Finance calculators

Virginia Paycheck Calculator

Updated Sep 11, 2026 By Infinity Calculator
Rate Formulas Sources
Employee Setup
Employer view adds SUTA, FUTA and employer FICA costs.
$
Federal Withholding (W-4)
Check to increase withholding for two-income households.
$
$2,200/child under 17 ($2,000 for 2025), $500/other dependent.
$
$
$
Virginia State Withholding (VA-4)
$930 personal exemption each.
$800 each (age 65+/blind).
$
Virginia has no local income taxes. Your local income tax will always be $0.
Pre-Tax Deductions
Check which taxes each deduction is exempt from (reduces that taxable base).
Total Pre-Tax Deductions (per period)$0.00
Post-Tax Deductions
Total Post-Tax Deductions (per period)$0.00
Tax Exemptions
Your estimated bi-weekly take-home pay
$0.00
Annualized take-home: $0.00
Effective Tax Rate
0%
Total Taxes / Period
$0.00
Paycheck Breakdown
Item% of GrossAmount
Where Is Your Money Going?
Step-by-Step Solution

Introduction

This Virginia paycheck calculator helps you figure out how much money you take home after taxes and deductions. Whether you earn a salary or get paid by the hour, this tool breaks down your pay so you can see exactly where your money goes each pay period.

Virginia has a state income tax with rates from 2% to 5.75%.1 It does not charge any local income taxes. On top of state taxes, your paycheck also shrinks due to federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Pre-tax deductions like health insurance and 401(k) contributions lower your taxable income, which means you pay less in taxes overall.

Use this calculator to enter your gross pay, filing status, W-4 details, and any deductions. It will show you your estimated take-home pay, a full breakdown of every tax and deduction, and a step-by-step explanation of how each number is calculated. You can also switch between employee and employer views to see the full cost of employment, including SUTA and FUTA taxes.

How to Use Our Virginia Paycheck Calculator

Enter your wage, tax filing details, and any deductions below. The calculator will show your estimated take-home pay, total taxes, and a full paycheck breakdown for each pay period or the full year.

Calculation View: Pick "Employee" to see your take-home pay. Pick "Employer" to also see employer-side taxes like SUTA and FUTA.

Pay Type: Choose "Salary" if you earn a fixed amount. Choose "Hourly" if you are paid by the hour.

Gross Pay Amount: If salaried, type your gross pay. Then select whether that number is your annual salary or your pay for one pay period.

Hourly Wage: If hourly, enter your pay rate per hour.

Hours Per Pay Period: Enter how many regular hours you work each pay period. For example, 80 hours for a bi-weekly schedule.

Include Overtime: Check this box if you earn overtime. Then enter your overtime hourly rate and overtime hours per pay period.

Tipped Employee: Check this box if you receive tips. Then enter the total tips you get each pay period. The calculator will warn you if your combined pay falls below Virginia's $12.77 minimum wage.7

Check Date: Enter the date of your paycheck. This tells the calculator which tax year's rates to use.

Pay Frequency: Select how often you get paid, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.

W-4 Form Version: Choose "2020+ W-4" if you filled out a newer W-4. Choose "Pre-2020" if you still use the older form with allowances.

Federal Filing Status: On the 2020+ W-4, select Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household. This must match your W-4.

Step 2 – Multiple Jobs: Check this box if you or your spouse hold more than one job. It increases your federal withholding.

Step 3 – Dependents Amount: Enter the total from Step 3 on your W-4. For 2026 this is $2,200 for each child under 17 and $500 for each other dependent.9

Step 4a – Other Income: Enter any other income not from jobs, such as interest or dividends, listed on your W-4.

Step 4b – Deductions: Enter extra deductions beyond the standard deduction from your W-4, if any.

Step 4c – Extra Withholding: Enter any extra dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for federal taxes.

Pre-2020 Marital Status: If using the older W-4, select Single or Married.

Federal Allowances: Enter the number of allowances from your old W-4. More allowances means less tax is withheld.

Additional Federal Withholding: Enter any extra flat amount you want taken out each pay period for federal taxes on the old W-4.

State Allowances: Enter the number of personal exemptions from your VA-4. Each one reduces your taxable income by $930.1

Additional Allowances: Enter the exemptions for age 65 or older and for blindness from line 1(b) of your VA-4.2 Each one reduces taxable income by $800.1

Additional State Withholding: Enter the extra dollar amount from line 2 of your VA-4, if your employer has agreed to withhold it.2

SUTA Rate: In employer view, enter your Virginia unemployment tax rate. A newly liable employer's rate is 2.5% until it qualifies for a computed rate.12

FUTA Rate: In employer view, enter your net federal unemployment tax rate. The rate is 0.6% after the maximum 5.4% credit for state unemployment tax.6

Pre-Tax Deductions: Enter amounts for benefits like medical insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA, or HSA. Choose a flat dollar amount or a percent of gross pay. Check which taxes each deduction is exempt from.

Post-Tax Deductions: Click "Add Post-Tax Deduction" to add items like Roth 401(k) contributions, garnishments, or union dues. These come out after taxes are calculated.

Tax Exemptions: Select "Yes" if you are exempt from any specific taxes, then check each tax that does not apply to you.

Calculate / Reset: Press "Calculate" to see your results. Press "Reset" to clear all fields back to their default values.

How the Virginia Paycheck Calculator Works

This Virginia paycheck calculator shows you how much money you take home after taxes and deductions are removed from your gross pay. It works for both salaried and hourly workers in Virginia. Just enter your pay, filing status, and any deductions to see your estimated net pay per paycheck.

Taxes That Come Out of Your Virginia Paycheck

Every paycheck in Virginia has federal and state taxes taken out. Federal income tax is based on your W-4 form, your filing status, and how much you earn. The IRS uses tax brackets, which means different parts of your income are taxed at different rates ranging from 10% to 37%.13

Virginia state income tax also uses brackets. The rates are 2%, 3%, 5%, and 5.75%.1 Your taxable income goes down based on the standard deduction and any personal exemptions you claim on your VA-4 form.2 Each personal exemption is worth $930, and each additional exemption for age 65 or older or blindness is worth $800.1 Virginia does not have any local income taxes.

FICA taxes pay for Social Security and Medicare. Social Security tax is 6.2% of your wages up to $184,500 in 2026.3 Medicare tax is 1.45% on all wages.3 Once your wages pass $200,000 in a year, your employer withholds an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on the amount above that.3

Pre-Tax and Post-Tax Deductions

Pre-tax deductions like health insurance, 401(k) contributions, and HSA contributions are taken out before taxes are calculated. This lowers your taxable income, so you pay less in taxes. Post-tax deductions are taken out after taxes. They do not reduce the taxes you owe.

Virginia Minimum Wage and Tipped Employees

The minimum wage in Virginia is $12.77 per hour.7 Employers of tipped workers can pay a cash wage of $2.13 per hour and count up to $10.64 an hour in tips toward that minimum.8 If tips do not bring pay up to the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.15

Employer Payroll Costs in Virginia

Employers in Virginia pay their own share of payroll taxes. They match the 6.2% Social Security tax and the 1.45% Medicare tax.3 They also pay Virginia State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) on the first $8,000 of each worker's wages in a calendar year.11 A newly liable employer pays 2.5% until it qualifies for a computed rate.12 Experience-based SUTA rates range from 0.1% to 6.2%. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) applies to the first $7,000 of each worker's wages.6 The FUTA rate is 0.6% for an employer that gets the maximum 5.4% state tax credit.6

