 15-T percentage method |
| Social Security | $202.69 | 6.2% while below the 2026 wage base |
| Medicare | $47.40 | 1.45% at this year-to-date wage level |
| State employee payroll deductions | $0.00 | Texas state wage withholding is $0, and unemployment tax is paid by employers rather than deducted from employee wages. |
| Estimated take-home pay | $2,639.52 | Before benefits, local items, and voluntary deductions |
Year-to-date cap scenario
Texas unemployment tax does not become an employee deduction at any year-to-date wage level. Enter year-to-date Social Security wages so the federal 6.2% employee withholding stops correctly at the 2026 wage base.
Items to enter separately
Health premiums, retirement contributions, garnishments, employer-specific deductions, and applicable local items can change the deposited amount. Enter known per-paycheck amounts instead of treating this example as a pay stub.
Overtime connection
Overtime can change both taxable wages and the amount potentially eligible for the federal qualified overtime deduction. Only the qualifying FLSA premium is considered for that deduction.
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