Georgia state income tax 2026 paycheck calculator take-home pay

Georgia Paycheck Calculator - Flat 5.39% State Tax (2026)

Q: Does Georgia have local income taxes?

Yes. Several Georgia cities and Jefferson County impose local occupational or income taxes. Birmingham charges 1%, Gadsden charges 2%, and Jefferson County adds 1% on wages earned within the county (which includes Birmingham). These local taxes are assessed based on where you work, not where you live, and are not included in this calculator.

Georgia Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Georgia state income tax rate: 5.39% (flat 5.39% rate). Enter your hourly rate or salary above to see your exact Georgia take-home pay including federal and state withholding.

Rates verified against Georgia Department of Revenue. Updated September 2026.

Written by Cole Bridges, Senior Tax and Payroll Analyst | Reviewed by the HourlyTax Research Team

Data sourced from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Public Law 119-21 (OBBBA), and SSA COLA Guidelines. Updated September 2026. About our methodology

Bracket-based estimate using 2025 IRS tax tables - Georgia

🔒 No data stored ⚡ Instant results 📊 Real 2026 brackets ✓ FICA rates verified

📋 State Rate Verified — Georgia tax rate confirmed against Georgia Department of Revenue current guidance. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Report a data error.

Georgia Paycheck Calculator

ℹ️

What this calculator includes Federal income tax + Social Security + Medicare + Georgia flat 5.39% state income tax.

Pay Type

Hourly Rate

Hours / Period

Pay Frequency

Filing Status

Your take-home pay

$0.00

per period

Description	Per Paycheck
💵 Gross Pay	-
🏛 Federal Income Tax	-
🔒 Social Security (6.2%)	-
🏥 Medicare (1.45%)	-
🗺 Georgia State Income Tax	-
Total Deductions	-
✅ Net take-home pay	-

⚠️ Bracket-based estimate only. Does not include W-4 adjustments, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, health insurance), local/municipal taxes, or year-to-date limits. Consult your employer or a tax professional for exact withholding amounts.

About the Georgia Paycheck Calculator

Georgia uses a flat 5.39% state income tax (reduced from 5.39% effective January 1, 2025 under HB 111). This calculator applies Georgia's actual flat rate alongside federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare for an accurate Georgia take-home pay estimate.

Georgia's state income tax is computed after deducting Georgia's standard deduction ($2,500 single / $7,500 married) and personal exemption ($1,500 single / $3,000 married). The top 5% rate kicks in on income above $3,000 for single filers and $6,000 for married filers - meaning most Georgia workers pay an effective rate close to 5% on the majority of their income.

Note: Several Georgia cities including Birmingham and Gadsden impose local occupational taxes (1–2%) not included in this calculator. Jefferson County also has a 1% occupational tax. Check with your employer for local withholding amounts. These results are bracket-based estimates only.

📚 Sources & Last Updated

Last updated: August 2026 · Tax year: 2026

How the Tax Formula Works

This calculator uses a bracket-based approach - the same method used to compute annual tax liability - divided by your pay periods. It is an estimate, not a payroll withholding calculation (which uses W-4 inputs and IRS Publication 15-T procedures).

1Gross Pay = Hourly Rate × Hours OR Annual Salary ÷ Pay Periods

2Federal Taxable Income = Annual Gross − Standard Deduction (2026: $16,100 single / $32,200 married)

3Federal Income Tax = Apply 2026 IRS brackets (10%→37%) ÷ pay periods

4Social Security = Gross × 6.2% (stops at $184,500 annual wages)

5Medicare = Gross × 1.45% (+0.9% on wages over $200K single)

Georgia 2026: flat 5.39% rate applied to (annual gross − $12,000 standard deduction single / $24,000 married)  -  source: Georgia Department of Revenue, HB 111 of 2025

7Net Take Home = Gross − Fed Tax − SS − Medicare − State Tax

Results are bracket-based estimates. Actual paycheck withholding is determined by your W-4 form, pre-tax deductions, and employer payroll procedures. Use these results for planning and budgeting - not as a substitute for your actual pay stub.

Frequently Asked Questions - Georgia Paycheck Calculator

What is Georgia's 2026 income tax rate?+

Georgia has a flat 5.39% income tax rate for 2026 (reduced from 5.39% effective January 1, 2025 under HB 111). This single rate applies to all taxable income regardless of filing status. A further scheduled reduction to 5.09% may take effect during 2026 if revenue conditions are met, with eventual reduction to 4.99% planned.

