Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator 2026
Wisconsin withholding is based on Form WT-4 and four brackets up to 7.65%. Residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan who work in Wisconsin can file Form W-220 to stop Wisconsin withholding.
Last updated: October 2026
Pay and filing
Annual gross: $65,000
Used to stop Social Security at the $184,500 wage base and to start the extra 0.9% Medicare above $200,000 on this paycheck.
Form W-4
Step 3: $2,200 per child and $500 per other dependent, a year.
For example education or child care credits you expect to claim.
Interest, dividends or other income with no withholding.
Deductions beyond the standard deduction, including deductible IRA contributions.
Retirement and benefits
$3,900 a year, capped at the $24,500 employee limit for 2026.
Traditional contributions lower federal and most state income tax now, but not Social Security or Medicare.
Through payroll, an HSA avoids income tax and FICA. California and New Jersey still tax it.
2026 limit $3,400.
2026 limit $7,500 per household ($3,750 married filing separately).
Paycheck breakdown (biweekly)
Annual summary
Wisconsin paycheck rules for 2026
| State income tax, 2026 | 4 brackets from 3.5% to 7.65%; top rate from $332,720 of taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| Deductions before tax | standard deduction $13,960 single, $25,840 joint; personal exemption $700 per person |
| Withholding certificate | Form WT-4 |
| Bonus (supplemental) withholding | No separate flat rate: a bonus is taxed with your regular pay (aggregate method) |
| Mandatory payroll premiums | None for employees |
| Local income taxes | None |
| Reciprocity agreements | Yes, with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan |
| Sales tax (for context) | 5.00% state, 5.72% average combined with local (rank 42 of 51) |
Worked example: $60,000 in Wisconsin
Single filer, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), standard W-4, no 401(k) or other benefits.
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 |
| Wisconsin income tax | -$79.60 |
| Take-home pay | $1,858.48 |
Wisconsin take-home pay at different salaries
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4, no benefits, no local tax.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | To Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,278.31 | $33,236 | $1,084 |
| $60,000 | $1,858.48 | $48,320 | $2,070 |
| $100,000 | $2,875.10 | $74,752 | $4,428 |
| $150,000 | $4,095.45 | $106,482 | $7,309 |
Living and working in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's state sales tax is 5.00%; with local add-ons the average combined rate is 5.72%, ranked 42 of 51 as of July 2026.
Wisconsin's second bracket is unusually wide, so most middle-income households sit in a single 4.4% band across a large income range.
In retirement: Wisconsin does not tax Social Security and exempts up to $5,000 of retirement income for filers 65 and over below an income threshold.
Wisconsin paycheck questions
How much is take-home pay on $60,000 in Wisconsin?
A single filer paid $60,000 a year every two weeks, with no pre-tax benefits, takes home about $1,858.48 a paycheck in Wisconsin ($48,320 a year). Each $2,307.69 paycheck loses $193.08 to federal income tax, $176.54 to Social Security and Medicare, $79.60 to Wisconsin income tax. That is $2,070 a year less than the same salary in a state with no income tax or payroll premiums.
How much Wisconsin income tax comes out of each paycheck?
Four brackets from 3.5% to 7.65%. The sliding standard deduction ($13,960 single, $25,840 joint) shrinks as income rises and is gone at about $136,000 single or $160,000 joint. On a $60,000 salary that works out to about $79.60 every two weeks, an effective 3.45% of gross pay.
What else does Wisconsin take out of a paycheck?
Apart from income tax, Wisconsin requires no other employee payroll deduction, so the remaining lines on your stub are federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any benefits you chose.
I live in a neighboring state. Will Wisconsin tax my paycheck?
Not if you live in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. Wisconsin has reciprocal agreements with those states, so you can give your employer the state's nonresidence form and have only your home state's tax withheld. Without the form, Wisconsin tax is withheld anyway and you must file a Wisconsin return to get it back.
How are bonuses withheld in Wisconsin?
Federally, a bonus paid separately is usually withheld at a flat 22% (37% on supplemental pay above $1 million in the year). For Wisconsin: No separate flat rate: a bonus is taxed with your regular pay (aggregate method).
Which form sets my Wisconsin withholding?
Wisconsin uses Form WT-4 alongside the federal Form W-4. If you do not file one, your employer uses the state's default setting, usually single with no allowances or adjustments. Update it after marriage, a new child or a second job.
More for Wisconsin
- Wisconsin income tax calculator for the full year
- Paycheck calculator for all states
- Bonus tax calculator