Does this Washington take-home include PFML and WA Cares?

Yes. Employee PFML at 0.807259% of wages up to the Social Security wage base and WA Cares at 0.58% of gross are subtracted in the net. Exemption elections and workers’ compensation premiums stay outside this estimate.

Does Washington have a state income tax on wages in 2026?

No. Washington DOR states the state does not currently have an individual income tax. Your stub should show federal income tax and FICA, not a Washington wage income-tax line. A separate high-income tax begins in 2028 for AGI over $1 million — it is not in this 2026 model.

What is the 9.9% Washington tax I keep hearing about?

DOR describes a 9.9% tax that begins January 1, 2028, for individuals and joint filers with annual AGI exceeding $1 million, with first returns due in 2029. It does not change 2026 paycheck math on this page.

Is this the same as federal withholding on my stub?

Not always. We estimate annual federal liability from IRS 2026 rules, then show it per paycheck. Employers use Form W-4 and IRS withholding tables, which can differ slightly from year-end liability.

Rates verified on 2026-10-11

Estimates only

Washington take-home pay calculator

Tax year 2026 (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026)

Region(required)

Gross pay

Pay frequency

Filing status

Pre-tax 401(k)

Traditional elective deferral — reduces taxable income, not FICA. Cap $24,500/yr (under age 50).

Advanced options

Your age

Age 50+ / 60–63 raise the 401(k) elective deferral cap; age 55+ adds the fixed $1,000 HSA catch-up when present in the verified national file.

Dependents

Adds state/city personal exemptions beyond yourself (and spouse if MFJ) where the state file models them. Federal tax credits for dependents are not modeled.

Roth 401(k)

Does not reduce taxable income. Real plans share the elective deferral limit with pre-tax 401(k).

HSA coverage

HSA contribution (annual)

Self-only $4,400; family $8,750; +$1,000 if age ≥ 55. Payroll HSA reduces FICA. Some states (e.g. California) do not conform — HSA still counts in state wages.

Other pre-tax benefits (annual)

Health/dental/vision, FSA, dependent-care FSA, commuter — reduces AGI and FICA.

Federal deduction

Results update as you type. Methodology · Annual figures are exact; per-paycheck figures are rounded.

Your result will appear here

Tax year 2026

How Washington take-home pay is calculated (2026)

A Washington paycheck estimate on Counttaxes stacks federal income tax, FICA, employee PFML, and WA Cares. Washington DOR confirms there is no current individual income tax on wages, so the verified state file is kind “none” and the state income-tax line is $0. That is why the same salary often nets more here than in California or New York on this site: the gap is missing state income tax, not a special federal deal. Capital gains excise tax, workers’ compensation, and the 2028 high-income tax stay outside this 2026 net.

Outline map of the state of Washington — Washington state outline (styled by Counttaxes) — not an official DOR chart.

Washington has no wage income tax. Here's what still comes out

Washington does not currently levy an individual income tax on wages. The Department of Revenue says there is no individual income tax today, so a 2026 WA paycheck estimate on Counttaxes starts from federal income tax plus FICA — Social Security and Medicare — with a $0 state income-tax line. Beginning January 1, 2028, a separate 9.9% tax applies to individuals and joint filers with AGI over $1 million; that rule is outside this 2026 calculator. Employee Paid Family and Medical Leave (about 0.807259% of wages up to the Social Security wage base) and WA Cares (0.58% of gross) are included from ESD program rates.

State income tax on wages (2026)as of 2026
None — DOR: no current individual income tax
Source: Washington DOR — Income tax →
High-income tax (future)as of DOR notice
9.9% on AGI over $1M begins Jan 1, 2028 (first returns due 2029)
Source: Washington DOR — Income tax →
Median household incomeas of 2024 ACS 1-year
$99,389
Source: U.S. Census Bureau — Washington profile (ACS median household income) →

Payroll premiums (not local income tax)

Washington does not add city or county wage income taxes on top of a state income tax (there is none on wages today). Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares Fund premiums reported through ESD are included here: employee PFML share 0.807259% of wages up to the Social Security wage base (from the 1.13% total premium × 71.43% employee share), and WA Cares at 0.58% of gross with no Social Security cap. WA Cares exemption elections remain outside the model.

