About the Virginia Paycheck Calculator

Virginia uses a progressive state income tax with 4 brackets (2% / 3% / 5% / 5.75%). Because the brackets are so compressed, most working Virginia residents effectively pay close to the 5.75% top rate. This calculator applies Virginia's actual brackets alongside federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare for an accurate Virginia take-home pay estimate.

Virginia's state income tax is computed after deducting Virginia'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 Virginia workers pay an effective rate close to 5% on the majority of their income.

Note: Several Virginia 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: April 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 (2025: $15,000 single / $30,000 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)
6Virginia 2026: 4 progressive brackets — 2% (≤$3,000), 3% ($3,001–$5,000), 5% ($5,001–$17,000), 5.75% (>$17,000) — applied after $8,750 single / $17,500 married standard deduction. Source: Virginia Tax 2026 withholding tables.
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 — Virginia Paycheck Calculator

Virginia has 4 progressive income tax brackets for 2026, unchanged from 2025: 2% on income up to $3,000, 3% on $3,001–$5,000, 5% on $5,001–$17,000, and 5.75% on income above $17,000. Because the brackets are very compressed, most working Virginia residents effectively pay close to the 5.75% top rate on the majority of their income. Virginia uses the same brackets for all filing statuses.
A single Virginia 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), Virginia state tax (~$2,689 at progressive rates after $8,750 VA standard deduction), Social Security ($3,720), and Medicare ($870) are deducted. Virginia has no local income taxes.
No. Virginia does not impose any local or county income taxes on wages. Virginia's cities, counties, and towns are administered through the state tax system — there is no separate municipal income tax layer. This is a notable difference from neighboring Maryland, where county income taxes add 2.25%–3.2% on top of the state rate for most residents. Virginia's 2%–5.75% state rates are the only income taxes Virginia workers owe at the state level.
Virginia provides targeted retirement income relief. Social Security benefits are fully exempt from Virginia state income tax. Military retirement pay is fully exempt — Virginia enacted a complete exemption for all military retirement income in 2022. Federal government civilian pension income is generally taxable. For taxpayers age 65+, Virginia provides a $12,000 age deduction (reduced by income over $50,000 single / $75,000 married) that can offset some retirement income taxes. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are fully taxable.
Virginia's 2026 standard deduction is $8,750 for single filers and $17,500 for married filing jointly. These amounts were increased and made permanent under the FY 2025–2026 budget bill (HB 1600, signed May 2025), and are now indexed for inflation. Personal exemption is $930 per filer plus $930 per dependent.
Virginia employers use Form VA-4 (Employee's Virginia Income Tax Withholding Exemption Certificate) and Virginia Department of Taxation withholding tables to calculate state income tax each pay period. Withholding is based on gross wages, pay frequency, and personal exemptions claimed on the VA-4. Virginia updated its withholding tables for 2026 to reflect the increased standard deduction ($8,750/$17,500). Official source: tax.virginia.gov
Virginia's top marginal income tax rate is 5.75%, which applies to taxable income above $17,000. Because Virginia's four tax brackets are extremely compressed (2% / 3% / 5% / 5.75%), virtually all working Virginians with income above $17,000 are in the top bracket and pay close to 5.75% on the vast majority of their income. Virginia's brackets have not been updated in decades, making the 'progressive' label largely theoretical — in practice it functions nearly as a flat 5.75% tax for most workers.
Virginia's effective 5.75% rate for most workers is higher than several neighbors. North Carolina's flat 3.99% rate is meaningfully lower. Tennessee has no individual income tax on wages. Maryland has progressive rates reaching 5.75% plus county income taxes of 2.25%–3.2% — making Maryland more expensive overall despite the similar state top rate. West Virginia has progressive rates to 6.5%. Washington DC's top rate is 10.75%. Virginia's lack of local income taxes and full military retirement exemption are important advantages.

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