How to use the Virginia paycheck calculator
- Enter your pay. Choose Salary or Hourly, type the amount, and pick how often you are paid.
- Copy your Form W-4. Select your filing status and fill in Steps 2, 3 and 4 the way they are on the federal form your employer has.
- Copy your Form VA-4. Enter the exemptions on line 1 of your Form VA-4 and any extra amount on line 2. If you never filled in a VA-4, leave the boxes empty: the employer then withholds with no exemptions.
What is the Virginia paycheck calculator?
The Virginia paycheck calculator is a tool that turns gross pay into take-home pay for someone who works in Virginia. Virginia taxes wages at graduated rates from 2% to 5.75%, and the top rate starts at only $17,000 of taxable income, so most full-time workers pay 5.75% on most of their wages. Virginia cities and counties do not tax wages.
The federal lines use the 2026 method in IRS Publication 15-T. The Virginia line follows the Virginia Department of Taxation's withholding formula, step by step, and the working is shown under the result. To see how Virginia compares with other states, see income tax by state.
Features
- Virginia income tax withholding with the Virginia Department of Taxation's withholding formula
- Every line of Form VA-4, the Virginia withholding form
- Salary and hourly pay, with overtime hours at a multiplier you set
- Weekly, biweekly, twice-a-month and monthly pay periods
- Federal income tax from the 2026 IRS percentage method tables and every step of Form W-4
- Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax
- The federal and the state working shown step by step
- A PDF report of your inputs and every result line, to save or share on WhatsApp
Virginia paycheck taxes in 2026
| Tax or deduction | Rate | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 0% to 37% of the adjusted annual wage, by Form W-4 | Internal Revenue Service |
| Social Security | 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 | Social Security Administration and IRS |
| Medicare | 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000 in the year | Internal Revenue Service |
| Virginia income tax | 2% to 5.75%; 5.75% above $17,000 of taxable income | Code of Virginia Section 58.1-320; Virginia Department of Taxation |
| City or county income tax | None | Virginia Department of Taxation |
| State unemployment tax taken from employee pay | None: the employer pays it | Virginia Employment Commission |
Virginia takes no disability or paid leave deduction from wages in 2026. The state's new paid family and medical leave program starts collecting contributions on 1 April 2028.
Virginia law lets some cities and counties ask voters for a local income tax of up to 1% for transportation, but the Department of Taxation reports that no locality has used that power.
How Virginia withholding is worked out
Virginia does not allow a percentage of the federal tax or a federal-style shortcut. Employers use the state's own tables or this formula, which gives the exact amount:
- Multiply the wages for the pay period by the number of pay periods in the year.
- Subtract $8,750, plus $930 for each exemption on line 1(a) of Form VA-4 and $800 for each exemption on line 1(b). The result is taxable income for the year.
- Apply the rates: 2% on the first $3,000, 3% up to $5,000, 5% up to $17,000, and 5.75% above $17,000.
- Divide by the number of pay periods, then add the extra amount from line 2 of Form VA-4.
The formula takes nothing off for federal income tax, Social Security or Medicare. Pre-tax amounts that are left out of federal adjusted gross income, such as a traditional 401(k) contribution or a cafeteria-plan health premium, are left out of Virginia wages too.
Checked against the state's own example
The withholding guide works through an employee paid $725 twice a month with five exemptions. Using the $3,000 standard deduction in force when the example was printed, the guide's answer is $14.90, and this calculator gives $14.90. With the 2026 standard deduction of $8,750, the same paycheck has $3.75 withheld.
Virginia Form VA-4
Form VA-4, the Employee's Virginia Income Tax Withholding Exemption Certificate, is the state version of Form W-4. Virginia still uses exemptions, which the federal form dropped in 2020.
| Line | What to enter | Effect on withholding |
|---|---|---|
| 1(a) | One for yourself, one for a spouse who does not claim their own, and one for each dependent | Each lowers taxable income by $930 a year |
| 1(b) | One each if you or your spouse is 65 or over, and one each for blindness | Each lowers taxable income by $800 a year |
| 2 | An extra amount to withhold from each paycheck | Added to every paycheck |
| 3 and 4 | Certifications for employees not subject to Virginia withholding, and for military spouses | No Virginia withholding when they apply |
If you do not give your employer a VA-4, the form says the employer "must withhold Virginia income tax as if you had no exemptions."
