Best Tax CalculatorsFree Online Tools
Estimate your income tax bill, find your exact take-home pay, plan quarterly estimated payments, and understand capital gains — all with free, instant calculators built for every tax situation.
Tax Calculator Tools
Free · No signup required · Instant results
Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your federal and state income tax bill. See your effective tax rate, marginal bracket, and after-tax income for any salary.
Open calculatorTake-Home Pay Calculator
Enter your gross salary and see exactly what hits your bank account after federal tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare deductions.
Open calculatorSales Tax Calculator
Add or back-calculate sales tax on any purchase. Supports all US state rates and custom rate entry for international use.
Open calculatorW-4 Withholding Calculator
Figure out how many allowances to claim on your W-4 so you neither owe a surprise bill in April nor give the IRS a free loan all year.
Open calculatorCapital Gains Tax Calculator
Calculate the tax on your investment gains. See the difference between short-term and long-term rates and net after-tax proceeds.
Open calculatorFreelancer Tax Calculator
Estimate quarterly estimated taxes and self-employment tax as a freelancer or independent contractor. Avoid underpayment penalties.
Open calculatorInflation Data Hub
Annual US inflation rates from 1913 to 2024. Full CPI table, decade highlights, purchasing power changes, and methodology.
Open calculatorSalary Calculator by State
Compare take-home pay across all 50 states. See state income tax rates and net salary at $40k–$150k for every US state.
Open calculatorLottery Tax Calculator
See exactly how much of a lottery jackpot you keep after federal and state taxes — lump sum vs annuity comparison included.
Tax Guides & Articles
Understand exactly how your taxes are calculated
What Do Tax Calculators Help You Figure Out?
Tax calculators turn the US tax code — a notoriously complex system of brackets, deductions, and phase-outs — into a simple number you can actually use. The most important thing most people want to know is straightforward: how much of my income do I actually keep? The answer depends on your filing status, state of residence, deductions, and whether your income comes from wages, self-employment, or investments.
The federal income tax system is progressive: the first dollars you earn are taxed at lower rates than the last. A common misconception is that earning more can push all your income into a higher bracket. In reality, only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate. The Income Tax Calculator shows both your marginal rate (your highest bracket) and your effective rate (the actual average across all income).
Beyond federal income tax, workers pay payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), state income taxes in most states, and sales tax on purchases. Self-employed individuals face an additional self-employment tax covering both halves of payroll taxes. Investors need to understand capital gains rates, which differ significantly depending on how long an asset was held. Each of these calculators handles one piece of that puzzle.
How to Use Tax Calculators Effectively
Start with the Income Tax Calculator to get your baseline federal and state tax liability for the year. Input your gross income, filing status, and state. The result shows your estimated tax bill and, crucially, your effective rate — the percentage that tells you what you actually pay, not your bracket rate.
For paycheck planning, the Take-Home Pay Calculator gives you the per-paycheck breakdown: gross pay, federal and state withholding, Social Security, Medicare, and net pay. Pair this with the W-4 Withholding Calculator to make sure your employer is withholding the right amount so you don't owe a large balance in April or over-withhold all year.
If you're self-employed or freelancing, the Freelancer Tax Calculator is essential for quarterly planning. It estimates your total tax obligation including self-employment tax, so you can set aside the right percentage of each invoice rather than facing a surprise bill at year-end.
Tax Calculator FAQs
What is the difference between effective tax rate and marginal tax rate?
Your marginal tax rate is the rate on your last dollar of income — your highest bracket. Your effective tax rate is the average rate across all your income. For example, someone in the 22% marginal bracket might have an effective rate of 13% because lower income tiers are taxed at 10% and 12%. The Income Tax Calculator shows both.
How do I calculate how much tax comes out of my paycheck?
Your paycheck deductions include federal income tax (based on your W-4 and tax bracket), Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $168,600 in 2024), Medicare (1.45%), state income tax, and any voluntary deductions. The Take-Home Pay Calculator computes all of these automatically based on your salary and filing status.
How much self-employment tax do freelancers pay?
Self-employed individuals pay a 15.3% self-employment tax (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on net earnings, since they cover both the employee and employer share. You can deduct the employer-equivalent half on your federal return. The Freelancer Tax Calculator factors in SE tax plus income tax for a complete quarterly estimate.
How is sales tax calculated?
Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the purchase price by the applicable tax rate. For example, a $100 item in a state with 8% sales tax costs $108. To back-calculate tax from a total price, divide by (1 + rate) and subtract the result from the total. The Sales Tax Calculator handles both directions instantly.
What is the long-term capital gains tax rate?
Long-term capital gains (assets held over one year) are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your taxable income — significantly lower than ordinary income rates. Short-term gains are taxed as regular income. High earners may also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. Use the Capital Gains Tax Calculator to see your exact liability.