🎁 Bonus Time
Annual Bonus Tax Calculator
See how much of your bonus you'll actually keep, and how to minimize the tax hit.
💰 Your Bonus
🎁 Your Bonus After Tax
Bonus
Total Tax
You Keep
Effective Rate
📊 Tax Breakdown
Bonus amount
− Federal tax (marginal)
− State tax
− FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
= Net bonus
🎯 Withholding vs Actual Tax
Most employers withhold 22% federal on bonuses (the "supplemental wage" flat rate). Here's how that compares to your actual marginal rate:
Withheld (22% flat)
Your actual tax
💡 401(k) / HSA Strategy Impact
📌 5 Bonus Tax Tips
- ✓ Max 401(k) BEFORE bonus payout — $23K pre-tax contribution lowers your AGI by $23K. On a 24% bracket, that's $5,520 in tax savings. See how pre-tax savings compound with the Compound Interest Calculator.
- ✓ Max HSA before bonus — $4,150 (self) or $8,300 (family) contribution is "above the line" deduction. Triple tax advantage. Compare account types with the HSA vs FSA Calculator.
- ✓ Bunch charitable giving — donate to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) in your bonus year to itemize deductions.
- ✓ Defer income if possible — if your bonus is paid in December, ask to defer to January 1. Pushes tax to next year.
- ✓ Tax-loss harvest — sell losing investments to offset bonus income. Up to $3,000 in losses can offset ordinary income.
Disclaimer: This calculator uses simplified 2024 federal tax brackets and standard deduction. It does not include AMT, phase-outs, deductions, or state-specific calculations. For personalized advice, consult a CPA.
💡 You picked the strategy — now lock in the playbook.
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