Navigating your paycheck can sometimes feel like deciphering a complex code. For residents of North Carolina, understanding the various deductions, from federal and state taxes to FICA contributions, is key to knowing your true take-home pay. This calculator helps you estimate your net pay based on your gross income, filing status, and common deductions.
How Your Paycheck is Calculated
Your gross pay is the total amount you earn before any deductions. From this, several amounts are subtracted to arrive at your net pay (what you actually take home). These typically include:
1. Federal Income Tax
This is a progressive tax levied by the U.S. government. The amount withheld depends on your gross income, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household), and the number of allowances or adjustments you claim on your W-4 form. While the W-4 form no longer uses "allowances" in the traditional sense for federal withholding, many calculators still use a simplified allowance system to estimate withholding. The more allowances you claim, the less tax is withheld, but you risk owing more at tax time if you claim too many.
2. FICA Taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
Social Security: This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Employees contribute 6.2% of their gross wages up to an annual limit (e.g., $168,600 for 2024).
Medicare: This funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled. Employees contribute 1.45% of all gross wages, with no income limit. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages above certain thresholds ($200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for married filing jointly).
3. North Carolina State Income Tax
North Carolina has a flat income tax rate. For 2024, the rate is 5.25% of your taxable income. Similar to federal taxes, the amount withheld depends on your gross income, NC filing status, and the number of NC allowances you claim. NC also has its own standard deduction amounts.
4. Pre-Tax Deductions
These are deductions taken from your gross pay *before* taxes are calculated, which reduces your taxable income. Common examples include contributions to a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, health insurance premiums, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions.
5. Post-Tax Deductions
These deductions are taken from your pay *after* taxes have been calculated. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, charitable contributions, or garnishments.
How to Use the NC Paycheck Calculator
Simply enter your gross pay per period, select your pay frequency, federal and state filing statuses, and the number of allowances you claim. Add any pre-tax or post-tax deductions you have. The calculator will then provide an estimate of your net pay and a breakdown of the deductions.
NC Paycheck Calculator
Bi-weekly (26x per year)
Weekly (52x per year)
Semi-monthly (24x per year)
Monthly (12x per year)
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Married Filing Separately
Head of Household
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function calculatePaycheck() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossPay").value);
var payFrequency = document.getElementById("payFrequency").value;
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById("federalFilingStatus").value;
var federalAllowances = parseInt(document.getElementById("federalAllowances").value);
var ncFilingStatus = document.getElementById("ncFilingStatus").value;
var ncAllowances = parseInt(document.getElementById("ncAllowances").value);
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("preTaxDeductions").value);
var postTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("postTaxDeductions").value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Gross Pay per Period.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(federalAllowances) || federalAllowances < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number for Federal Allowances.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(ncAllowances) || ncAllowances < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number for NC Allowances.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid amount for Pre-Tax Deductions.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(postTaxDeductions) || postTaxDeductions additionalMedicareThreshold) {
annualMedicareTax += (annualGrossPay – additionalMedicareThreshold) * additionalMedicareRate;
}
var annualFicaTax = annualSocialSecurityTax + annualMedicareTax;
// — Federal Income Tax (2024 Rates – Simplified W-4 Allowance Method) —
var federalStandardDeduction;
var federalAllowanceValue = 4700; // Simplified value per allowance for calculation purposes
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
federalStandardDeduction = 14600;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "married_jointly") {
federalStandardDeduction = 29200;
} else { // Head of Household
federalStandardDeduction = 21900;
}
var federalTaxableIncome = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions – federalStandardDeduction – (federalAllowances * federalAllowanceValue);
federalTaxableIncome = Math.max(0, federalTaxableIncome); // Cannot be negative
var annualFederalTax = 0;
// Federal Tax Brackets (2024)
// Single
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
