function calculatePaycheck() {
// Get input values
var annualGrossSalary = parseFloat(document.getElementById('annualGrossSalary').value);
var payPeriodsPerYear = parseInt(document.getElementById('payFrequency').value);
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById('federalFilingStatus').value;
var federalDependents = parseInt(document.getElementById('federalDependents').value);
var wiFilingStatus = document.getElementById('wiFilingStatus').value;
var wiAllowances = parseInt(document.getElementById('wiAllowances').value);
var preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod').value);
var postTaxDeductionsPerPeriod = parseFloat(document.getElementById('postTaxDeductionsPerPeriod').value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(annualGrossSalary) || annualGrossSalary < 0 ||
isNaN(federalDependents) || federalDependents < 0 ||
isNaN(wiAllowances) || wiAllowances < 0 ||
isNaN(preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod) || preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod < 0 ||
isNaN(postTaxDeductionsPerPeriod) || postTaxDeductionsPerPeriod < 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.");
return;
}
// 1. Gross Pay per Period
var grossPayPerPeriod = annualGrossSalary / payPeriodsPerYear;
// 2. Annual Pre-tax Deductions
var annualPreTaxDeductions = preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod * payPeriodsPerYear;
// 3. Taxable Gross (Annual)
var annualTaxableGross = annualGrossSalary – annualPreTaxDeductions;
// 4. FICA Taxes (Annual then convert to per period)
var socialSecurityLimit = 168600; // 2024 limit
var socialSecurityRate = 0.062;
var medicareRate = 0.0145;
var annualSocialSecurityTaxable = Math.min(annualTaxableGross, socialSecurityLimit);
var socialSecurityTaxAnnual = annualSocialSecurityTaxable * socialSecurityRate;
var medicareTaxAnnual = annualTaxableGross * medicareRate;
var socialSecurityTaxPerPeriod = socialSecurityTaxAnnual / payPeriodsPerYear;
var medicareTaxPerPeriod = medicareTaxAnnual / payPeriodsPerYear;
// 5. Federal Income Tax (Annual then convert to per period)
var federalStandardDeductionSingle = 14600; // 2024
var federalStandardDeductionMFJ = 29200; // 2024
var dependentCreditApproximation = 2000; // Simplified for withholding calculation
var federalTaxableIncomeAnnual = annualTaxableGross;
if (federalFilingStatus === 'Single') {
federalTaxableIncomeAnnual -= federalStandardDeductionSingle;
} else { // Married Filing Jointly
federalTaxableIncomeAnnual -= federalStandardDeductionMFJ;
}
federalTaxableIncomeAnnual -= (federalDependents * dependentCreditApproximation);
federalTaxableIncomeAnnual = Math.max(0, federalTaxableIncomeAnnual);
function calculateFederalTax(income, status) {
var tax = 0;
if (status === 'Single') {
if (income <= 11600) {
tax = income * 0.10;
} else if (income <= 47150) {
tax = 11600 * 0.10 + (income – 11600) * 0.12;
} else if (income <= 100525) {
tax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (income – 47150) * 0.22;
} else if (income <= 191950) {
tax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (income – 100525) * 0.24;
} else if (income <= 243725) {
tax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (191950 – 100525) * 0.24 + (income – 191950) * 0.32;
} else if (income <= 609350) {
tax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (191950 – 100525) * 0.24 + (243725 – 191950) * 0.32 + (income – 243725) * 0.35;
} else {
tax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (191950 – 100525) * 0.24 + (243725 – 191950) * 0.32 + (609350 – 243725) * 0.35 + (income – 609350) * 0.37;
}
} else { // Married Filing Jointly
if (income <= 23200) {
tax = income * 0.10;
} else if (income <= 94300) {
tax = 23200 * 0.10 + (income – 23200) * 0.12;
} else if (income <= 201050) {
tax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (income – 94300) * 0.22;
} else if (income <= 383900) {
tax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (income – 201050) * 0.24;
} else if (income <= 487450) {
tax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (383900 – 201050) * 0.24 + (income – 383900) * 0.32;
} else if (income <= 731200) {
tax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (383900 – 201050) * 0.24 + (487450 – 383900) * 0.32 + (income – 487450) * 0.35;
} else {
tax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (383900 – 201050) * 0.24 + (487450 – 383900) * 0.32 + (731200 – 487450) * 0.35 + (income – 731200) * 0.37;
}
}
return tax;
}
var federalTaxAnnual = calculateFederalTax(federalTaxableIncomeAnnual, federalFilingStatus);
var federalTaxPerPeriod = federalTaxAnnual / payPeriodsPerYear;
// 6. Wisconsin Income Tax (Annual then convert to per period)
var wiTaxableIncomeAnnual = annualTaxableGross;
var wiAllowanceExemption = 700; // Approximation for WI allowance value
wiTaxableIncomeAnnual -= (wiAllowances * wiAllowanceExemption);
wiTaxableIncomeAnnual = Math.max(0, wiTaxableIncomeAnnual);
function calculateWITax(income, status) {
var tax = 0;
if (status === 'Single') {
if (income <= 14680) {
tax = income * 0.01;
} else if (income <= 29360) {
tax = 14680 * 0.01 + (income – 14680) * 0.035;
} else if (income <= 322090) {
tax = 14680 * 0.01 + (29360 – 14680) * 0.035 + (income – 29360) * 0.044;
} else {
tax = 14680 * 0.01 + (29360 – 14680) * 0.035 + (322090 – 29360) * 0.044 + (income – 322090) * 0.053;
}
} else { // Married Filing Jointly
if (income <= 29360) {
tax = income * 0.01;
} else if (income <= 58720) {
tax = 29360 * 0.01 + (income – 29360) * 0.035;
} else if (income <= 429450) {
tax = 29360 * 0.01 + (58720 – 29360) * 0.035 + (income – 58720) * 0.044;
} else {
tax = 29360 * 0.01 + (58720 – 29360) * 0.035 + (429450 – 58720) * 0.044 + (income – 429450) * 0.053;
}
}
return tax;
}
var wiTaxAnnual = calculateWITax(wiTaxableIncomeAnnual, wiFilingStatus);
var wiTaxPerPeriod = wiTaxAnnual / payPeriodsPerYear;
// 7. Total Taxes per Period
var totalTaxesPerPeriod = federalTaxPerPeriod + wiTaxPerPeriod + socialSecurityTaxPerPeriod + medicareTaxPerPeriod;
// 8. Net Pay per Period
var netPayPerPeriod = grossPayPerPeriod – preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod – totalTaxesPerPeriod – postTaxDeductionsPerPeriod;
// Display results
document.getElementById('grossPayResult').innerText = '$' + grossPayPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('preTaxDeductionsResult').innerText = '$' + preTaxDeductionsPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('federalTaxResult').innerText = '$' + federalTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('wiTaxResult').innerText = '$' + wiTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('socialSecurityTaxResult').innerText = '$' + socialSecurityTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('medicareTaxResult').innerText = '$' + medicareTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('totalTaxesResult').innerText = '$' + totalTaxesPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('postTaxDeductionsResult').innerText = '$' + postTaxDeductionsPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('netPayResult').innerText = '$' + netPayPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = calculatePaycheck;
.calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
max-width: 600px;
margin: 20px auto;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
.calculator-container h2 {
text-align: center;
color: #333;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.calculator-inputs label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
color: #555;
font-weight: bold;
}
.calculator-inputs input[type="number"],
.calculator-inputs select {
width: calc(100% – 22px);
padding: 10px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.calculator-inputs button {
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
padding: 12px 20px;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
font-size: 16px;
width: 100%;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
}
.calculator-inputs button:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
.calculator-results {
background-color: #e9f7ef;
border: 1px solid #d4edda;
border-radius: 5px;
padding: 15px;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.calculator-results h3 {
color: #28a745;
text-align: center;
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.calculator-results p {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-size: 15px;
color: #333;
}
.calculator-results p span {
font-weight: bold;
color: #000;
}
.calculator-results .net-pay {
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #007bff;
border-top: 1px solid #cfe8d7;
padding-top: 10px;
margin-top: 15px;
}
.calculator-results .net-pay span {
color: #007bff;
}
Understanding Your Wisconsin Paycheck: A Comprehensive Guide
Navigating your paycheck can sometimes feel like deciphering a complex code. Beyond your gross salary, various deductions for taxes and benefits significantly impact your take-home pay. For residents of Wisconsin, understanding these deductions is crucial for effective financial planning. This guide, along with our Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator, will help you break down your earnings and understand where your money goes.
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay
Your journey to understanding your paycheck begins with two fundamental terms:
- Gross Pay: This is your total earnings before any deductions are taken out. It's your hourly wage multiplied by hours worked, or your annual salary divided by your pay periods.
