Tennessee Paycheck Calculator
Tennessee takes nothing from a paycheck and, since 2021, nothing from any personal income at all. Wages were made constitutionally untaxable by the voters in 2014, and the Hall tax on interest and dividends is fully repealed. What comes out of a Tennessee paycheck is federal — and this calculator shows each line.
On this page
Two dates that finished the job
Tennessee never taxed wages, but until recently the honest answer had an asterisk. In 2014 voters removed the possibility, amending the constitution so the legislature cannot levy a tax on payroll or earned personal income. And the asterisk itself — the Hall tax, which had taxed interest and dividends since 1929 — was phased out a percentage point a year and reached zero for tax years beginning January 1, 2021. Since then Tennessee taxes no personal income of any kind, earned or unearned.
Worked examples
| Annual salary | Tennessee income tax | Federal income tax | Social Security & Medicare | Take-home per biweekly check | Annual take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $0 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,629.04 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $0 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,368.94 | $61,593 |
| $100,000 | $0 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $3,045.38 | $79,180 |
Single filer, paid biweekly, no pre-tax deductions or dependents entered. Generated by the same calculation engine as the calculator above.
The price shows up at the register
Tennessee runs on sales tax more than almost any other state: a 7% state rate, a local rate on top in nearly every county, and a combined rate that regularly ranks first or second highest in the country — groceries are taxed too, at a reduced state rate. Property taxes, by contrast, sit below the national average. For most wage earners the total burden still lands well below a typical income-tax state, but the empty line on the pay stub is not free money; it is collected in smaller pieces at every purchase.
Official sources
Every figure in this calculator traces to one of these publications; nothing is estimated from third-party summaries.
- Tennessee Department of Revenue — Hall income tax — the full repeal for tax years beginning January 1, 2021.
- Tennessee Constitution, Article II, Section 28 — the 2014 amendment forbidding a tax on payroll or earned personal income.
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction behind the federal line.
- SSA contribution and benefit base — the 2026 Social Security wage base used for the 6.2% line.
Last reviewed: August 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hall tax really gone?
Yes. The last year it applied was 2020, at 1%. For tax years beginning January 1, 2021 it is fully repealed, so dividends and interest join wages as income Tennessee does not touch. Retirees moving investment income into the state face no Tennessee filing at all.
Do Nashville or Memphis tax wages?
No Tennessee city or county levies an income tax, and after the 2014 amendment none could. Local budgets lean on property taxes and shares of the sales tax instead.
Why is my take-home in Tennessee bigger than my friend's in Kentucky on the same salary?
Kentucky withholds a flat state income tax from wages; Tennessee withholds nothing. On identical salaries the federal lines match, so the Tennessee check is larger by the neighbor's entire state line — several hundred dollars per year per $10,000 of salary, depending on the state.
Does Tennessee tax anything I should plan around?
Sales tax, mainly — among the highest combined rates in the country, including a reduced rate on groceries. There is no estate or inheritance tax, and vehicle registration is modest. The planning question in Tennessee is usually about spending, not earning.
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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.