How much will I take home on $45,000 in Georgia?+

A single Georgia filer earning $60,000 can expect approximately $46,200–$47,200 in annual take-home pay. Federal income tax (~$5,200 after the $16,100 federal standard deduction), Georgia state tax (~$2,491 at 5.39% flat rate after $12,000 GA standard deduction), Social Security ($3,720), and Medicare ($870) are deducted. Georgia has no local income taxes.

Does Georgia have local income taxes?+

No. Georgia does not impose any local or municipal income taxes on wages. The 5.39% flat state rate is the only income tax Georgia workers pay - there are no city or county income tax surcharges. This simplifies paycheck calculations significantly compared to states like Ohio or Pennsylvania where nearly every municipality levies additional local income taxes.

Does Georgia tax retirement income?+

Georgia provides significant retirement income exemptions. Social Security benefits are partially exempt based on income. For taxpayers age 62 or older (or permanently disabled), Georgia exempts up to $65,000 of retirement income per person ($130,000 per couple). This covers pension payments, IRA distributions, and 401(k) withdrawals up to those limits. Military retirement income is fully exempt from Georgia state tax.

What is the Georgia standard deduction for 2026?+

Georgia's standard deduction is $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married filing jointly. Head of household and qualifying surviving spouse filers also receive the $12,000 amount. These deductions reduce your Georgia taxable income before applying the 5.39% flat rate.

How does Georgia withholding work?+

Georgia employers use Form G-4 (Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate) and Georgia Department of Revenue withholding tables to calculate state income tax each pay period. Withholding is based on gross wages, pay frequency, and allowances claimed on the G-4. Georgia's flat 5.39% rate makes the calculation relatively straightforward. Official source: dor.georgia.gov

What is Georgia's top income tax rate?+

Georgia has a flat 5.39% income tax rate for 2026, which applies to all taxable income above the $12,000 standard deduction for single filers ($24,000 for married). There is no higher bracket - the 5.39% rate applies regardless of income level. This rate was reduced from 5.39% effective January 1, 2025 under HB 111, with a further scheduled reduction to 5.09% coming if revenue conditions are met.

How does Georgia compare to neighboring states for income taxes?+

Georgia sits mid-range among Southeastern states. Florida and Tennessee have no state income tax on wages, making them more attractive for high earners. North Carolina's flat rate is 3.99% - lower than Georgia's 5.39%. Alabama's top rate is 5% (with a federal tax deduction that effectively lowers it). South Carolina's top rate is 6.4%. Georgia's phased rate reductions and relatively high retirement income exemptions improve its competitive position for retirees.

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Federal source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · State source: GA DOR 2026 individual income tax — flat 5.39% · Estimates only — not tax advice. Methodology · Report error

Georgia Paycheck Calculator — Flat 5.39% State Tax

Georgia transitioned to a flat income tax in 2024, with the rate set at 5.39% for tax year 2026. Every dollar of Georgia taxable income above the personal exemption is taxed at the same rate regardless of income level. This simplifies paycheck calculation — once you know your taxable income, the state portion is a straightforward 5.39% calculation.

How Georgia State Tax Is Calculated

Georgia's flat tax applies after the standard deduction and personal exemptions. Georgia's standard deduction is $5,400 for single filers (lower than the federal $16,100). Personal exemption is $2,700. Total Georgia deductions for a single filer: $8,100 — meaning taxable income for state purposes is higher than for federal purposes at the same gross wage.

Georgia at $20/Hour

A Georgia worker earning $20/hour ($41,600/year) pays approximately $1,800-$2,000 in Georgia state income tax annually — around $75-$83 deducted per biweekly paycheck on top of federal withholding. Combined with federal taxes, the effective total tax rate is approximately 20-22% at this wage level.

Georgia vs Neighboring States

Georgia's 5.39% flat rate is higher than North Carolina (4.25%) and South Carolina's lower brackets, but lower than what workers pay at equivalent incomes in progressive-bracket states like Virginia (5.75% top rate). Tennessee and Florida have no state income tax, making them popular relocation destinations for Georgia workers near the border.

Georgia Cities and Local Taxes

Georgia does not have a city income tax — Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and all other Georgia cities do not add municipal income tax on top of state rates. However, Georgia counties levy SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) that varies by county.

"For tax year 2026, the standard deduction for single filers is $16,100 and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, reflecting inflation adjustments under IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32."
Source: Internal Revenue Service - IRS 2026 Tax Year Inflation Adjustments

"The Social Security wage base limit is $184,500 for calendar year 2026. The FICA tax rate remains 6.2% for employees and employers."
Source: Social Security Administration - SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet