About W4Calc
A free, accurate W-4 withholding calculator for every American — no account, no paywall, no upsell.
Why we built this
Most people have no idea if their W-4 is set correctly. The IRS estimator is clunky. Tax software locks the withholding calculator behind a paywall or buries it under 40 questions. Financial advisors charge hundreds of dollars for advice that boils down to a single number on a form.
W4Calc exists to fix that. Enter your paycheck amount, pick your filing status, and get your exact recommended withholding — including combined federal and state — in under 60 seconds.
How it works
Our federal calculator is built on IRS Publication 15-T (2026) — the same withholding tables your employer's payroll software uses. We apply the exact bracket calculations, standard deduction, and credit offsets to produce a precise per-paycheck withholding recommendation.
State calculators use each state's official 2026 withholding tables and standard deductions. States with their own W-4 forms (Minnesota W-4MN, New York IT-2104, California DE-4, New Jersey NJ-W4, Wisconsin WT-4) have dedicated allowance worksheet calculators that mirror the actual state forms.
What we cover
- Federal W-4 withholding (IRS Pub 15-T 2026)
- All 50 states + D.C. withholding calculations
- State-specific W-4 forms: MN, NY, CA, NJ, WI
- Combined federal + state per-paycheck totals
- Target refund tool — dial in exactly what you want back
- Save results as PDF
Accuracy & limitations
W4Calc produces estimates based on published IRS and state withholding tables. Results are accurate for the majority of W-2 employees with straightforward tax situations. They may be less precise if you have significant investment income, self-employment income, large itemized deductions, or complex multi-state situations.
We update our tables each January when the IRS and states publish their new withholding guidance. Always verify your withholding with a qualified tax professional before making significant financial decisions.
Free — always
W4Calc is free and will remain free. We earn revenue through referral partnerships with tax filing software (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct) — if you click through and file your taxes, we may receive a commission at no cost to you. That's the only way we monetize.
We do not sell your email address or personal data. Ever.