💡 Select your city/county above — the largest jurisdictions are computed; smaller ones still aren't covered (see methodology below). Bonus state-tax and local-tax figures are marginal-bracket estimates, not necessarily any special supplemental rate your state or city may apply to bonus payments specifically.
Calculating a regular paycheck? Try our Maryland paycheck calculator →
How Bonuses Are Taxed in Maryland (2026)
A bonus paid on a separate check in Maryland has a flat 22% federal tax withheld (37% on cumulative supplemental wages over $1,000,000 in a year), 7.65% FICA, and Maryland state income tax at your marginal rate. Withholding is not a higher tax rate — it is just how much your employer holds back up front; your actual tax on the bonus is settled when you file, and any over-withholding comes back as refund.
| Component | Rate on the bonus |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax (supplemental, percentage method) | 22% flat · 37% above $1,000,000/yr |
| Social Security | 6.2% (up to $184,500 of total wages) |
| Medicare | 1.45% · +0.9% above $200,000 |
| Maryland state tax | Your marginal bracket rate |
Some employers instead use the aggregate method — adding the bonus to your regular paycheck and withholding as if that were every check — which can withhold more or less than the flat 22%. The calculator above uses the flat-rate (percentage) method.
Maryland Bonus Take-Home by Amount (2026)
Flat-rate (percentage) method, single filer, bonus paid separately on top of a $65,000 salary. Enter your own numbers in the calculator above — this table is a starting point.
| Bonus | Federal (22%) | FICA | Maryland tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 | $77 | $48 | $656 |
| $2,500 | $550 | $191 | $119 | $1,640 |
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $383 | $238 | $3,280 |
| $10,000 | $2,200 | $765 | $475 | $6,560 |
| $15,000 | $3,300 | $1,148 | $713 | $9,840 |
| $25,000 | $5,500 | $1,913 | $1,188 | $16,400 |
How Maryland Paycheck Tax Is Calculated (2026)
Source: Comptroller of Maryland| Taxable income bracket | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $1,000 | 2% |
| $1,000 – $2,000 | 3% |
| $2,000 – $3,000 | 4% |
| $3,000 – $100,000 | 4.75% |
| $100,000 – $125,000 | 5% |
| $125,000 – $150,000 | 5.25% |
| $150,000 – $250,000 | 5.50% |
| $250,000 – $500,000 | 5.75% |
| $500,000 – $1,000,000 | 6.25% |
| $1,000,000 – + | 6.50% |
Standard deduction (single): $2,550, subtracted from gross income before applying brackets.
Federal Tax & FICA (shared across all states)
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Federal brackets (all filing statuses) | 10% / 12% / 22% / 24% / 32% / 35% / 37% |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% up to $184,500 wage base |
| Medicare | 1.45% on all wages, +0.9% above $200,000 single/HoH, $250,000 MFJ |
⚠️ Maryland's married-filing-jointly and head-of-household state brackets have not yet been independently verified against the primary source above — this calculator uses Maryland's single-filer brackets as an estimate when those statuses are selected.
Guideline version 2026-MD-v2 · Last verified 2026-08-19
Maryland Bonus Tax FAQ
What are Maryland's income tax brackets for 2026?
Maryland uses 9 marginal brackets ranging from 2% to 6.50%. Standard deduction: $2,550 for single filers.
How much is take-home pay on $65,000 in Maryland?
On a $65,000 gross salary, a single filer in Maryland takes home roughly $51,493.62/year (about $4,291.14/month) after federal tax, FICA, and state tax — before any local tax.
What deductions does Maryland apply before taxing my income?
Maryland applies a $2,550 standard deduction, before its marginal bracket schedule. See the "How Maryland Paycheck Tax Is Calculated" section above for the exact formula.
Does this estimate change if I'm married or have dependents?
This calculator uses single-filer figures only (v1 scope). Married filing jointly typically uses different federal and Maryland state brackets and a larger standard deduction — your actual take-home pay will differ. Dependents can also reduce federal withholding via the W-4. Check Comptroller of Maryland's married-filing-jointly tables for a precise figure.
Does this calculator include Maryland local or city income tax?
Every Maryland county plus Baltimore City adds a local "piggyback" income tax of 1.75%-3.2% on the same return — this is one of the largest local-tax gaps in this calculator. Combined state+local can reach ~8.95%. Not computed here; check your county's rate.
Methodology & Source
Maryland state tax figures sourced from Comptroller of Maryland (https://www.marylandtaxes.gov/), citing Md. Code, Tax-General § 10-105 — 2026 budget act added 6.25% ($500k-$1M) and 6.5% (>$1M) brackets. Federal brackets, standard deductions (single/MFJ/HoH), and FICA constants sourced from the IRS (Revenue Procedure 2025-32; married-filing-jointly Additional Medicare threshold of $250,000 is a separate, unindexed statutory figure). Maryland's married-filing-jointly and head-of-household figures are not yet independently verified and currently fall back to single-filer brackets — see the caveat in the formula section above.
Local tax figures sourced from Comptroller of Maryland county income tax rate table. Rates cross-checked against two independent secondary sources 2026-07-29 (countrytaxcalc.com, statebystatetax.com); both agree exactly on the 7 counties listed except Carroll County (3.03% vs 3.05% — dropped from this list rather than guess between them). Anne Arundel and Frederick Counties were excluded entirely: both switched to a tiered/graduated local rate structure rather than a single flat rate, which this calculator's flat-rate model cannot represent without misleading users — they fall under "Other Maryland county" until a tiered option is built. Maryland has 23 counties total; only the 7 largest flat-rate counties are covered below.
Bonus federal withholding uses the flat supplemental-wage rate (22%, 37% above $1,000,000 cumulative supplemental wages/year), per IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, 2026 edition — the alternative "aggregate method" is not modeled. Maryland publishes no separate supplemental withholding rate, so the calculator estimates the state tax on the bonus from your marginal bracket.
This is an estimate based on standard single-filer federal, FICA, and MD state calculations. Actual withholding may differ based on your W-4 elections, pre-tax deductions, and other factors.
Guideline version: 2026-MD-v2 · Effective: 2026-01-01 · Last verified: 2026-08-19