What makes a Washington paycheck different

No state income-tax withholding on ordinary wages for 2026 — DOR states Washington does not currently have an individual income tax.
Federal income tax and FICA still apply from the verified US-2026 national file (brackets, standard deduction, Social Security wage base, Medicare).
Beginning January 1, 2028, a 9.9% tax applies to individuals and married couples filing jointly with AGI over $1 million (first returns due 2029). This calculator’s 2026 year does not include that tax.
WA PFML employee share at 0.807259% of wages up to the Social Security wage base and WA Cares at 0.58% of gross are included (ESD program rates).
Washington also has a capital gains excise tax on certain long-term gains — it is not a wage withholding line and is listed as not modeled.

How we count Washington take-home

State income tax: $0 — region kind is “none” (no wage income tax in the verified WA file).
Federal income tax: IRS 2026 brackets and standard deduction from the verified US national file.
FICA: Social Security (6.2% up to the SSA wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus Additional Medicare where it applies).
Optional pre-tax 401(k) and HSA reduce federal taxable wages when entered.
WA Paid Family & Medical Leave (employee share): employee 0.807259% up to the Social Security wage base (included).
WA Cares (long-term care): employee 0.58% (included).
Not modeled: Capital gains excise tax; Workers’ compensation premiums; Cares Fund exemption elections.

Full United States methodology · Bracket tables · Engine & privacy

Sources & status

Verified

Primary sources below, grouped by layer. Oldest verification on this page: 2026-10-11.

Washington tax brackets (2026)

Federal income tax brackets (Single)

From	To	Rate
$0.00	$12,400.00	10.00%
$12,400.00	$50,400.00	12.00%
$50,400.00	$105,700.00	22.00%
$105,700.00	$201,775.00	24.00%
$201,775.00	$256,225.00	32.00%
$256,225.00	$640,600.00	35.00%
$640,600.00	and above	37.00%

Washington state income tax

From	To	Rate
$0.00	and above	0% (no state wage income tax)

How a US paycheck works

Every US paycheck starts with the same federal layers: income-tax withholding from Form W-4, plus Social Security and Medicare (FICA). State and local lines come next when your region files them.

Counttaxes estimates annual liability from verified rate files, then shows per-paycheck amounts for your frequency — not a live payroll withholding run.

Read the full US paycheck guide →

Worked examples (Washington, annual, default assumptions)

Gross	Net	Effective
$60,000.00	$49,557.64	17.4%
$100,000.00	$77,792.74	22.2%
$150,000.00	$111,710.11	25.5%

Examples use single filing status and no 401(k)/HSA. Open the calculator above to try your salary and filing status. Nets include WA PFML employee share (0.807259%) and WA Cares (0.58%).

Frequently asked questions

Does this Washington take-home include PFML and WA Cares?: Yes. Employee PFML at 0.807259% of wages up to the Social Security wage base and WA Cares at 0.58% of gross are subtracted in the net. Exemption elections and workers’ compensation premiums stay outside this estimate.
Does Washington have a state income tax on wages in 2026?: No. Washington DOR states the state does not currently have an individual income tax. Your stub should show federal income tax and FICA, not a Washington wage income-tax line. A separate high-income tax begins in 2028 for AGI over $1 million — it is not in this 2026 model.
What is the 9.9% Washington tax I keep hearing about?: DOR describes a 9.9% tax that begins January 1, 2028, for individuals and joint filers with annual AGI exceeding $1 million, with first returns due in 2029. It does not change 2026 paycheck math on this page.
Is this the same as federal withholding on my stub?: Not always. We estimate annual federal liability from IRS 2026 rules, then show it per paycheck. Employers use Form W-4 and IRS withholding tables, which can differ slightly from year-end liability.

Related United States calculators

Useful links

Official Washington tax agencies and the primary sources behind the rates on this page.

Washington DOR — Income tax →
No current individual income tax; 2028 high-income tax notice
Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave →
PFML benefits and employer premium reporting (ESD)
WA Cares Fund — employers →
Long-term care premium withholding overview
Washington DOR — Capital gains tax →
Excise tax on certain capital gains — not wage withholding
Census — Washington profile →
ACS median household income context
IRS — Tax Withholding Estimator →
Federal paycheck spot-check
Counttaxes — US sources →
Federal rate file audit trail