How Washington taxes bonuses
Washington has no state income tax on wages, so a bonus loses only federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, plus WA paid family and medical leave and WA Cares long-term care.
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.
Washington also takes WA paid family and medical leave and WA Cares long-term care from a bonus, the same as from any wages: $40.36 and $29.00 on $5,000.
Take-home pay on a bonus in Washington
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 | Washington deductions | Take-home bonus | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $13.87 | $689.63 | 69% |
| $2,500 | $550.00 | $191.25 | $34.68 | $1,724.07 | 69% |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $69.36 | $3,448.14 | 69% |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $138.72 | $6,896.28 | 69% |
| $25,000 | $5,500.00 | $1,912.50 | $346.80 | $17,240.70 | 69% |
| $50,000 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $693.60 | $34,481.40 | 69% |
Washington bonus taxes compared with nearby states
The same $5,000 bonus, flat federal rate, in each state that borders Washington. Washington leaves as much of a bonus as any state that borders it.
| State | State bonus withholding | State taxes on the bonus | Take-home bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | No income tax | $69.36 | $3,448.14 |
| Idaho bonus tax calculator | 5.3% flat | $265.00 | $3,252.50 |
| Oregon bonus tax calculator | 8% flat | $435.00 | $3,082.50 |
More Washington pay calculators
For your regular take-home pay, use the Washington 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 Washington payroll calculator. The bonus tax calculator page compares every state.
Sources
Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15. See how we calculate for the withholding method.