How much federal tax should be withheld from my $26,000 paycheck in 2025? Is 22% normal?

The withholding doesn't necessarily match your final tax bracket exactly. What you're seeing is likely normal. The 22% withholding is based on the IRS withholding tables which assume this is how you're paid regularly throughout the year. Large one-time payments like bonuses are often subject to a flat 22% federal withholding rate (sometimes called supplemental wage withholding). If your check included a bonus, that's probably why you're seeing the higher rate. The payroll system doesn't know this is a one-time thing - it projects as if you'd make this much every pay period, which would put you in a higher bracket annually. Don't worry though - if too much was withheld, you'll get it back when you file your taxes. The withholding is just an estimate of what you'll owe.

After dealing with the exact same confusion last year, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that explains exactly how your paycheck withholding works. It analyzes your paystubs and shows why they're withholding at certain rates. It cleared up my confusion about the 22% supplemental rate vs. my actual tax bracket. The tool actually showed me that my company was withholding correctly, but I was able to adjust my W-4 to get more money during the year instead of a big refund. You upload your pay stub and it explains everything in plain English.

I was really confused about my withholding too! Tried the taxr.ai tool mentioned above and it was super helpful. I uploaded my last pay stub (was nervous about sharing my info but their security seemed solid) and it highlighted exactly why my bonus had that higher 22% withholding rate. The best part was it showed me how to adjust my W-4 to get more money throughout the year instead of waiting for a tax refund. Just submitted the changes to my HR department yesterday. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're confused about withholding!

If you're still having trouble getting answers about your withholding, I had a similar issue and couldn't get through to the IRS for weeks. My cousin told me about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which gets you through to an actual IRS agent quickly. You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was skeptical but desperate after being on hold forever. Used the service and got connected to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes who confirmed the 22% withholding on bonuses is standard and explained exactly how it works. The agent even helped me understand what adjustments I could make to my withholding for next year.

Ok I'm eating my words (and my hat). I tried Claimyr because I was desperate to figure out if I could change my withholding mid-year after getting a raise. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I'd previously wasted THREE HOURS trying on my own and getting disconnected. The agent confirmed that supplemental wages like bonuses are typically withheld at the 22% flat rate, which explained the original poster's situation perfectly. She also walked me through how to adjust my W-4 to account for my raise. I'm honestly shocked this service worked so well - saved me a ton of frustration.

Just to add another perspective on withholding - I'm a payroll specialist and the 22% federal withholding on supplemental wages (like bonuses) is standard practice for most companies. It's actually an IRS rule, not your company's choice. Here's what's happening: Regular wages are withheld using the progressive tax table method which considers your filing status, pay frequency, etc. But supplemental wages like bonuses, commissions, or overtime can be withheld at a flat 22% rate. The good news is that when you file your taxes, everything gets reconciled to your actual tax bracket. If too much was withheld, you'll get it back as a refund.

I still don't understand how our tax system works. If I'm in the 12% bracket based on my annual salary, why does a bigger check suddenly get taxed at 22%? That's nearly double! The system seems designed to confuse us. 😤

I totally get your frustration! I went through the same thing when I got my first big bonus. The 22% withholding on supplemental wages feels like a punch to the gut when you're expecting your regular withholding rate. What helped me was thinking of it this way: the payroll system doesn't know your full financial picture - it just sees a big paycheck and assumes you might be in a higher tax bracket. The 22% rate is like a "safety net" to make sure the IRS gets enough upfront, even if it's too much. You're absolutely right that it's annoying to give the government an interest-free loan, but at least you know you'll get it back at tax time if you're actually in the 12% bracket. Some people actually prefer the forced savings aspect, but I'm like you - I'd rather have my money now!