Virginia take-home pay by salary
The table shows 2026 take-home pay in Virginia for a single filer paid every two weeks, with one exemption on Form VA-4, and no pre-tax deductions.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | Virginia income tax | Take-home pay per year | Per paycheck (every two weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $911 | $25,374 | $975.93 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $2,061 | $40,294 | $1,549.78 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,498 | $58,094 | $2,234.39 |
| $92,090 | $11,430 | $7,045 | $4,481 | $69,134 | $2,659.00 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,936 | $74,244 | $2,855.54 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $7,811 | $105,980 | $4,076.16 |
The $92,090 row is Virginia's median household income in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey. A single filer paid that salary takes home $69,134 a year, or $2,659.00 every two weeks, after $4,481 in Virginia taxes.
Virginia take-home pay by hourly wage
The table shows a 40-hour week for a single filer paid weekly, with one exemption on Form VA-4. The first row is the Virginia minimum wage of $12.77 an hour.
| Hourly wage | Gross pay per week (40 hours) | Federal taxes per week | Virginia taxes per week | Take-home pay per week | Take-home pay per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $12.77 | $510.80 | $59.20 | $13.73 | $437.87 | $22,770 |
| $15.00 | $600.00 | $75.98 | $18.84 | $505.18 | $26,270 |
| $20.00 | $800.00 | $115.28 | $30.34 | $654.38 | $34,028 |
| $25.00 | $1,000.00 | $154.58 | $41.84 | $803.58 | $41,786 |
| $30.00 | $1,200.00 | $193.88 | $53.34 | $952.78 | $49,545 |
| $40.00 | $1,600.00 | $304.59 | $76.34 | $1,219.07 | $63,392 |
At $12.77 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $510.80 before tax and $437.87 after federal and Virginia taxes.
Virginia's standard deduction in 2026 and after
For 2026 the Virginia standard deduction is $8,750 for a single filer and $17,500 for married couples filing jointly. The withholding formula always subtracts $8,750, whatever the filing status.
The higher amounts apply to tax years 2025 and 2026 only. Under current law the deduction goes back to $3,000 and $6,000 for 2027, which would raise withholding on every Virginia paycheck unless the General Assembly extends it.
Living in one state and working in another
Virginia has reciprocity with Kentucky, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. A resident of one of those places who works in Virginia can claim the exemption on line 3 of Form VA-4, so Virginia tax is not withheld; the conditions differ by state and are on the form.
A Virginia resident pays Virginia tax on all wages, wherever earned, and claims a credit for tax paid to another state on the return.
Virginia pay rules that shape your paycheck
These Virginia rules decide how much is on a paycheck and when it arrives.
| Rule | What Virginia law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $12.77 an hour in 2026; $13.75 from 1 January 2027; $15.00 from 1 January 2028 | Code of Virginia Section 40.1-28.10 |
| Tipped employees | Cash wage of $2.13, with tips bringing the total to at least $12.77 | Virginia Department of Labor and Industry |
| Overtime | One and one-half times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek, as under federal law. No daily overtime. | Code of Virginia Section 40.1-29.2 |
| Paydays | At least once a month for salaried employees; at least every two weeks or twice a month for hourly employees | Code of Virginia Section 40.1-29(B) |
| Final paycheck | By the next regular payday, whether the employee quits or is fired | Code of Virginia Section 40.1-29(B) |
| Pay stub | Each payday: employer name and address, hours, rate, gross wages, each deduction and how gross and net pay were worked out | Code of Virginia Section 40.1-29(D) |
| Meal and rest breaks | Not required for adults | U.S. Department of Labor state table |
| Paid sick leave | Home health workers only in 2026; all employers from 2029 under a phase-in | Code of Virginia Section 40.1-33.4; 2026 Acts of Assembly |
Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry can investigate and enforce overtime claims from 1 July 2026. The paid sick leave law passed in 2026 reaches employers with 50 or more employees on 1 July 2027, 25 or more on 1 January 2028 and every employer on 1 January 2029, at one hour per 30 hours worked up to 40 hours a year.
Who pays unemployment tax in Virginia?
Employers pay Virginia unemployment tax; nothing is taken from an employee's paycheck for it. For 2026 the taxable wage base is $8,000 per employee, and a new employer pays 2.5% plus add-on charges.
What changed for Virginia paychecks in 2026, and what is next
- The minimum wage rose to $12.77 on 1 January 2026. It rises to $13.75 on 1 January 2027 and $15.00 on 1 January 2028.
