Tennessee payroll · 2026
Tennessee paycheck calculator.
Tennessee does not tax wages, and its Hall income tax on investment income was repealed, so a Tennessee paycheck loses only federal income tax withholding and FICA. Everything runs in your browser.
Your pay
Estimated Tennessee paycheck (2026)
Tennessee worked example
- Gross pay $3,300.00 (every two weeks, single), minus $120.00 section 125 and $200.00 traditional 401(k) = $320.00 pre-tax.
- Federal income tax withholding (IRS Pub. 15-T percentage method): $315.98.
- Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% of $3,180.00: $197.16 and $46.11.
- Tennessee state tax: $0.00.
- Take-home: $2,420.75 per pay period, about $62,940 a year. Total taxes are 16.95% of gross.
Federal income tax uses Form W-4 (2020 or later) with the Step 2 box unchecked and no Step 3 or Step 4 entries; use the U.S. paycheck calculator if you need those.
Tennessee take-home pay at common salaries
Single filer, paid every two weeks, no pre-tax deductions. Annual figures after federal tax, FICA and the state items this page models.
| Salary | Tennessee take-home / year | California take-home / year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,320 | $33,159 | +$1,161 |
| $60,000 | $50,390 | $47,806 | +$2,583 |
| $80,000 | $65,110 | $60,555 | +$4,554 |
| $100,000 | $79,180 | $72,320 | +$6,860 |
| $150,000 | $113,791 | $101,165 | +$12,626 |
How it is calculated
Federal withholding is IRS Publication 15-T (2026) Worksheet 1A for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later: annualise taxable wages, subtract the $8,600 standard amount ($12,900 if married filing jointly), apply the annual percentage-method table, and divide by pay periods. Social Security is 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare is 1.45% with no limit, and Additional Medicare Tax is 0.9% beyond $200,000 in the year (IRS Publication 15, 2026). Tennessee adds no state line because the state sources below describe no state tax on wages. Local taxes, if any, are not modelled. Not covered: W-4s from 2019 or earlier, bonuses and other supplemental wages (flat-rate rules apply), local taxes unless stated, and wage bracket method rounding.
Sources and as-of dates
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: Hall Income Tax (repealed for periods beginning 2021)
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: Hall Income Tax Manual (August 2022), “does not apply to salaries, wages, and commissions”
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide
- Figures retrieved October 2026. Federal and state agencies republish these tables each year; this tool covers 2026 only.
FAQ
Did Tennessee repeal its income tax?
The Tennessee Department of Revenue says the Hall income tax was repealed for tax periods beginning January 1, 2021 or later. Its Hall Income Tax Manual also says the tax did not apply to salaries, wages and commissions, so wages were never taxed by it.
Is state income tax withheld from a Tennessee paycheck?
Not by this calculator. It withholds federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) plus the pre-tax deductions you enter.
How does Tennessee take-home pay compare with Pennsylvania?
For a single filer paid $70,000 a year every two weeks with no pre-tax deductions, this calculator gives about $58,075 a year in Tennessee and $55,877 in Pennsylvania, $2,198 more in Tennessee. See the full list on the paycheck calculator by state.
Why does my real paycheck differ from this estimate?
Employers may use the wage bracket method, round differently, apply your exact Form W-4 and state withholding certificate, and withhold local, benefit and other amounts this tool does not model. Treat the result as an estimate, not tax advice.
Does a 401(k) deferral lower Social Security and Medicare tax?
No. Per IRS Publication 15, elective 401(k) deferrals are exempt from federal income tax withholding but remain subject to Social Security and Medicare tax. Section 125 cafeteria-plan benefits such as health premiums generally are not.
When does Social Security tax stop?
After an employee’s wages for the year reach the 2026 wage base limit of $184,500. Enter wages already paid this year to see the cap applied to this check. Medicare has no limit; Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies above $200,000.