How much money is taken from my paycheck

How It Works

Use this tool to:

• Estimate your federal income tax withholding
• See how your refund, take-home pay or tax due are affected by withholding amount
• Choose an estimated withholding amount that works for you

Results are as accurate as the information you enter.

What You Need

Have this ready:

• Paystubs for all jobs (spouse too)
• Other income info (side jobs, self-employment, investments, etc.)
• Most recent tax return

Your information isn't saved. Learn more about Security.

Use the Tax Withholding Estimator

Don't use this tool if:

• You have a pension but not a job. Estimate your tax withholding with the new Form W-4P.
• You have nonresident alien status. Use Notice 1392, Supplemental Form W-4 Instructions for Nonresident Aliens.
• Your tax situation is complex. This includes alternative minimum tax, long-term capital gains or qualified dividends. See Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. 

Estimator Frequently Asked Questions

More on Tax Withholding

• When to Check Your Tax Withholding
• Why Check Your Tax Withholding
• About Tax Withholding
• Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax

W-4 Forms

• 2020 Form W-4 Questions and Answers
• Form W-4 Employee Withholding Certificate
• Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments
• Notice 1392, Supplement Form W-4 Instructions for Nonresident AliensPDF

After You Use the Estimator

Use your estimate to change your tax withholding amount on Form W-4. Or keep the same amount.

To change your tax withholding amount:

• Enter your new tax withholding amount on Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate
• Ask your employer if they use an automated system to submit Form W-4
• Submit or give Form W-4 to your employer

To keep your same tax withholding amount:

• You don't need to do anything at this time.
• Check your withholding again when needed and each year with the Estimator. This helps you make sure the amount withheld works for your circumstance.
   

When to Check Your Withholding

Check your tax withholding every year, especially:

When you have a major life change

• New job or other paid work
• Major income change
• Marriage
• Child birth or adoption
• Home purchase

If you changed your tax withholding mid-year

• Check your tax withholding at year-end, and adjust as needed with a new W-4

If you have more questions about your withholding, ask your employer or tax advisor.

Why Check Your Withholding

There are several reasons to check your withholding:

• It can protect against having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or penalty at tax time next year.
• It can let you adjust your tax withheld up front, so you receive a bigger paycheck and smaller refund at tax time.

Security

The Tax Withholding Estimator doesn't ask for personal information such as your name, social security number, address or bank account numbers.

If you are covered by the Employment Act, your employer can deduct your salary only for specific reasons. If you are a work permit holder, your employer must also inform MOM before increasing or making new deductions to your salary.

When deductions may be required

Your employer may be required to deduct your salary:

• By court order, or other valid authority.
• If your employer is declared an agent for the recovery of income tax, property tax or goods and services tax (GST) payable by you.

Any compensation should generally be recovered directly from you, rather than through a salary deduction.

Types of deductions allowed

Your employer can deduct your salary only for the following reasons:

• For absence from work. For a monthly-rated employee, your salary may be deducted for absences. Calculate your deductions for:
  • For authorised absence (incomplete month).
  • For unauthorised absence (gross rate of pay).
• For damage or loss of money or goods including work gear, tools, equipment, and vehicles. Your salary will be deducted if you damage or lose such goods or money that you are responsible for. Before deducting your salary, your employer should:
  • Hold an inquiry to determine if you are directly at fault.
  • Not make any deductions until you have had the opportunity to explain the cause of the damage or loss.
  • Not deduct more than 25% of your 1 month’s salary. The deduction must be made as a one-time lump sum payment.
• For supplying accommodation that you have accepted.
• For supplying amenities and services that the Commissioner for Labour has authorised and you have accepted. For example, childcare services, recreation facilities, etc, that are beyond what your employer is reasonably required to provide for you.
  
  Your employer must get approval from the Commissioner for Labour before deducting your salary.
  
  Note: The total deductions for supplying accommodation, and amenities and services must not exceed the value of the accommodation, amenities or services supplied. It should also not exceed 25% of your salary for the salary period.
• For recovering advances, loans, overpaid salary or unearned employment benefits.
  • For advances, your employer can deduct your salary in instalments spread over not more than 12 months. Each instalment should not exceed 25% of your salary for the salary period.
  • For loans, your employer can deduct your salary in instalments. Each instalment should not exceed 25% of your salary for the salary period.
  • For overpaid salary and unearned employment benefits, your employer can recover the full amount from you.
• For CPF contributions.
• For payments to any registered co-operative society with your written consent.
• For other purposes for which you consent in writing and your employer allows you to withdraw your written consent at any time.
  • This is meant for deductions that would benefit the employee, and which the employer is in a position to collect the payment.
  • Other than the deductions mentioned above, employers must not deduct an employee’s salary for items which are not to the benefit of the employee, such as for liquidated damages.
  • The deduction also cannot contravene any other law. For example, if you are a foreign worker, your employer is not allowed to deduct your salary to recover levy costs.

• For deductions approved by the Minister for Manpower before 1 April 2019, the deductions continue to be an authorised deduction up till the approved specified expiry date.
• For deductions approved without a specified period, the expiry date is 30 September 2019.
• Employers who wish to continue making the authorised salary deductions after 30 September 2019 should get written consent from their employees.

Maximum amount of deductions

Your employer cannot deduct more than 50% of your total salary payable in any one salary period.

This does not include deductions made for:

• Absence from work.
• Recovery of advances, loans, overpaid salary or unearned employment benefits.
• Payments, with your consent, to registered co-operative societies for subscriptions, entrance fees, loan instalments, interest and other dues payable.

However, when your contract of service is terminated, the total authorised deduction may exceed 50% of your final salary payment.

Deducting salaries of migrant workers

Your employer can only reduce your salaries, or increase or make new deductions to your salaries, if:

• They get your written consent.
• They inform MOM of the change in your salary using WP Online (for Work Permit holders) or submit the request to MOM through EP Online one month before the salary is reduced (for EP or S Pass holders).

Your employer is not allowed to make deductions to your salaries under any circumstances, for the following purposes as specified in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act: