Overview of Texas Taxes
Texas has no state income tax, which means your salary is only subject to federal income taxes if you live and work in Texas. There are no cities in Texas that impose a local income tax.
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Texas Paycheck Calculator
Texas Paycheck Quick Facts
- Texas income tax rate: 0%
- Median household income: $75,780 (U.S. Census Bureau)
- Number of cities that have local income taxes: 0
How Your Texas Paycheck Works
Your hourly wage or annual salary can't give a perfect indication of how much you'll see in your paychecks each year because your employer also withholds taxes from your pay. You and your employer will each contribute 6.2% of your earnings for Social Security taxes and 1.45% of your earnings for Medicare taxes. These taxes together are called FICA taxes.
No matter which state you call home, you have to pay FICA taxes. Income you earn that's in excess of $200,000 (single filers), $250,000 (joint filers) or $125,000 (married people filing separately) is also subject to a 0.9% Medicare surtax. Your employer will not match this surtax, though.
Any premiums that you pay for employer-sponsored health insurance or other benefits will also come out of your paycheck. The same is true if you contribute to retirement accounts, like a 401(k), or a medical expense account, such as a health savings account (HSA). These accounts take pre-tax money (meaning they come out of your pay before income tax is applied) so they also reduce your taxable income.
Your marital status, pay frequency, wages and more all contribute to the size of your paycheck. If you think too much or too little money is being withheld from your paycheck, you can file a fresh W-4 with your employer at any time during the year. When you do this, be sure to indicate how much extra income you want withheld so as to avoid a tax bill come April each year.
Over the last few years, withholding calculations and the Form W-4 went through a number of adjustments. On the new W-4, you can no longer claim allowances, as it instead features a five-step process that asks you to enter annual dollar amounts for income tax credits, non-wage income, itemized and other deductions and total annual taxable wages.
A financial advisor can help you understand how taxes fit into your overall financial goals. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Payroll taxes in Texas are relatively simple because there are no state or local income taxes. Texas is a good place to be self-employed or own a business because the tax withholding won't as much of a headache. And if you live in a state with an income tax but you work in Texas, you'll be sitting pretty compared to your neighbors who work in a state where their wages are taxed at the state level. If you're considering moving to the Lone Star State, our Texas mortgage guide has information about rates, getting a mortgage in Texas and details about each county.
Be aware, though, that payroll taxes aren’t the only relevant taxes in a household budget. In part to make up for its lack of a state or local income tax, sales and property taxes in Texas tend to be high. So your big Texas paycheck may take a hit when your property taxes come due.
How You Can Affect Your Texas Paycheck
If you want to boost your paycheck rather than find tax-advantaged deductions from it, you can seek what are called supplemental wages. That includes overtime, bonuses, commissions, awards, prizes and retroactive salary increases. These supplemental wages would not be subject to taxation in Texas because the state lacks an income tax. However, they will be subject to federal income taxes.
The federal tax rate for supplemental wages depends on whether your employer rolls them in with your regular wages or disburses them separately. They can either be taxed at your regular rate, or at a flat rate of 22%. If your normal tax rate is higher than 22% you might want to ask your employer to identify your supplemental wages separately and tax them at that 22% rate.
