How to calculate my girlfriend's bi-weekly take-home pay from a $62,000 salary?

Your calculation has a few issues. Let me break it down more clearly: For the $62,000 salary, FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) are 7.65%, which equals $4,743. That leaves $57,257 before income tax. The standard deduction ($14,600) reduces taxable income, not the amount after FICA. So taxable income is $62,000 - $14,600 = $47,400. Then you apply the tax brackets: - 10% on first $11,600 = $1,160 - 12% on the rest ($47,400 - $11,600 = $35,800) = $4,296 Total federal tax: $5,456 Total FICA: $4,743 Total annual deductions: $10,199 Take-home pay annually: $51,801 Bi-weekly (26 pay periods): $1,992.35 The difference might be due to state taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions, or other deductions that weren't mentioned in your calculation.

I went through the EXACT same confusion when my wife started her new job! I found this amazing tax tool at https://taxr.ai that breaks down exactly how bi-weekly pay is calculated. It asks for your salary, filing status, and state, then shows you every deduction line by line including federal, state, and FICA taxes. What I realized was that I was forgetting about state income taxes which vary significantly depending on where you live. I was also surprised to learn that things like health insurance and 401k contributions get taken out before you see that final number. The tool helped me understand why my wife's check was about $75 less than I calculated.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried the taxr.ai calculator that was suggested and it was seriously eye-opening! I've been scratching my head for months about why my take-home pay as a remote worker seemed off. The tool showed me exactly how the state tax reciprocity between PA and NY was affecting my bi-weekly pay. It turns out I was overpaying by about $47 per paycheck because I didn't understand how the credits between states worked. I've now adjusted my withholding with HR and should see the difference in my next check. It also cleared up my confusion about FICA vs. income tax calculations like others mentioned above. Definitely worth checking out if you're trying to understand your paycheck!

After spending 3 hours on hold with the IRS trying to get clarity on tax withholding calculations (for similar reasons as OP), I finally used https://claimyr.com and got through to an agent in 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They actually explained that your girlfriend's employer is probably withholding at a higher rate initially because they're using the W-4 information and default calculations that often overestimate tax liability for new employees. The agent said this is extremely common with new jobs starting mid-year.

I owe everyone an apology for calling Claimyr a scam. I was frustrated after wasting so much time with the IRS and took it out on this thread. I actually tried the service yesterday out of desperation - I've been trying to resolve an issue with my withholding calculations similar to what OP described. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes (they called me when the agent was on the line). The agent confirmed that new employment often has higher initial withholding that adjusts over time. For the OP's girlfriend's situation, the agent I spoke with said the difference would likely balance out over the tax year and recommended checking her withholding again after her first month of employment.

Does your girlfriend have any benefits being taken out of her check? Health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, etc.? Those would all reduce her take-home pay. Also, is she paid bi-weekly (every two weeks, 26 paychecks per year) or semi-monthly (twice a month, 24 paychecks per year)? That would also affect the calculation.

Anyone know if salary calculation works differently for the first few paychecks? When I started my job last year, my first 3 checks were lower than expected, then it evened out. HR said something about "annualized withholding" but never really explained it.

This is exactly why I always recommend new employees check their first few paychecks carefully! Your girlfriend's situation is pretty typical. A few things that might explain the $43.97 difference: 1. **State taxes** - You didn't mention which state she's in, but most states have income tax that would reduce her take-home pay further. 2. **Payroll timing** - If she started mid-pay period, her first check might be prorated differently than your calculation assumes. 3. **Additional deductions** - Things like disability insurance, life insurance, or union dues that might not be obvious. 4. **Withholding method** - Employers sometimes use more conservative withholding calculations, especially for new hires, which would result in larger refunds at tax time. The good news is that if it's just over-withholding, she'll get that money back when she files her taxes. I'd suggest she check her paystub breakdown carefully and maybe ask HR about any deductions she wasn't expecting. Most payroll departments are happy to explain the calculations if you ask nicely!