Calculating payroll taxes

**jpg7n16** · 07-18-2011, 07:11 PM

Use this calculator:

California Salary Paycheck Calculator | Payroll Calculator | Paycheck City

**cstar** · 07-18-2011, 07:17 PM

Ah, thanks. I'd been looking at this earlier but wasn't sure about allowances, withholding, deductions, etc. My lack of tax knowledge is rather embarrassing, and something I've always been meaning to enhance, but it's still rather abysmal.

**JoshuaHeckathorn** · 07-18-2011, 10:30 PM

Just use 1 for your withholding. If you're going to be contributing to an employer-sponsored 401K, make sure you take that pretax contribution into account as well. I recommend contributing the max if you can manage it- $16,500 for this year.

BTW- congrats on the first job! This is a tough market to land any job in, so kudos to you.

**GrimJack** · 07-19-2011, 12:24 AM

The IRS has a pretty good payroll calculator too.

**creditcardfree** · 07-19-2011, 06:33 AM

The IRS Withholding Calculator can tell you what allowances to claim for your situation.

**jpg7n16** · 07-19-2011, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by GrimJack View Post

The IRS has a pretty good payroll calculator too.

Originally posted by creditcardfree View Post

The IRS Withholding Calculator can tell you what allowances to claim for your situation.

Don't suppose you guys could post links eh?

I searched and did not find a paycheck calculator at IRS.gov -
Google
Google

though I do already know about the withholdings calculator. (IRS Withholding Calculator) But the withholdings calculator will not tell you your paycheck, and the OP needs paycheck, not withholdings.

OP - just use 0 or 1 as suggested above. It's an estimate. You don't need to the penny. Once you get your actual first paycheck, then you can adjust. So for your first month, just budget based on $3500 or $3600. It'll get you close enough. You only need the estimate for the first month anyways.

**cstar** · 07-19-2011, 08:38 PM

Thank you for the insight, everyone! It's much appreciated.

Calculating payroll taxes