Formulas used

Federal Adjusted Annual Wage (2020+ W-4) 10
W_{\text{adj}} = W_{\text{fed}} \times n + \text{Step 4a} - \text{Step 4b} - \text{Std. Offset}
Federal Income Tax per Period 10
T_{\text{fed}} = \frac{\max\!\left(T_{\text{base}} + r \times (W_{\text{adj}} - B_{\text{start}}) - \text{Step 3},\; 0\right)}{n} + \text{Step 4c}
Virginia Taxable Income 1
W_{\text{VA}} = W_{\text{state}} \times n - D_{\text{std}} - A \times 930 - A_{\text{addl}} \times 800
Social Security Tax per Period 3
T_{\text{SS}} = \frac{6.2\% \times \min(W_{\text{FICA}} \times n,\; \text{Wage Base})}{n}
Medicare Tax per Period 3
T_{\text{Med}} = \frac{1.45\% \times W_{\text{FICA}} \times n \;+\; 0.9\% \times (W_{\text{FICA}} \times n - \text{\$200,000})^{+}}{n}
Take-Home Pay
\text{Net} = \text{Gross} - \text{Pre-Tax Ded.} - (T_{\text{fed}} + T_{\text{VA}} + T_{\text{SS}} + T_{\text{Med}}) - \text{Post-Tax Ded.}
Effective Tax Rate
r_{\text{eff}} = \frac{T_{\text{fed}} + T_{\text{VA}} + T_{\text{SS}} + T_{\text{Med}}}{\text{Gross}} \times 100\%

Frequently asked questions

Does Virginia have a local income tax?

No. Virginia does not charge any local income taxes. The local income tax line on your paycheck breakdown will always be $0.

What is the Virginia state income tax rate?

Virginia uses four tax brackets.1 The rates are 2% on the first $3,000, 3% on income over $3,000 up to $5,000, 5% on income over $5,000 up to $17,000, and 5.75% on income over $17,000.1 These apply to your taxable income after your standard deduction and exemptions are subtracted.1

What is the standard deduction in Virginia?

For 2025 and 2026, the Virginia standard deduction is $8,750 for single filers and $17,500 for married couples filing jointly.1 Withholding uses one amount for every employee: $8,750 is subtracted from annual wages paid after July 1, 2025, whatever your filing status.1 The higher amounts are scheduled to end after 2026, when the deduction falls back to $3,000 for single filers and $6,000 for married couples filing jointly.1

What does the VA-4 personal exemption do?

Each personal exemption on your VA-4 form reduces your Virginia taxable income by $930 per year.1 If you claim 1 allowance, your taxable income drops by $930. If you claim 2, it drops by $1,860, and so on.

What is the additional allowance on the VA-4 for?

The additional allowance is for people who will be 65 or older on January 1 or who are legally blind, and for a spouse in the same situation when you claim your spouse.2 Each additional allowance reduces your Virginia taxable income by $800 per year.1

Can I have extra Virginia tax withheld from my paycheck?

Form VA-4 has no elected withholding rate. To have more Virginia tax withheld, you write an extra dollar amount on line 2 of your VA-4, and your employer must agree to withhold it.2 Enter that amount in Additional State Withholding.

What is the difference between the 2020+ W-4 and the pre-2020 W-4?

The 2020+ W-4 uses filing status, dependents, and other income to figure out your federal withholding. It does not use allowances. The pre-2020 W-4 uses allowances and a simple single or married status. If you filled out a W-4 before 2020 and never updated it, choose the pre-2020 version.

How do pre-tax deductions save me money?

Pre-tax deductions are taken out of your pay before taxes are calculated. This lowers the amount of income that gets taxed. For example, if you put $120 per paycheck into health insurance and it is exempt from federal, state, and FICA taxes, you pay less in all three of those taxes.

What is the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions?

Pre-tax deductions come out of your pay before taxes are figured. They lower your taxable income and reduce the taxes you owe. Post-tax deductions come out after taxes are already taken. They do not change how much tax you pay.

What are the FICA tax rates for employees in Virginia?

FICA includes Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%.3 Social Security tax only applies up to a wage cap, which is $184,500 in 2026.3 Medicare tax applies to all your wages with no cap. Once your wages pass $200,000 in a year, your employer withholds an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above that amount.3

What is the Social Security wage base?

The Social Security wage base is the maximum amount of your earnings that are subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax each year. In 2026, the limit is $184,500, up from $176,100 in 2025.4 Any wages above that amount are not taxed for Social Security.

When does the Additional Medicare Tax apply?

Your employer must withhold the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages it pays you above $200,000 in a calendar year, whatever your filing status.5 On your tax return, the tax applies above $250,000 if you are married filing jointly, $125,000 if you are married filing separately, and $200,000 for everyone else.5 Only the amount above the threshold is taxed at the extra rate.

What is SUTA and how does it affect my pay?

SUTA stands for State Unemployment Tax Act. In Virginia, only the employer pays SUTA. It does not come out of your paycheck. The tax applies to the first $8,000 of your wages each calendar year.11 A newly liable employer pays 2.5% until it qualifies for a computed rate.12 Experience-based rates range from 0.1% to 6.2%.

What is FUTA?

FUTA stands for Federal Unemployment Tax Act. It is a tax paid by the employer, not the employee. It applies to the first $7,000 of each worker's wages per year.6 The rate is 6.0%, and an employer that gets the maximum 5.4% credit for state unemployment tax pays 0.6%.6

How does pay frequency affect my take-home pay?

Pay frequency changes how your annual taxes are split across paychecks. If you are paid weekly, your per-paycheck tax is smaller but you get 52 paychecks. If you are paid monthly, each paycheck has more tax withheld but you only get 12. Your total annual take-home pay stays about the same.

Why does the check date matter?

The check date tells the calculator which tax year's rules to use. Tax rates, standard deductions, and wage bases can change from year to year. Setting the correct check date makes sure your estimate uses the right numbers.

What does the effective tax rate mean?

Your effective tax rate is the total amount of tax taken from your paycheck divided by your gross pay, shown as a percentage. It tells you how much of each dollar you earn goes to taxes overall, combining federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare.

How are tips handled for tax purposes?

Tips are added to your gross pay and are subject to federal income tax, Virginia state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 per hour.7 If your cash wage plus tips comes out to less than that, the calculator shows a warning, because your employer must make up the difference.15

What does it mean to be exempt from a tax?

Being exempt from a tax means that tax is not taken out of your paycheck. Most workers are not exempt. You can claim exemption from federal income tax withholding for 2026 only if you had no federal income tax liability in 2025 and expect none in 2026.9 You can check specific boxes in the Tax Exemptions section to mark which taxes do not apply to you.

Does Virginia tax retirement contributions like 401(k)?

Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax. They are not subject to federal income tax withholding when you make them, and you do not report them as wages on your federal return.14 They also lower your Virginia taxable income, so you pay less in taxes now. However, you will pay taxes when you withdraw the money in retirement. Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax, so they do not lower your current taxable income.14

Sources

  1. Virginia Employer Withholding Instructions. Virginia Department of Taxation. 2025;Rev. 05/25. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  2. Form VA-4, Employee's Virginia Income Tax Withholding Exemption Certificate. Virginia Department of Taxation. 2026;Rev. 04/26. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  3. Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  4. Contribution and Benefit Base. Social Security Administration. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  5. Topic no. 560, Additional Medicare tax. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  6. Topic no. 759, Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  7. State Minimum Wage Laws. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  8. Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  9. Form W-4 (2026), Employee's Withholding Certificate. Internal Revenue Service. 2026. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  10. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  11. Code of Virginia § 60.2-229, Wages. Virginia General Assembly. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  12. Code of Virginia § 60.2-526, General provisions. Virginia General Assembly. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  13. IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026, including amendments from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. Internal Revenue Service. 2025;IR-2025-103. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  14. Topic no. 424, 401(k) plans. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed September 11, 2026.
  15. Fact Sheet #15: Tipped Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed September 11, 2026.

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