H1B & work visa tax calculator (2026)
Enter your gross salary to see federal tax, FICA, and an estimated state tax breakdown for the 2026 tax year — with the specific H1B, OPT, and F1 details general calculators leave out.
Your details
H1B holders pay federal, state, and FICA tax exactly like any other employee once classified as a resident alien for tax purposes (usually after passing the Substantial Presence Test). The one-time H1B petition fee applies to new petitions filed by the employer, not renewals or existing visa holders — see our current fee status guide for the latest, since it's tied up in active litigation. It's an employer cost either way, not a payroll deduction.
On OPT (F1 status), you're typically exempt from FICA (Social Security + Medicare) for your first 5 calendar years in the US as a nonresident alien — this calculator lets you toggle that below. You still owe federal and state income tax.
F1/CPT students are generally treated the same as OPT for FICA exemption purposes during their nonresident period. Check the FICA toggle below if this applies to you.
Not tax advice. This shows an estimate of your annual tax liability and take-home pay — not the exact amount your employer will withhold from each paycheck, which depends on your W-4 elections and pay frequency. For an actual withholding estimate, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator; for filing, use a licensed preparer.
Estimated annual take-home pay
Per month
Per biweekly paycheck
Per week
| Gross salary | |
| Standard deduction (untaxed) | |
| Federal income tax | |
| Social Security (6.2%) | |
| Medicare (1.45%+0.9%) | |
| Take-home pay |
Federal brackets: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (confirmed 2026 tax year). FICA: SSA 2026 wage base ($184,500) + IRS Additional Medicare Tax thresholds.
State tax (CA, NY, NJ): official 2025 rate schedules from the CA Franchise Tax Board, NY Dept. of Taxation & Finance, and NJ Division of Taxation — CA re-indexes brackets each fall so treat CA's figures as a close approximation; NY and NJ are set by statute and shouldn't change for 2026. Other states use flat statutory rates or a generic estimate.
Doesn't model each state's own standard deduction, pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance), local/city tax (e.g. NYC's separate resident tax), or itemized deductions.
Common questions
Answers to what people on H1B, OPT, and F1 status actually ask about US take-home pay.