Tax year 2026 · 2%–5.75%, top rate from $17,000
Virginia Paycheck Calculator 2026
Virginia technically has four tax brackets, but the top one starts at $17,000 of taxable income — so almost every full-time worker in the state pays 5.75% on the margin. Here is what that means for your paycheck.
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | $216.15 | $5,620.00 |
| Social Security | $155.00 | $4,030.00 |
| Medicare | $36.25 | $942.50 |
| Virginia income tax | $112.44 | $2,923.40 |
| Take-home pay | $1,980.16 | $51,484.10 |
Estimate only. This uses standard withholding assumptions and does not account for W-4 adjustments, multiple jobs, or local city taxes. Not tax advice — see the disclaimer.
Virginia's top rate of 5.75% starts at just $17,000 of taxable income, so almost every full-time worker pays it on the margin. What that leaves you with depends on your filing status and deductions — the calculator above works it out, and the tables below show common cases.
Virginia Take-Home Pay at Common Salaries
Estimated take-home for a single filer using the standard deduction with no pre-tax contributions. Your own paycheck will differ based on your W-4, benefits and retirement contributions.
| Gross salary | Federal | FICA | Virginia tax | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,486 | $32,834 | 17.9% |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $2,061 | $40,294 | 19.4% |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $2,636 | $47,754 | 20.4% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,498 | $58,094 | 22.5% |
| $85,000 | $9,870 | $6,503 | $4,073 | $64,554 | 24.1% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,936 | $74,244 | 25.8% |
| $125,000 | $18,734 | $9,563 | $6,373 | $90,330 | 27.7% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $7,811 | $105,980 | 29.3% |
Filing jointly changes this considerably. On $100,000 a married couple pays $4,379 in Virginia tax rather than $4,936, and keeps about $80,331 against a single filer's $74,244.
Virginia Paycheck Calculator by Pay Frequency
Your annual salary does not change with how often you are paid, but the amount landing in your account each time does. Take-home figures, single filer:
| Annual salary | Weekly | Biweekly | Semi-monthly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $774.89 | $1,549.77 | $1,678.92 | $3,357.84 |
| $60,000 | $918.35 | $1,836.70 | $1,989.75 | $3,979.51 |
| $75,000 | $1,117.19 | $2,234.39 | $2,420.59 | $4,841.18 |
| $100,000 | $1,427.77 | $2,855.54 | $3,093.50 | $6,187.01 |
Biweekly and semi-monthly are not the same thing. Biweekly means 26 paychecks a year, every two weeks. Semi-monthly means 24 slightly larger ones, twice a month. Two months each year contain three biweekly paydays, which is why some months feel unexpectedly comfortable.
Virginia Income Tax Brackets for 2026
| Virginia taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $3,000 | 2% |
| $3,001 – $5,000 | 3% |
| $5,001 – $17,000 | 5% |
| Over $17,000 | 5.75% |
Four brackets, but in practice it behaves like a flat tax. The top bracket begins at $17,000 of taxable income, which nearly every full-time worker clears, so your marginal Virginia rate is 5.75% and every raise, bonus and overtime hour is taxed at it.
The Tax Foundation singles Virginia out for exactly this — several brackets compressed into a very narrow band of income.
Virginia Standard Deduction and Personal Exemptions
For tax year 2026, Virginia's standard deduction is $8,750 for single filers and $17,500 for married couples filing jointly.
Virginia also allows a $930 personal exemption for each eligible filer and dependent, with an additional $800 exemption available for filers aged 65 or older or who are blind.
Virginia does not automatically match the federal standard deduction, so the figure on your Virginia return differs from the one on your federal return.
What Comes Out of a Virginia Paycheck?
| Deduction | Rate |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | Per IRS tables and your W-4 |
| Social Security | 6.2% up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000 |
| Virginia income tax | Up to 5.75% of taxable income |
Virginia has no state disability insurance and no paid family leave premium, so there is no additional state payroll deduction. Unemployment insurance is employer-paid and never appears on your stub — see pay stub abbreviations if a line on yours is unclear.
No Local Income Tax in Virginia
Virginia localities cannot levy an income tax. Arlington, Alexandria, Richmond and Virginia Beach all take nothing from your wages.
They raise revenue through property tax and the personal property tax on vehicles — the "car tax" that arrives annually and surprises everyone who moves to the state. It is not withheld from your paycheck, so budget for it separately.
This is a real contrast with neighbouring Maryland, where every resident pays a county income tax of 2.25% to 3.30% on top of the state rate.
Virginia Tax Reciprocity: DC, Maryland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
Virginia has reciprocal agreements with five jurisdictions: the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They apply to wage and salary income only — not consulting fees, business profits or rental income.
The conditions are not identical, and this is where most explanations go wrong.
For Kentucky, the exemption applies to Virginia residents who commute to Kentucky daily and receive only wage or salary income from Kentucky sources.
For Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, you are exempt from tax in that state only if you are present there for 183 days or fewer during the year, do not maintain an abode such as a house or apartment in that state, and receive only wage or salary income there.
So the common shorthand — "the state you live in determines your tax bill" — is not reliably true. Keep a permanent place to stay near your Maryland office, or spend more than 183 days in the state, and the exemption does not apply.
If you qualify, complete Form VA-4 and give it to your employer so Virginia tax is withheld instead. Residents of a reciprocity state working in Virginia file the same form and must re-certify every year.
If tax was already withheld by the wrong state, you claim it back from that state rather than crediting it on your Virginia return. Virginia residents who had Virginia tax withheld in error file Form 763-S for a refund.
Virginia Form VA-4
Virginia uses its own withholding certificate, Form VA-4, separate from the federal W-4. The exemptions you claim on it control your state withholding.
If your federal withholding looks right but your Virginia withholding does not, this is almost always the cause. Claiming too many exemptions leaves you with a bill in April; claiming too few hands the Commonwealth an interest-free loan for the year. The W-4 guide covers how the two forms interact.
How Much Is $50,000 After Taxes in Virginia?
A single filer earning $50,000 keeps approximately $40,294 a year, an effective tax rate of 19.4%.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Annual gross | $50,000 |
| Federal income tax | $3,820 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $3,825 |
| Virginia income tax | $2,061 |
| Annual take-home | $40,294 |
| Monthly | $3,357.84 |
| Biweekly | $1,549.77 |
| Weekly | $774.89 |
How Much Is $75,000 After Taxes in Virginia?
A single filer on $75,000 takes home roughly $58,094, an effective rate of 22.5%.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Annual gross | $75,000 |
| Federal income tax | $7,670 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $5,738 |
| Virginia income tax | $3,498 |
| Annual take-home | $58,094 |
| Monthly | $4,841.18 |
| Biweekly | $2,234.39 |
| Weekly | $1,117.19 |
That is $62,400 a year gross if you are paid hourly — see $30 an hour is how much a year for the hourly comparison.
How Much Is $100,000 After Taxes in Virginia?
A single filer on $100,000 keeps about $74,244, an effective rate of 25.8%.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Annual gross | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax | $13,170 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $7,650 |
| Virginia income tax | $4,936 |
| Annual take-home | $74,244 |
| Monthly | $6,187.01 |
| Biweekly | $2,855.54 |
| Weekly | $1,427.77 |
Married filing jointly on the same income keeps roughly $80,331, about $6,000 more, because of the larger federal and Virginia standard deductions.
Reducing Your Virginia Tax
Every dollar into a traditional 401(k) avoids both federal tax and Virginia's 5.75% marginal rate. At $75,000, a 10% contribution shields $7,500 from tax and costs you noticeably less than $7,500 of take-home pay.
Section 125 health premiums do more still, because they also reduce Social Security and Medicare wages — see pre-tax vs post-tax deductions.
Compare With Other States
If you are weighing a move or a job offer across state lines, compare against Maryland, which adds county tax on top of state; North Carolina at a flat 3.99%; or Texas and Florida, which have no state income tax at all.
Common questions
What is Virginia's income tax rate for 2026?
Virginia has four brackets: 2% on the first $3,000, 3% to $5,000, 5% to $17,000, and 5.75% above $17,000. Because the top bracket starts so low, most full-time workers pay 5.75% on the margin.
How much is $50,000 after taxes in Virginia?
A single filer keeps about $40,294 a year, or $1,549.77 per biweekly paycheck. That is after $3,820 federal income tax, $3,825 in Social Security and Medicare, and $2,061 in Virginia tax — an effective rate of 19.4%.
How much is $75,000 after taxes in Virginia?
Approximately $58,094 a year for a single filer, or $2,234.39 per biweekly paycheck, at an effective rate of 22.5%.
How much is $100,000 after taxes in Virginia?
About $74,244 for a single filer, an effective rate of 25.8%. Married filing jointly on the same income keeps roughly $80,331 because of the larger standard deductions.
What is Virginia's standard deduction for 2026?
$8,750 for single filers and $17,500 for married couples filing jointly. Virginia also allows a $930 personal exemption per filer and dependent, plus an additional $800 exemption for filers aged 65 or older or who are blind.
Does Virginia have local income taxes?
No. Virginia localities cannot levy an income tax. They raise revenue through property taxes and the personal property tax on vehicles instead.
Do I pay Virginia or DC tax if I live in Virginia and work in Washington DC?
Virginia. The two have a reciprocity agreement covering wage and salary income. File Form VA-4 with your employer so Virginia tax is withheld instead of DC tax.
Does Virginia have tax reciprocity with Maryland?
Yes, but with conditions. You are exempt from Maryland tax only if you are present in Maryland for 183 days or fewer, do not maintain an abode there, and receive only wage or salary income in the state. Kentucky's agreement instead requires daily commuting.
What is Form VA-4?
Form VA-4 is Virginia's state withholding certificate, separate from the federal W-4. The exemptions you claim on it determine how much Virginia tax your employer withholds. It is also the form used to claim a reciprocity exemption, which must be re-certified annually.
Does Virginia tax bonuses differently?
Virginia taxes bonuses as ordinary income at the same rates as regular wages. Federally, bonuses are supplemental wages and are usually withheld at a flat 22%, which is withholding rather than the final tax.
Does Virginia tax overtime?
Overtime is ordinary income taxed at your normal Virginia rate. There is no separate overtime tax rate, though withholding can look higher because payroll annualises a larger paycheck.