Find out how much of your Virginia salary you actually keep
A salary offer is not the amount that reaches your bank account. Virginia state income tax, federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and your payroll benefits can all reduce your paycheck. Enter your pay information to estimate annual and per-paycheck take-home income using 2026 rules.
Calculate Virginia salary after taxes
Start with the $75,000 single-employee example, or change any input. Annual tax estimates are converted into an average paycheck using your selected frequency.
What taxes come out of a Virginia paycheck?
Most covered Virginia W-2 employees should expect federal income tax withholding, Virginia income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare. Retirement contributions, health insurance and other elected benefits may reduce take-home pay further.
Federal income tax
Based on federal taxable income and progressive tax brackets. Form W-4 and IRS payroll withholding rules determine how an employer withholds it.
Virginia income tax
Four progressive brackets, with the highest marginal rate of 5.75% applying to Virginia taxable income above $17,000.
Social Security
Generally 6.2% of covered employee wages, subject to the 2026 taxable wage base of $184,500.
Medicare
Generally 1.45% of covered wages, plus potentially a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax at higher income levels.
Virginia income tax brackets for 2026
Virginia has not replaced its longstanding four-rate structure with a flat state income tax. Unlike federal brackets, these Virginia rate thresholds are generally the same regardless of filing status. However, the deductions, exemptions and special rules used to calculate taxable income can differ.
| Virginia taxable income | Marginal tax rate | Tax calculation |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$3,000 | 2% | 2% of taxable income |
| Over $3,000–$5,000 | 3% | $60 + 3% of amount over $3,000 |
| Over $5,000–$17,000 | 5% | $120 + 5% of amount over $5,000 |
| Over $17,000 | 5.75% | $720 + 5.75% of amount over $17,000 |
2026 Virginia standard deductions
| Filing status | Virginia basic standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $8,750 |
| Married filing jointly | $17,500 |
| Married filing separately | $8,750 |
| Federal head of household / Virginia status 1 | $8,750 |
The Virginia Department of Taxation confirmed these amounts for tax year 2026 in its July 2026 tax-law update. The state deduction is different from the federal standard deduction.
Virginia personal and dependent exemptions
Virginia generally allows $930 for each eligible personal or dependent exemption. An additional $800 exemption may apply for each qualifying age-65-or-older or blindness circumstance. Filing details and eligibility matter, particularly for married taxpayers using the spouse tax adjustment.
These exemptions lower the applicable Virginia taxable income calculation. They are not direct dollar-for-dollar tax credits.
What is the Virginia spouse tax adjustment?
Married couples filing jointly may qualify for the Virginia Spouse Tax Adjustment when both spouses have income. The adjustment can reduce Virginia tax by up to $259, subject to the state’s worksheet and eligibility rules. It is not automatically included in this one-worker calculator because the spouse’s separate income and deductions are not collected.
Use the official Virginia filing-status and spouse-adjustment guide for the correct rules.
Virginia salary after taxes: $40,000 to $150,000
The following estimates are for a single Virginia W-2 employee who takes the basic 2026 federal and Virginia standard deductions, claims one Virginia personal exemption, and has no additional income, credits or employee benefit deductions.
| Annual gross salary | Federal income tax | Virginia income tax | Employee FICA | Annual take-home | Biweekly net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620.00 | $1,485.90 | $3,060.00 | $32,834.10 | $1,262.85 |
| $50,000 | $3,820.00 | $2,060.90 | $3,825.00 | $40,294.10 | $1,549.77 |
| $75,000 | $7,670.00 | $3,498.40 | $5,737.50 | $58,094.10 | $2,234.39 |
| $100,000 | $13,170.00 | $4,935.90 | $7,650.00 | $74,244.10 | $2,855.54 |
| $150,000 | $24,734.00 | $7,810.90 | $11,475.00 | $105,980.10 | $4,076.16 |
These are simplified annual-income-tax and employee-FICA calculations, not actual payroll withholding quotations. All examples assume a full year of wages, and the biweekly amount is the annual result divided by 26.
