How Texas taxes your paycheck in 2026
Texas collects no state income tax on wages - it is one of only nine US states where paychecks skip state withholding entirely. That means your take-home pay is determined by federal income tax and FICA alone. On a $60,000 salary with 5% going to a pre-tax 401(k), a single filer pays about $4,660.00 in 2026 federal income tax and $4,590.00 in FICA, keeping $47,750.00 for the year.
| Texas at a glance (2026, single filer) | Value |
|---|---|
| State income tax | None |
| Deduction | n/a |
| State tax on a $60,000 salary (5% 401(k)) | $0.00 |
| Take-home on $60,000 (biweekly paycheck) | $1,836.54 |
Federal taxes are the same in every state
Wherever you live, 2026 federal income tax uses the same brackets (10% to 37%, after the standard deduction for your filing status - $16,100 for single filers), the same federal Child Tax Credit, and the same FICA rules: 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages and an extra 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers). State tax is what makes a Texas paycheck different from one across the state line.
What this estimate leaves out
Worked examples on this page use the calculator's defaults: a single filer with no dependents taking the standard deduction for 2026. The calculator itself also supports married filing jointly, head of household and children under 17, including the federal Child Tax Credit. Health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, itemized deductions and other credits are not modeled.