Understanding Washington Payroll Taxes
Calculating your take-home pay in Washington state looks a little different than most of the country. Fortunately for workers in the Evergreen State, Washington is one of nine U.S. states that does not charge a state personal income tax. However, there are still federal obligations and unique state-level payroll deductions you must understand.
Our WA Pay Calculator helps you predict your exact paycheck by estimating standard Federal income tax brackets, FICA taxes, and Washington's mandatory leave program contributions.
Federal Taxes & FICA
Regardless of where you live, you are subject to federal payroll taxes. These include:
- Federal Income Tax: Estimated based on your filing status and annual income brackets, minus standard deductions.
- Social Security: Deducted at a rate of 6.2% of your gross pay up to an annual limit.
- Medicare: Deducted at a rate of 1.45% of your gross pay (plus an additional 0.9% for high-income earners).
Washington-Specific Deductions
While there is no state income tax, Washington employers are required to withhold premiums for two specific state safety-net programs:
- Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML): A small percentage (typically a fraction of 1%) is deducted from your wages to fund the state's paid leave program.
- WA Cares Fund: A deduction of 0.58% is applied to gross wages to fund long-term care benefits for Washingtonians. Unlike Social Security, there is no cap on wages subject to this premium.