Detailed example: $75,000 Virginia salary
For a single worker with $75,000 in annual wage income and no other tax adjustments:
- Federal taxable income: $75,000 minus the $16,100 federal standard deduction gives $58,900.
- Federal ordinary-income tax: Applying the 2026 progressive brackets gives $7,670.
- Virginia taxable income: $75,000 minus the $8,750 Virginia standard deduction and $930 personal exemption gives $65,320.
- Virginia state income tax: $720 plus 5.75% of the amount over $17,000 produces $3,498.40.
- Social Security and Medicare: Combined ordinary employee FICA is $5,737.50.
- Take-home estimate: $75,000 minus those estimated taxes leaves $58,094.10 annually, or approximately $2,234.39 per biweekly paycheck.
How much of a Virginia raise might you actually keep?
Compare your current calculator inputs with an additional amount of annual wages. This simple estimate helps with salary negotiation, a projected raise or regular additional compensation.
The calculation adds this amount to your existing annual wages and recalculates federal income tax, Virginia income tax and employee payroll taxes.
Potential extra take-home
This comparison holds deductions and entered nonrefundable credits constant. A raise can also change deduction eligibility, credit phaseouts, benefit premiums, contribution elections and other income-based rules not automatically modeled here.
2026 federal income tax brackets and deductions
Virginia residents use the same federal ordinary-income tax rate schedules as other U.S. taxpayers. There are seven federal rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%.
| Rate | Single taxable income | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 | Up to $24,800 |
| 12% | Over $12,400–$50,400 | Over $24,800–$100,800 |
| 22% | Over $50,400–$105,700 | Over $100,800–$211,400 |
| 24% | Over $105,700–$201,775 | Over $211,400–$403,550 |
| 32% | Over $201,775–$256,225 | Over $403,550–$512,450 |
| 35% | Over $256,225–$640,600 | Over $512,450–$768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Federal standard deduction for 2026
| Federal filing status | Basic deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100 |
| Head of household | $24,150 |
What does a 22% federal bracket mean for your Virginia salary?
It does not mean 22% of your entire salary goes to federal income tax. The federal tax calculation applies lower rates to the lower portions of taxable income first. Your effective income tax rate can therefore be substantially below the top rate that applies to your taxable income.
Why is your Virginia paycheck lower than your gross pay?
A paycheck can include both mandatory tax deductions and voluntary employee benefits. Knowing which line is which can help you compare a calculator estimate against your actual payroll record.
| Paystub line | What it represents | How it affects your money |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | Federal withholding based on W-4 and payroll rules | Prepayment toward federal tax liability |
| VA state income tax | Virginia income tax withholding | Prepayment toward state tax liability |
| Social Security | Employee OASDI tax | Typically 6.2% up to the annual wage cap |
| Medicare | Employee hospital insurance tax | Typically 1.45% plus potential additional tax |
| Traditional retirement | 401(k) or 403(b) employee contribution | Generally reduces income-tax wages, not FICA wages |
| Eligible health premiums | Qualifying employer health benefits | May reduce income-tax and FICA wages depending on the plan |
| HSA/FSA | Qualified savings or reimbursement account contribution | Payroll tax treatment depends on the account and contribution arrangement |
| Other payroll deductions | Roth retirement, after-tax benefits, garnishments or other items | Can reduce paycheck cash without necessarily lowering taxable wages |
Hourly paycheck calculations
If you earn an hourly wage, the calculator multiplies your regular weekly hours by your hourly rate and annualizes those wages over 52 weeks. If you enter overtime, it assumes that you are eligible for overtime and paid at 1.5 times your regular hourly wage.
That calculation is an estimate, not a determination of overtime eligibility. Your actual hours, paid leave, workweeks and employer payroll system can create a different result.
Bonuses and commissions
A bonus or commission can increase annual income tax, but employers may calculate withholding on supplemental wages differently from withholding on ordinary wages. A larger one-time deduction from your bonus check does not necessarily mean that the final tax on the bonus equals that withholding percentage.
Virginia retirement and health deductions
Traditional employer retirement contributions often lower federal and Virginia income-tax wages. Certain qualifying employer health and HSA/FSA contributions also reduce payroll-tax wages. Roth and post-tax contributions generally follow different treatment.
Always compare your chosen deductions with actual W-2 taxable wage boxes and year-to-date payroll figures before assuming a tax benefit.
Federal W-4 vs. Virginia VA-4: what each form changes
Federal Form W-4
Your W-4 tells your employer how to calculate federal income tax withholding. Filing status, multiple jobs, dependents, other income and additional withholding elections may affect the result.
Virginia Form VA-4
Your VA-4 communicates Virginia withholding exemptions and other relevant withholding instructions. It is separate from your federal W-4.
When should you review your withholding?
- You recently started a new job or changed employers.
- Your spouse began working, stopped working or received a large raise.
- You got married, divorced or changed your number of eligible dependents.
- You receive regular bonuses, commissions or investment income.
- Your previous return showed a large unexpected balance due or refund.
- You changed retirement contributions or qualifying employee benefits.
- You moved into or out of Virginia or started working in another state.
Virginia tax rules that can change your final result
Two-income married couples
Federal joint tax depends on combined relevant household income. Virginia also has a potential spouse tax adjustment of up to $259 where eligible. A calculator using only one employee’s wages cannot fully model both.
Age 65 or older
Virginia may allow age-related exemptions and a separate age deduction, subject to birth date, income and other requirements. The age deduction is not automatically computed in this tool.
Low-income tax benefits
Eligible Virginians may qualify for an Earned Income Tax Credit or the Credit for Low Income Individuals. Some benefits are refundable, and eligibility rules affect which credit may be used.
State-specific subtractions
Virginia may allow certain subtractions or deductions that differ from federal treatment. The 2026 changes also reinstate a qualified educator expense deduction of up to $500, subject to applicable rules.
Nonresident or part-year worker
Someone who works in Virginia but lives elsewhere—or moves during the year—may have different allocation, reciprocity, return and withholding requirements.
1099 or self-employment income
Independent contractors generally need separate federal self-employment tax calculations, business expenses and estimated tax payment planning. This W-2 calculator should not be used as a final 1099 tax estimator.
Read Virginia Tax’s 2026 legislative update and the official Virginia income subtractions guide for eligibility and details.
How to verify your Virginia taxes and paycheck withholding
Use this process when your salary estimate differs from a paystub, you are changing jobs, or you want to adjust withholding before filing a return.
- Check your income and annual wage estimate. Collect the most recent paystub, year-to-date taxable wages and expected remaining paychecks. Include bonuses or commissions you reasonably expect to receive.
- Verify federal income tax rules. Open the IRS 2026 income tax brackets and standard deductions and check the correct filing status.
- Review federal withholding. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. Follow its instructions for wages, filing status, multiple jobs and taxes already withheld.
- Review Virginia’s deduction and exemption rules. Open the official deductions guide and exemptions guide. Identify the provisions that actually apply to you.
- Find your current Virginia VA-4. Ask payroll for the form on file, or find the official version on the Virginia withholding forms page.
- Compare against the applicable withholding tables. Review the Virginia employer withholding tables. Confirm your employer’s pay frequency and any extra withholding elections.
- Check your Virginia filing obligation. Review Virginia’s official who-must-file guidance. Residency, filing status, federal filing obligations and Virginia adjusted gross income all matter.
- Use the correct state filing service or form. Start at Virginia Individual Income Tax Filing for Form 760, residency rules, electronic filing and other official resources.
Why your actual Virginia paycheck may differ
| Problem | Possible reason | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| My real paycheck is lower | Extra withholding, benefit premiums, retirement or after-tax deductions | Compare paystub line items against calculator inputs |
| Federal withholding is higher | W-4 multiple-job settings, bonus treatment or extra withholding | Use the official IRS withholding estimator |
| Virginia withholding seems wrong | VA-4 exemptions or employer withholding tables | Review VA-4 and relevant tax tables with payroll |
| My tax estimate changes after marriage | Household income, filing status and possible spouse tax adjustment | Use both spouses’ income for full tax-return estimates |
| 401(k) deduction doesn’t match | Traditional versus Roth tax treatment | Check the retirement plan election and taxable W-2 wages |
| Hourly net pay varies | Hours, overtime, unpaid leave or varying pay periods | Calculate using actual hours and payroll dates |
| Bonus paycheck looks heavily taxed | Supplemental wage withholding rather than ordinary annual averaging | Ask payroll for its supplemental withholding treatment |
| State tax differs from federal tax | Separate Virginia deductions, exemptions and income adjustments | Review Virginia Schedule ADJ and Form 760 instructions |