- The $8,750 standard deduction applies for 2026 and is scheduled to fall to $3,000 for 2027.
- Paid family and medical leave was enacted in 2026: contributions start on 1 April 2028 and benefits on 1 December 2028.
- Federal figures changed: the Social Security wage base is $184,500 and the IRS published new withholding tables for 2026.
What the calculator includes
- Tax year: 2026. Virginia figures were checked against the Virginia Department of Taxation, the Department of Labor and Industry and the Virginia Employment Commission on 14 October 2026.
- Taxes: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax, Virginia income tax.
- Forms: the 2020-and-later Form W-4 and the current Form VA-4.
- Pay: gross pay up to $10,000,000, hourly rates up to $10,000, up to 744 hours in a pay period, and an overtime multiplier from 1 to 5.
- Virginia rules: the state withholding formula with line 1(a), 1(b) and 2 of Form VA-4. No local income tax and no state paid leave deduction in 2026.
Is it private?
Yes. The calculation runs in your browser. Your pay, your withholding forms and your result are not sent to a server and are not saved.
Tips for an accurate estimate
- Copy line 1(a) and line 1(b) of the VA-4 your employer has, not the number of dependents on your federal W-4. The two forms count differently.
- If you never gave your employer a VA-4, leave the exemption boxes empty. The employer withholds as if you claimed none.
- Plan for 2027: the higher standard deduction is scheduled to end, which would raise Virginia withholding on the same pay.
- If you live in Kentucky, Maryland, DC, West Virginia or Pennsylvania, check line 3 of the VA-4 before assuming Virginia tax applies.
- Compare the Virginia line with your pay stub. A small difference usually means a different exemption count on file.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
- Does Virginia have a state income tax?
- Yes. Virginia taxes wages at 2% on the first $3,000 of taxable income, rising to 5.75% above $17,000. Employers withhold it with the state formula and Form VA-4.
- How much is $75,000 after taxes in Virginia?
- A single filer paid $75,000 a year in Virginia takes home $58,094 in 2026, or $2,234.39 every two weeks, with one exemption on Form VA-4. Federal income tax is $7,670, Social Security and Medicare are $5,738, and Virginia taxes are $3,498.
- What taxes come out of a paycheck in Virginia?
- Federal income tax, Social Security tax of 6.2%, Medicare tax of 1.45% and Virginia income tax. Virginia has no local income tax and no state disability or paid leave deduction in 2026.
- How many exemptions should I claim on Form VA-4?
- One for yourself, one for a spouse who does not claim their own, and one for each dependent on line 1(a), plus one each for age 65 or over and blindness on line 1(b). Each line 1(a) exemption cuts yearly taxable income by $930; claiming fewer means more tax is withheld.
- What is the minimum wage in Virginia in 2026?
- $12.77 an hour. It rises to $13.75 on 1 January 2027 and to $15.00 on 1 January 2028.
- What is the Virginia withholding rate on a bonus?
- When a bonus is paid separately and tax was already withheld from regular wages, the employer may withhold a flat 5.75% with no exemptions. A bonus paid with regular wages goes through the normal formula.
- Do Virginia cities have an income tax?
- No. State law allows some localities to hold a referendum on a local income tax for transportation, but the Department of Taxation reports that no locality has used it.
Sources
Every rate, bracket and limit this calculator uses comes from the official sources below. The method is shown on this page, so any result can be checked by hand.
- Virginia Department of Taxation, Income Tax Withholding Guide for Employers (2614086 Rev. 05/25) and Form VA-4 (Rev. 04/26). The Virginia withholding formula, standard deduction, exemption amounts, brackets, the VA-4 lines, the bonus rate and the worked example.
- Virginia General Assembly, Code of Virginia Sections 58.1-320, 40.1-28.10, 40.1-29, 40.1-29.2 and 40.1-33.4. Virginia tax rates, minimum wage schedule, paydays, final pay, pay stubs, overtime and paid sick leave.
- Virginia Employment Commission, Employers; Virginia Paid Family and Medical Leave FAQ (8 May 2026). The unemployment tax wage base and new-employer rate, and the 2028 start of paid leave contributions.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates, table B19013. Median household income by state.
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods. Worksheet 1A and the 2026 Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems: every bracket, rate and the $12,900 and $8,600 amounts on line 1g.
- Internal Revenue Service, Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, and Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a calendar year.
- Social Security Administration, Contribution and Benefit Base. The 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.