W-4 Calculator 2026: Withholding per Paycheck

Refund target	Extra per paycheck (Step 4c)	Full-year withholding per paycheck
$0.00	$234.00	$295.00
$500.00	$334.00	$314.23
$1,000.00	$434.00	$333.46
$2,000.00	$634.00	$371.92

How this calculator works

Projects your 2026 federal tax from your expected wages, family and deductions, then projects your withholding: what's been taken so far plus the current amount per paycheck times the paychecks left. The gap, spread over the remaining paychecks, is the extra withholding to write on Form W-4 Step 4(c). It also gives the Step 3 dependents amount ($2,200 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependent).

Projected tax = 2026 tax on (wages + other income − standard deduction − Step 4(b) deductions), minus $2,200 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependent.
Projected withholding = withheld so far + withholding per paycheck × paychecks left.
Extra per paycheck (W-4 Step 4c) = (projected tax + the refund you want − projected withholding) ÷ paychecks left.
W-4 Step 3 = $2,200 × children under 17 + $500 × other dependents (if income is under $200,000, or $400,000 joint).

Worked example

With these inputs: filing status Single; expected wages this year $75,000; paid Every two weeks; federal tax withheld per paycheck now $250; federal tax withheld so far this year $5,250; paychecks left this year 5; children under 17 0; other dependents 0; other income with no withholding $0; deductions beyond the standard $0; refund you want $0.

The result is add to w-4 step 4(c) per paycheck $234.00, with projected 2026 federal tax $7,670.00 and projected withholding at today's rate $6,500.00. Step 4(c) is the extra federal tax taken from every paycheck; change it back in January, when a full year of paychecks spreads the amount thinner (the last column). The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator gives the same answer from your pay stubs. A planning estimate under 2026 federal rules, not tax advice. It leaves out state tax, AMT, capital-gain rates and most credits.

How to fill out the W-4 with these numbers

Step 1 is your filing status. Step 2 is for two jobs or a working spouse: check the box only if both jobs pay about the same; otherwise put the extra withholding in Step 4(c). Step 3 takes the dependents amount from the result. Step 4(a) is other income with no withholding, 4(b) is deductions beyond the standard deduction, and 4(c) is the extra withholding per paycheck.

Give the new W-4 to your payroll department; it applies from the next payroll run. Late in the year, the extra per paycheck is large because only a few paychecks are left, so file a fresh W-4 in January when the same amount spreads over a full year. The last column of the table shows the full-year withholding per paycheck for each refund target.

Deductions that belong in Step 4(b) for 2026

If you itemize, enter the amount your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. The 2026 Form W-4 also lets you include the new deductions: qualified overtime premium (up to $12,500, or $25,000 joint), qualified tips (up to $25,000), the $6,000 senior deduction and qualified car loan interest. Including them lowers your withholding, so only count amounts you're fairly sure of.

A married couple earning $120,000 with two children, $300 withheld per paycheck and $6,300 withheld so far is on track to over-withhold by $2,160.00 (their tax is $5,640.00 after the $4,400 Step 3 credit), so they could withhold $432.00 less on each of the last five paychecks if they'd rather have the money now.

Refund or no refund?

A big refund means you lent the IRS money all year at 0%. Breaking even puts that money in each paycheck instead, where it can pay down a card or build savings. Some people prefer a small refund as a cushion; set the target in the calculator and it adds that amount to the withholding.

Turn the extra (or the reduction) into a budget line with the paycheck budget calculator, check the full return with the tax refund estimator, and if you also freelance, the 1099 tax calculator shows how much of that income to cover through extra withholding.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How much extra should I withhold on my W-4?

Divide what you'll owe (projected tax − projected withholding) by the paychecks left. In the example, a $1,170.00 shortfall over 5 paychecks is $234.00 extra per paycheck in W-4 Step 4(c).

What do I put in Step 3 of the W-4?

$2,200 for each child under 17 and $500 for each other dependent, if your income is $200,000 or less ($400,000 married filing jointly). Two children: $4,400.

Should I claim 0 on my W-4?

The W-4 no longer uses allowances. To withhold more, leave Step 3 blank or add an amount in Step 4(c). To withhold less, enter dependents in Step 3 or deductions in Step 4(b).

When should I update my W-4?

After a new job, a raise, marriage or divorce, a new child, a second job or side income, and every January so the new year starts with the right withholding.

Is this the same as the IRS W-4 calculator?

It uses the same idea as the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator: project the year's tax, project the withholding, and spread the difference over the remaining paychecks. The IRS tool goes line by line through your pay stubs; this one is a quick check.

W-4 Calculator (2026 Withholding Helper)