Georgia Paycheck Calculator
Georgia's 2026 tax year brings three changes at once: the flat rate falls to 4.99%, the standard deduction rises to $15,000 ($30,000 joint), and the dependent deduction climbs to $5,000 per child. This calculator applies all three to your paycheck.
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What changed for 2026
House Bill 463, signed in May 2026 and retroactive to January 1, dropped Georgia's flat rate from 5.19% to 4.99% — reaching sub-5% three years ahead of the schedule Georgia set when it went flat in 2024. The same act raised the standard deduction to $15,000 for single filers, heads of household, and married filing separately, and $30,000 for joint filers, and lifted the dependent deduction from $4,000 to $5,000. A married couple with two children now shields $40,000 of income before Georgia's rate touches a dollar.
The arithmetic this calculator runs: federal AGI, minus the standard deduction, minus $5,000 per dependent, times 4.99%. Georgia has no separate personal exemption in its post-2024 structure and no graduated brackets to navigate — the household composition does the work the old bracket table used to do.
The mid-year wrinkle on your pay stub
Because HB 463 arrived mid-year, the Department of Revenue let employers keep withholding at 5.19% until May 11, 2026, then switch to 4.99%. If your stubs from February and June show different Georgia percentages, both were correct when printed — and since the 4.99% applies retroactively to the whole year, the extra withheld in the spring comes back at filing. This calculator applies the 4.99% the year settles at.
Worked examples
| Annual salary | GA tax (4.99%) | Federal income tax | Social Security & Medicare | Take-home per biweekly check | Annual take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,747 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,561.87 | $40,609 |
| $75,000 | $2,994 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,253.79 | $58,599 |
| $100,000 | $4,242 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $2,882.25 | $74,939 |
Single filer, paid biweekly, no pre-tax deductions or dependents entered. Generated by the same calculation engine as the calculator above.
What reduces Georgia wages, and what does not
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals, Section 125 premiums, and HSA contributions reduce Georgia wages through federal AGI, as in most states. Note one divergence for 2026: Georgia did not adopt the federal exclusions for overtime and tipped wages — though up to $1,750 of each can be exempted on the Georgia return — so a paycheck heavy in overtime may be taxed slightly differently by the two governments. No Georgia city or county taxes wages; Atlanta's paycheck carries the same state line as Athens's.
Official sources
Every figure in this calculator traces to one of these publications; nothing is estimated from third-party summaries.
- Georgia DOR — 2026 Employer's Withholding Tax Guide (revised June 2026) — the 4.99% rate, the raised standard deductions, and the $5,000 dependent allowance in the withholding formula.
- Georgia DOR — Important Tax Updates — the 2026 income tax changes in summary.
- Office of the Governor — HB 463 signing — the rate cut to 4.99% effective January 1, 2026.
Last reviewed: July 30, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
My employer withheld 5.19% until May. Did I lose that money?
No — it comes back. The 4.99% rate applies retroactively to all of 2026, so the extra withheld before employers switched on May 11 becomes part of your refund when you file. Nothing to do meanwhile except not adjust your G-4 to compensate twice.
How much is each dependent worth on a Georgia paycheck?
$5,000 of income shielded per dependent, worth $249.50 a year at the 4.99% rate — about $9.60 per biweekly check. For 2026 the amount rose from $4,000, one of the quieter parts of the HB 463 package.
Will Georgia's rate keep falling?
The framework aims at 4.99% and had scheduled annual 0.10-point steps to get there, contingent on revenue; HB 463 accelerated the arrival to 2026. Legislation now provides for possible further reductions, but any lower figure is a future year's question — 4.99% is the enacted 2026 rate.
Does Georgia tax overtime and tips like regular wages?
Mostly yes. Georgia declined to adopt the new federal exclusions, so overtime and tip income remain in Georgia wages — but the state allows up to $1,750 of each to be exempted on the return. Payroll withholding treats them as ordinary wages either way.
Is there any local income tax in Atlanta?
No. Georgia municipalities cannot tax wages, so the 4.99% state line is the only income tax on a Georgia pay stub regardless of city.
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This calculator is provided for general educational and estimation purposes only. It does not constitute tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice. This is an estimated take-home pay calculation: your employer's actual withholding may differ based on your federal and state withholding forms, payroll timing, local taxes, benefits and employer payroll settings. Review official IRS and state guidance or consult a qualified tax professional before making decisions.