State calculator · Texas · Tax year 2026
Texas paycheck calculator
Texas taxes no wage income, so the whole paycheck comes down to federal brackets and FICA. Enter a salary to see the deposit, then compare what the same gross pay leaves you in California or New York.
Your pay
2026 ratesInputs stay in your browser. The link updates as you type so you can bookmark or share a scenario.
Take-home pay
$0 per biweekly paycheck
Annual take-home: $0
- Take-home
- Federal
- FICA
- State
- 401(k)
Federal income tax, FICA and Texas state withholding. 401(k) is pre-tax, so it lowers income tax but not FICA.
Updated for tax year 2026
Deduction breakdown
| Line item | Amount |
|---|
What Texas withholds from a paycheck
Texas does not tax wage income, so a Texas paycheck has exactly three lines before voluntary deductions: federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. There is no state income tax line, no state disability line and no local wage tax anywhere in the state. For a single filer on $75,000, the whole year looks like this:
| Line item | Annual | Biweekly |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$7,670 | |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$4,650 | |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$1,088 | |
| Texas income tax | $0 | |
| Annual take-home | $61,592 | $2,369 |
That is 17.9% of gross going to tax — all of it federal. Nothing in that number is Texas-specific, which is the point: a Texas salary and a Florida or Washington salary at the same gross pay produce an identical paycheck.
What a no-income-tax state is actually worth
The advantage is easiest to see at a fixed salary across states. At $100,000, single filer, no 401(k) contribution, the 2026 numbers come out like this:
| State | Federal | FICA | State income tax | State payroll | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $13,170 | $7,650 | $0 | $0 | $79,180 |
| California | $13,170 | $7,650 | $5,086 | $1,300 | $72,794 |
| New York | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,860 | $443 | $73,877 |
At $100,000 the Texas paycheck is $6,386 a year larger than the California one and $5,303 larger than the New York one. Over five years the California gap alone is roughly $31,932 before any investment return.
The gap is not constant, because state taxes are progressive. On a $75,000 salary the Texas advantage over California is $3,811; at $250,000 it grows to $22,286. High earners feel a no-income-tax state far more than entry-level workers do.
The trade-off: property tax and sales tax
No state does without revenue. Texas collects through other channels, and the two that matter for a household budget are:
- Property tax. Texas effective rates typically land between 1.5% and 1.8% of assessed value, among the highest in the country. On a $350,000 home that is roughly $5,775 a year — which can easily exceed the state income tax a middle-income earner would pay elsewhere. Homestead exemptions and a 10% annual assessment cap soften it, but the bill is real.
- Sales tax. 6.25% at state level plus up to 2% local, so 8.25% in most metro areas. Necessities are taxed broadly compared with most states, which makes the tax less progressive than an income tax.
The honest comparison is therefore not "Texas is free" but "Texas taxes spending and property instead of wages." A renter with a high salary does very well. A homeowner with a modest salary and a large house may not.
Federal tax still applies — and it is the bigger number
At $75,000 the federal government takes $7,670 in income tax and $5,738 in payroll tax, against zero from Texas. The 2026 brackets for a single filer:
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700 – $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775 – $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,225 – $640,600 | 35% |
| Over $640,600 | 37% |
The standard deduction of $16,100 comes off first, so a $75,000 salary is taxed on $58,900. Nothing about living in Texas changes these numbers.
Remote work and out-of-state employers
State income tax follows where you physically perform the work, not where your employer is incorporated. If you live in Texas and work from Texas for a California company, California has no claim on your wages. If you spend part of the year working from a California office, those days are generally taxable there, and you would file a nonresident return.
The reverse case catches people out: living in a taxed state while working remotely for a Texas employer does not exempt you. Your state of residence taxes the wages regardless of where the company sits.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax personal wage income, and the state constitution requires voter approval before a personal income tax could be enacted.
Do I still pay Social Security and Medicare in Texas?
Yes. FICA is federal and applies in every state: 6.2% for Social Security up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, plus 1.45% for Medicare, with an extra 0.9% above $200,000 for single filers.
How much more do I take home in Texas than California?
At $100,000 for a single filer with no 401(k) contribution, about $6,386 a year in 2026. The gap comes from California income tax plus its 1.3% SDI, which has no wage ceiling.
Is a Texas paycheck bigger than a New York one?
At $100,000 single, yes — by about $5,303 a year, before New York City resident tax of 3.078% to 3.876% is applied, which would widen it further.
I live in Texas but my employer is in California. Which state taxes me?
Where you perform the work decides. Working from Texas means Texas rules apply, and Texas has no wage tax. Days physically worked in California are generally taxable to California.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Employer withholding follows your Form W-4, not the annual calculation. Health premiums, HSA contributions, Roth 401(k) and wage garnishments all change the deposit without changing your annual tax.
Sources
- Texas Constitution, article VIII, section 24 — restriction on a personal income tax
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — state and local sales tax rates
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Circular E — federal withholding and FICA rates
- Social Security Administration — 2026 contribution and benefit base
This page is educational and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Withholding depends on your Form W-4 and can differ from the annual figure shown here. Verify figures with the Texas Comptroller or the IRS or a qualified tax professional.
How does your state compare? All 50 states ranked by wage income tax, including the nine that charge none. See state rates