Virginia Paycheck Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your net take-home pay in Virginia, factoring in federal, state, and FICA taxes, as well as common deductions. This tool helps you understand how your gross salary translates into your actual paycheck.
Federal Withholding Information
Single Married Filing JointlyVirginia State Withholding Information
Single MarriedDeductions
Your Estimated Paycheck
Enter your details and click "Calculate Paycheck" to see your results.
Understanding Your Virginia Paycheck
A paycheck calculator for Virginia helps you estimate your take-home pay after various deductions. It's a crucial tool for budgeting and financial planning, giving you a clear picture of your net income.
Components of Your Virginia Paycheck
Your gross pay is the total amount you earn before any deductions. From this, several amounts are withheld, leading to your net pay (what you actually take home).
1. Gross Pay
This is your total earnings for a pay period before any taxes or deductions are taken out. It can be based on an hourly wage, a salary, or commissions.
2. Federal Income Tax
The amount withheld for federal income tax depends on your gross pay, your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly), and the number of allowances you claim on your W-4 form. The IRS provides tax brackets that determine the percentage of your income subject to federal tax.
3. FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)
- Social Security: This is a federal insurance program that provides benefits for retirees, the disabled, and survivors. The tax rate is 6.2% of your gross wages, up to an annual wage base limit ($168,600 for 2024).
- Medicare: This federal program provides health insurance for individuals aged 65 or older, and for some younger people with disabilities. The tax rate is 1.45% of all your gross wages, with no wage base limit.
- Your employer also pays an equal amount for both Social Security and Medicare taxes on your behalf.
4. Virginia State Income Tax
Virginia has its own income tax system. The amount withheld for state tax depends on your gross pay, your Virginia filing status (Single, Married), and the number of allowances you claim on your VA-4 form. Virginia uses a progressive tax system with several brackets.
For 2024, Virginia's standard deduction is $8,500 for single filers and $17,000 for married filing jointly. There's also a personal exemption of $930 per allowance.
5. Pre-Tax Deductions
These are deductions taken from your gross pay before taxes are calculated, which can lower your taxable income. Common examples include:
- Contributions to a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan
- Health insurance premiums
- Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions
6. Post-Tax Deductions
These deductions are taken from your pay after taxes have been calculated. Examples include:
- Contributions to a Roth 401(k)
- Union dues
- Garnishments
- Charitable contributions
How to Use the Calculator
Simply input your gross pay per period, select your pay frequency, provide your federal and Virginia withholding information (filing status and allowances), and enter any pre-tax or post-tax deductions. The calculator will then provide an estimate of your net pay and a breakdown of all deductions.
Important Considerations
- W-4 and VA-4 Forms: The accuracy of your paycheck calculation heavily relies on the information you provide on your W-4 (federal) and VA-4 (Virginia) forms to your employer. Reviewing and updating these forms, especially after major life events (marriage, birth of a child, new job), is crucial.
- Tax Law Changes: Tax laws (federal and state) can change annually. This calculator uses 2024 tax rates and thresholds. Always refer to the latest IRS and Virginia Department of Taxation publications for the most current information.
- Other Deductions: This calculator includes common deductions. Your actual paycheck might have other specific deductions unique to your employer or situation (e.g., life insurance, disability insurance, commuter benefits).
- Estimation: This calculator provides an estimate. Your actual paycheck may vary slightly due to rounding or specific payroll system calculations.
Example Calculation
Let's consider an example for a bi-weekly paid employee in Virginia:
- Gross Pay per Pay Period: $2,000
- Pay Frequency: Bi-Weekly (26 pay periods/year)
- Federal Filing Status: Single
- Federal Allowances: 1
- Virginia Filing Status: Single
- Virginia Allowances: 1
- Pre-Tax Deductions: $100 per period (e.g., 401k)
- Post-Tax Deductions: $50 per period (e.g., Roth 401k)
Based on these inputs, the calculator would perform the following steps (using 2024 rates):
- Annualize gross pay and pre-tax deductions.
- Calculate FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) based on annual taxable gross.
- Calculate federal income tax based on annual taxable income (after pre-tax deductions and federal allowances), then divide by pay periods.
- Calculate Virginia state income tax based on annual taxable income (after pre-tax deductions, VA standard deduction, and VA personal exemptions), then divide by pay periods.
- Sum all per-period deductions (FICA, Federal Tax, VA Tax, Pre-Tax Deductions, Post-Tax Deductions).
- Subtract total deductions from gross pay to arrive at net pay.
Using the calculator with these values would yield an estimated net pay of approximately $1,428.78 per pay period.