How Virginia taxes bonuses
Virginia withholds a flat 5.75% state income tax on bonuses, on top of the federal 22%.
Federal withholding is the same in every state. Most employers take a flat 22% of the bonus (37% on supplemental pay over $1,000,000 in a year). Social Security takes 6.2% up to the yearly wage base and Medicare 1.45%. If your employer adds the bonus to a regular $2,500 paycheck instead, the aggregate method withholds about $1,150.54 of federal tax on a $5,000 bonus, against $1,100.00 with the flat rate.
Take-home pay on a bonus in Virginia
What is withheld from bonuses of different sizes, with the federal flat rate, for a single filer who has not yet reached the Social Security wage base this year.
| Bonus | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | Virginia taxes | Take-home bonus | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $57.50 | $646.00 | 64.6% |
| $2,500 | $550.00 | $191.25 | $143.75 | $1,615.00 | 64.6% |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $287.50 | $3,230.00 | 64.6% |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $575.00 | $6,460.00 | 64.6% |
| $25,000 | $5,500.00 | $1,912.50 | $1,437.50 | $16,150.00 | 64.6% |
| $50,000 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $2,875.00 | $32,300.00 | 64.6% |
Virginia bonus taxes compared with nearby states
The same $5,000 bonus, flat federal rate, in each state that borders Virginia. Of these, Tennessee leaves the most of the bonus in your pocket.
| State | State bonus withholding | State taxes on the bonus | Take-home bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 5.75% flat | $287.50 | $3,230.00 |
| Kentucky bonus tax calculator | 3.5% flat | $175.00 | $3,342.50 |
| Maryland bonus tax calculator | 6.5% flat | $325.00 | $3,192.50 |
| North Carolina bonus tax calculator | 4.09% flat | $204.50 | $3,313.00 |
| Tennessee bonus tax calculator | No income tax | $0.00 | $3,517.50 |
| West Virginia bonus tax calculator | Regular tables | $229.00 | $3,288.50 |
| District of Columbia bonus tax calculator | Regular tables | $417.31 | $3,100.19 |
More Virginia pay calculators
For your regular take-home pay, use the Virginia paycheck calculator. To see a bonus next to your regular paycheck, try the bonus paycheck calculator. Employers paying a bonus can use the bonus payroll calculator or the Virginia payroll calculator. The bonus tax calculator page compares every state.
Sources
Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15. Virginia bonus withholding comes from the state's own guidance: tax.virginia.gov. See how we calculate for the withholding method.