Maine Bonus Tax Calculator
Data compiled and maintained by Edmond Daher · Updated 2026-08-02
Maine bonus tax calculator
That big bite out of a Maine bonus is withholding at work — a prepayment, not a special bonus tax. Maine adds a flat 5% on top of the 22% federal prepayment and FICA. Maine also withholds paid family leave contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model. Run your numbers to see the "now" withholding next to the "at tax time" total, and how much comes back or is still owed. Everything runs in your browser.
The quick take: a stand-alone Maine bonus has a flat 22% federal tax withheld, 5% for Maine, plus 7.65% FICA. Treat it as money on account. The real tax is your marginal rate, reconciled on your return; the tool above shows the gap either way. Maine also withholds paid family leave contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model.
Estimate only, not tax advice — terms.
Maine bonus withholding at $5,000, $25,000 and $100,000
Here's the Maine bite on a $5,000, $25,000, and $100,000 bonus (single filer, $70,000 salary):
| Bonus | Federal | Maine | FICA | Total | % of bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $250 | $383 | $1,733 | 34.6% |
| $25,000 | $5,500 | $1,250 | $1,913 | $8,663 | 34.6% |
| $100,000 | $22,000 | $5,000 | $7,650 | $34,650 | 34.6% |
Watch the percentage fall once Social Security maxes out; the income-tax slice trues up when you file regardless.
Maine vs. New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont: bonus withholding compared
The same $10,000 bonus and $70,000 salary, in Maine and its neighbors New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont:
| State | Bonus method | State withheld | Total withheld |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | flat 5% | $500 | $3,465 |
| New Hampshire | no state income tax | $0 | $2,965 |
| Massachusetts | aggregate method | $500 | $3,465 |
| Vermont | 30% of federal | $660 | $3,625 |
Total = federal 22% + state + FICA. Illustrative single-filer figures; the income tax you actually owe trues up at filing.
How a Maine bonus is withheld: 22% federal + a flat 5%
The federal side is a flat prepayment. A bonus on its own check has 22% withheld for federal income tax (IRS Pub 15). Once your year's supplemental pay tops $1,000,000, the rate jumps to 37%. It borrows the third bracket's rate — it is not a levy on bonuses.
Maine withholds 5% flat. On a stand-alone bonus, Maine takes a straight 5% for state income tax (Maine Revenue Services 2026 Withholding Tables for Individual Income Tax). Maine also withholds paid family leave contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model. The published rate does not say whether a separately paid bonus carries it, so your pay stub is the authority there.
FICA: withheld and owed. Social Security and Medicare take 7.65% of the bonus — a true tax, not a prepayment. It reads the same in the "now" and "at tax time" columns because none of it comes back — just the income-tax slice is a prepayment that reconciles.
The Maine paycheck calculator covers take-home pay on a normal Maine paycheck.
Run the numbers on a $24,000 bonus for a $47,000 earner in Maine
Here's how a $24,000 bonus plays out for a single filer making $47,000 in Maine:
- Off the top: $8,316 disappears at payday — $5,280 federal, $1,200 Maine, and $1,836 FICA — so roughly $15,684 actually reaches you, a 34.6% cut.
- At tax time: the bonus's actual income tax works out near $4,950 (federal $3,330 + Maine $1,620) — and FICA is the same $1,836 as before.
- The gap: you over-paid income tax by roughly $1,530, and that returns as a refund at filing. FICA ($1,836) stays either way — it's a real tax.
Example single-filer numbers from the calculator above; your own refund or bill shifts with your total income and filing status.
Is Maine's a flat 5% bonus rate a "bonus tax"? No
There is no special bonus tax rate. The 22% is a withholding convenience; at filing the bonus is taxed like the rest of your income, at your marginal rate across the brackets. Most people's real rate is under 22%, so the extra returns; higher earners above 22% owe more. Worked out for the $24,000 bonus here, about $1,530 returns as a refund. Only FICA (7.65%) is a true tax that never returns.
Maine bonus tax FAQ
Does a bonus push my Maine income into a higher bracket?
No. Brackets are marginal — only the dollars above each threshold are taxed higher. A bonus never re-taxes income you already earned.
Are bonuses taxed at a higher rate in Maine?
No. A bonus is ordinary income taxed at your normal marginal rate when you file; the flat 22% withheld is a prepayment, not a tax rate.
Why might I owe tax on my Maine bonus at filing?
Because 22% is only a prepayment. If your true marginal rate is above 22% (high earners), the flat withholding falls short and you owe the rest; below 22%, you're over-withheld and get money back.
How much is withheld from a bonus in Maine for 2026?
On a separately paid bonus, Maine takes 5%, the federal side takes a flat 22% (37% beyond $1,000,000/yr), and FICA takes 7.65%. Those are withholding rates that settle up when you file — not a final tax. Maine also withholds paid family leave contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model.
Bonus tax calculators near Maine
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