- Net Pay: Also known as your "take-home pay," this is the amount of money you actually receive after all taxes, deductions, and contributions have been subtracted from your gross pay.
Key Paycheck Deductions in Wisconsin
Several types of deductions are typically taken from your gross pay. These fall into two main categories: mandatory deductions (taxes) and voluntary deductions (benefits, retirement contributions).
1. Federal Income Tax
This is a mandatory tax levied by the U.S. government. The amount withheld depends on several factors, including your gross income, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.), and the information you provide on your W-4 form (such as dependents and other adjustments). The federal tax system is progressive, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.
2. FICA Taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) mandates two separate taxes:
- Social Security: This tax funds benefits for retirees, the disabled, and survivors. For 2024, the rate is 6.2% of your gross wages, up to an annual wage base limit of $168,600.
- Medicare: This tax funds health insurance for individuals aged 65 or older, and for some younger people with disabilities. The rate is 1.45% of all your gross wages, with no income limit. An additional Medicare tax of 0.9% applies to wages exceeding certain thresholds ($200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for married filing jointly). Our calculator simplifies this by not including the additional Medicare tax for general use.
Your employer also pays an equal amount for both Social Security and Medicare taxes on your behalf.
3. Wisconsin State Income Tax
As a resident of Wisconsin, you are subject to state income tax. Wisconsin uses a progressive income tax system with several tax brackets. The amount withheld depends on your gross income, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly), and the number of allowances you claim on your Wisconsin Form WT-4. Claiming more allowances generally results in less tax withheld per paycheck, but you might owe more at tax time if you claim too many.
4. Pre-tax Deductions
These are deductions taken from your gross pay before taxes are calculated. This reduces your taxable income, meaning you pay less in federal, state, and sometimes FICA taxes. Common pre-tax deductions include:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance premiums
- Contributions to a 401(k), 403(b), or other traditional retirement plans
- Contributions to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
5. Post-tax Deductions
These deductions are taken from your pay after all applicable taxes have been calculated and withheld. They do not reduce your taxable income. Examples include:
- Roth 401(k) contributions
- Union dues
- Garnishments (e.g., child support, student loan defaults)
- Charitable contributions through payroll
How Our Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator Works
Our calculator simplifies the complex process of estimating your take-home pay. Here's how to use it:
- Annual Gross Salary: Enter your total yearly earnings before any deductions.
- Pay Frequency: Select how often you get paid (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
- Federal Filing Status & Dependents: Choose your federal tax filing status and the number of dependents you claim for federal tax purposes. This helps estimate your federal income tax withholding.
- Wisconsin Filing Status & Allowances: Select your Wisconsin tax filing status and the number of allowances you claim on your WT-4.
- Pre-tax Deductions per Pay Period: Input the total amount of deductions taken before taxes, such as health insurance or traditional 401(k) contributions, for each pay period.
- Post-tax Deductions per Pay Period: Enter any deductions taken after taxes, like Roth 401(k) contributions or union dues, for each pay period.
The calculator will then provide an estimate of your gross pay, various tax deductions, and your final net pay for each pay period.
Example Calculation:
Let's consider an example for a Wisconsin resident:
- Annual Gross Salary: $60,000
- Pay Frequency: Bi-weekly (26 pay periods per year)
- Federal Filing Status: Single
- Federal Dependents: 0
- Wisconsin Filing Status: Single
- Wisconsin Allowances: 0
- Pre-tax Deductions per Pay Period: $100 (e.g., health insurance)
- Post-tax Deductions per Pay Period: $50 (e.g., Roth 401k)
Based on these inputs, here's an estimated breakdown per bi-weekly pay period:
- Gross Pay: $2,307.69
- Pre-tax Deductions: $100.00
- Federal Income Tax: ~$188.62
- Wisconsin Income Tax: ~$72.86
- Social Security Tax: $136.88
- Medicare Tax: $32.01
- Total Taxes: ~$430.37
- Post-tax Deductions: $50.00
- Net Pay: ~$1,727.32
(Note: These are simplified estimates. Actual tax withholding can vary based on specific W-4/WT-4 elections and other factors.)
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be financial or tax advice. Actual payroll deductions may vary based on your specific W-4 and WT-4 elections, additional withholdings, local taxes, and other factors. Consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional for personalized advice.