if (federalTaxableIncome > 609350) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 609350) * 0.37; federalTaxableIncome = 609350; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 243725) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 243725) * 0.35; federalTaxableIncome = 243725; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 191950) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 191950) * 0.32; federalTaxableIncome = 191950; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 100525) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 100525) * 0.24; federalTaxableIncome = 100525; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 47150) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 47150) * 0.22; federalTaxableIncome = 47150; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 11600) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 11600) * 0.12; federalTaxableIncome = 11600; }
annualFederalTax += federalTaxableIncome * 0.10;
}
// Married Filing Jointly
else if (federalFilingStatus === "married_jointly") {
if (federalTaxableIncome > 731200) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 731200) * 0.37; federalTaxableIncome = 731200; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 487450) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 487450) * 0.35; federalTaxableIncome = 487450; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 383900) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 383900) * 0.32; federalTaxableIncome = 383900; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 201050) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 201050) * 0.24; federalTaxableIncome = 201050; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 94300) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 94300) * 0.22; federalTaxableIncome = 94300; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 23200) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 23200) * 0.12; federalTaxableIncome = 23200; }
annualFederalTax += federalTaxableIncome * 0.10;
}
// Head of Household
else if (federalFilingStatus === "head_of_household") {
if (federalTaxableIncome > 609350) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 609350) * 0.37; federalTaxableIncome = 609350; } // Note: HOH top bracket is same as single
if (federalTaxableIncome > 243725) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 243725) * 0.35; federalTaxableIncome = 243725; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 191950) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 191950) * 0.32; federalTaxableIncome = 191950; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 100525) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 100525) * 0.24; federalTaxableIncome = 100525; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 59850) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 59850) * 0.22; federalTaxableIncome = 59850; }
if (federalTaxableIncome > 16550) { annualFederalTax += (federalTaxableIncome – 16550) * 0.12; federalTaxableIncome = 16550; }
annualFederalTax += federalTaxableIncome * 0.10;
}
annualFederalTax = Math.max(0, annualFederalTax); // Federal tax cannot be negative
// — North Carolina State Income Tax (2024 Rates) —
var ncTaxRate = 0.0525; // 5.25% flat rate for 2024
var ncStandardDeduction;
var ncAllowanceValue = 2500; // Value per NC allowance
if (ncFilingStatus === "single") {
ncStandardDeduction = 12750;
} else if (ncFilingStatus === "married_jointly") {
ncStandardDeduction = 25500;
} else if (ncFilingStatus === "married_separately") {
ncStandardDeduction = 12750;
} else { // Head of Household
ncStandardDeduction = 19125;
}
var ncTaxableIncome = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions – ncStandardDeduction – (ncAllowances * ncAllowanceValue);
ncTaxableIncome = Math.max(0, ncTaxableIncome); // Cannot be negative
var annualNcTax = ncTaxableIncome * ncTaxRate;
annualNcTax = Math.max(0, annualNcTax); // NC tax cannot be negative
// — Calculate Per-Period Values —
var ficaTaxPerPeriod = annualFicaTax / annualMultiplier;
var federalTaxPerPeriod = annualFederalTax / annualMultiplier;
var ncTaxPerPeriod = annualNcTax / annualMultiplier;
var totalDeductionsPerPeriod = ficaTaxPerPeriod + federalTaxPerPeriod + ncTaxPerPeriod + preTaxDeductions + postTaxDeductions;
var netPayPerPeriod = grossPay – totalDeductionsPerPeriod;
// Format results
var formatCurrency = function(amount) {
return "$" + amount.toFixed(2);
};
var resultHTML = "
Estimated Paycheck Breakdown
";
resultHTML += "Gross Pay per Period: " + formatCurrency(grossPay) + "";
resultHTML += "Pre-Tax Deductions: " + formatCurrency(preTaxDeductions) + "";
resultHTML += "Federal Income Tax: " + formatCurrency(federalTaxPerPeriod) + "";
resultHTML += "FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare): " + formatCurrency(ficaTaxPerPeriod) + "";
resultHTML += "North Carolina State Tax: " + formatCurrency(ncTaxPerPeriod) + "";
resultHTML += "Post-Tax Deductions: " + formatCurrency(postTaxDeductions) + "";
resultHTML += "";
resultHTML += "Total Deductions: " + formatCurrency(totalDeductionsPerPeriod) + "";
resultHTML += "Net Pay per Period: " + formatCurrency(netPayPerPeriod) + "";
resultHTML += "Note: This is an estimate. Actual withholdings may vary based on specific payroll calculations, additional deductions, and tax law changes. Federal allowances are used here for simplified withholding estimation and do not directly correspond to the new W-4 form.";
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = resultHTML;
}