Washington Bonus Tax Calculator
Data compiled and maintained by Edmond Daher · Updated 2026-08-02
Washington bonus tax calculator
In Washington, a bonus is ordinary income — the slice that vanishes on payday is withholding, not a higher tax rate. Washington takes no state income tax (it runs on sales tax plus a capital-gains excise on high earners), so the flat 22% federal prepayment and FICA come out of the bonus. Washington also withholds paid family leave and long-term care 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.
Short version: in Washington, a bonus paid on its own is withheld at the flat federal 22%, $0 in Washington income tax, and 7.65% FICA. Those are withholding rates, not the tax itself; your bonus settles at your marginal rate on your return — the tool above shows by how much. Washington also withholds paid family leave and long-term care contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model.
Estimate only, not tax advice — terms.
Cross-border check: Washington vs. Oregon, Idaho and California on a bonus
Here's a $10,000 bonus on a $70,000 salary compared across Washington and nearby Oregon, Idaho and California:
| State | Bonus method | State withheld | Total withheld |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | no state income tax | $0 | $2,965 |
| Oregon | flat 8% | $800 | $3,765 |
| Idaho | flat 5.3% | $530 | $3,495 |
| California | 10.23% / 6.6% | $1,023 | $3,988 |
Figures are the 22% federal plus state plus FICA for a single filer; the income tax you owe reconciles on your return.
What comes out of a Washington bonus in 2026
The 22% isn't a bonus tax. It's the flat rate an employer may use to withhold federal income tax from a separately paid bonus (IRS Pub 15). Only the part of your yearly bonuses above $1,000,000 is withheld at 37%; everything under that stays a flat 22% — a shortcut, not a rate reserved for bonuses.
Washington: $0 state income tax. Washington levies no income tax on wages, so no state income tax comes out of your bonus and the withholding in this estimate is the federal 22% plus FICA. Washington also withholds paid family leave and long-term care contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model. The published rates do not say whether a separately paid bonus carries them, so your pay stub is the authority there. Washington has no tax on wage income, though since 2022 it applies a 7% excise tax on annual long-term capital gains above an inflation-adjusted threshold (around $270,000) — which does not touch ordinary paychecks.
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.
For your regular salary rather than a bonus, use the Washington paycheck calculator.
Why a Washington bonus shrinks even with no state tax
Think of the flat rate as a deposit, not a bill. A bonus is taxed like any wages — at your marginal rate when the year's income runs through the brackets — and the 22% is only how it's withheld. Below a 22% real rate you get money back; above it, you settle the gap at filing. For the $24,000 bonus below, the flat withholding runs roughly $480 light, leaving that to owe. Just the 7.65% FICA slice is a real tax you won't get back.
$158,000 salary, $24,000 bonus: the Washington withholding-vs.-tax breakdown
Say you earn $158,000 in Washington and your employer cuts a separate $24,000 bonus check:
- Withheld now: $5,280 federal (22%) + $0 state + $1,836 FICA = $7,116 held back, leaving about $16,884 in hand — a 29.6% bite.
- The real bill: at filing the bonus is taxed roughly $5,760 in income tax (federal $5,760), with the identical $1,836 FICA on top.
- The gap: expect to owe roughly $480 more when you file — your marginal rate runs above the 22% held back. The $1,836 FICA doesn't move — that part is owed no matter what.
A single-filer illustration only — drop your real salary, bonus, and filing status into the tool above for your figure.
Washington bonus tax FAQ
Is there a special bonus tax rate in Washington?
No. The 22% federal and the state supplemental rate are withholding defaults, not rates that apply only to bonuses. Your real tax is your ordinary marginal rate.
How much is withheld from a bonus in Washington?
Washington has no state income tax, so $0 is withheld for state income tax. Federally, a separately paid bonus is withheld at a flat 22% (37% above $1,000,000/yr), plus 7.65% FICA, which is a prepayment rather than your final tax. Washington also withholds paid family leave and long-term care contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model.
Does Washington tax my bonus at all?
Washington charges no state income tax on it. You still owe federal income tax (a flat 22% is withheld, trued up at filing) and FICA on the bonus. Washington also withholds paid family leave and long-term care contributions from wages, which this estimate does not model.
Will I get some of my Washington bonus withholding back?
Often, yes — if your true marginal rate is below the 22% withheld, the difference refunds at filing; above 22%, you owe it. FICA is a true tax and never refunds.
Bonus tax calculators near Washington
Washington paycheck calculator · all state bonus tax calculators →
Sources
- IRS Publication 15 (2026) — Supplemental Wages (flat 22% / 37% above $1M)
- Washington income-tax status & rate: see the Washington paycheck calculator sources (state DOR, verified 2026-08-02).