Virginia Tax Calculator 2026 FAQs
1. What is Virginia’s income tax rate in 2026?
Virginia’s individual income tax rates are 2%, 3%, 5% and 5.75%. The highest marginal rate applies to Virginia taxable income above $17,000. Lower portions of taxable income are taxed at lower rates.
2. How do I calculate my Virginia take-home salary?
Start with annual or hourly gross wages, subtract estimated federal income tax, Virginia income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and applicable benefit or after-tax deductions. Convert the annual remainder into your chosen pay frequency.
3. What is the Virginia standard deduction for 2026?
The basic 2026 Virginia standard deduction is $8,750 for single taxpayers and $17,500 for married couples filing jointly. Married filing separately generally uses $8,750. Federal head-of-household filers generally use Virginia status 1 and its applicable state deduction.
4. How much tax comes out of a $75,000 salary in Virginia?
Under a simplified 2026 single-filer example with standard deductions, one Virginia personal exemption and no credits or benefit deductions, federal income tax is $7,670, Virginia income tax is $3,498.40 and employee FICA is $5,737.50. Estimated annual take-home pay is $58,094.10.
5. Does Virginia charge a local income tax on wages?
Virginia cities and counties do not generally charge a separate individual local wage income tax. Property taxes, local sales taxes and other charges are separate from state and federal wage income taxes.
6. Does the Virginia tax calculator include Social Security and Medicare?
Yes. It estimates employee Social Security at 6.2% of covered wages up to the 2026 limit of $184,500 and Medicare at 1.45%, plus an estimated Additional Medicare Tax where applicable. It is not a complete employer payroll system.
7. How does a traditional 401(k) affect Virginia take-home pay?
Qualifying traditional 401(k) contributions generally reduce federal and Virginia income-tax wages but still reduce the cash available from your paycheck. Such contributions generally do not reduce Social Security and Medicare wages.
8. What is the difference between federal W-4 and Virginia VA-4?
Federal Form W-4 is used to determine federal income tax withholding. Virginia Form VA-4 communicates state withholding exemptions and other relevant withholding instructions to your employer. Updating one does not automatically update the other.
9. Can I estimate hourly and biweekly Virginia paychecks?
Yes. Select hourly wage mode, enter regular hours and any assumed eligible overtime, and choose weekly, biweekly, twice-monthly or monthly pay. Results use annualized average wages, so real paychecks can vary.
10. When is the 2026 Virginia income tax return due?
Virginia calendar-year individual income tax returns are generally due May 1 of the following year, adjusted for weekends and holidays when applicable. Check the Virginia Department of Taxation’s filing guidance for the confirmed deadline and any special rules.
Verified federal and Virginia tax resources
These primary sources provide the basis for the calculator’s 2026 federal and Virginia tax rules, exemptions, payroll taxes and filing guidance.
- Virginia 2026 tax-law changes: Virginia Department of Taxation — New Virginia Tax Laws.
- Virginia state income tax rates: Virginia individual income tax rate schedule.
- Virginia standard deductions: Virginia Tax — Deductions.
- Virginia personal exemptions: Virginia Tax — Exemptions.
- Virginia additions and subtractions: Virginia additions and Virginia subtractions.
- Virginia filing status and spouse adjustment: Virginia Tax — Filing Status.
- Virginia employee withholding: VA-4 and employer withholding forms.
- 2026 federal income tax brackets: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-45.
- 2026 Social Security limits: Social Security Administration — Contribution and Benefit Base.
- Federal Medicare rules: IRS Social Security and Medicare tax rates and Additional Medicare Tax.
- Virginia low-income tax relief: Virginia EITC and Credit for Low Income Individuals.
- Virginia state filing: Virginia Individual Income Tax Filing.