# 2025 vs 2026 take-home pay

Takehome Cash’s engine is tax year 2026 only. We do not run a second 2025 calculator or print a fake 2025 net next to the 2026 number. This page states what actually moved, using published IRS and SSA figures, so you can interpret a 2026 estimate against last year’s stub.

Federal standard deductions in this 2026 engine are $16,100 single, $32,200 joint, and $24,150 head of household (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32). Those are larger than the 2025 amounts published in Revenue Procedure 2024-40 ($15,000 / $30,000 / $22,500). Bracket widths also inflate; we do not reprint unofficial 2025 nets.

The Social Security wage base is $184,500 for 2026, up from the SSA’s $176,100 2025 base. A wage between those two figures owes 6.2% OASDI in 2026 that would have been over the 2025 cap. Medicare rates are unchanged at 1.45% plus additional Medicare above the filing-status threshold.

State statutes moved too; we follow the Tax Foundation 2026 compilation and label gaps in methodology. Because there is no 2025 constant table in this codebase, we will not invent a 2025 take-home column. Reviewed August 24, 2026.

## Sample estimates

### $80k CA single (2026 engine only)

- Gross: $80,000.00
- Federal income tax: $8,770.00
- Social Security: $4,960.00
- Medicare: $1,160.00
- State income tax: $3,210.42
- Net / take-home: $60,859.58 (effective tax 23.9%)
- Per paycheck net: $60,859.58 (1 periods)

Label: engine estimates, not pay stubs.

## FAQ

### Can I toggle the engine to 2025?

No. The product computes 2026 only. Use your 2025 stub or a 2025 tool if you need last year’s number.

### What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?

$184,500, from the Social Security Administration. The 2025 base was $176,100.

### Where are 2026 federal brackets from?

IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. See the methodology page.

## Related

- [Take-home pay calculator 2026](https://takehomecash.com/take-home-pay-calculator-2026/index.md)
- [Methodology](https://takehomecash.com/methodology/index.md)
- [California paycheck calculator 2026](https://takehomecash.com/california-paycheck-calculator-2026/index.md)