Virginia Paycheck Calculator — Calculate Your VA Take-Home Pay 2% to 5.75% State Tax
Virginia taxes income at 2% to 5.75% with no local or SDI tax — most workers keep 62–70% of gross pay. Enter your salary below for your exact Virginia take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and 401(k)/insurance deductions, updated for 2026.
- VA Tax 2% to 5.75%
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💰 Virginia Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your take-home pay after Virginia state tax (2% to 5.75%), federal tax & FICA
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VIRGINIA TAX INFORMATION — HOW STATE TAX WORKS IN VIRGINIA
Virginia Tax Rates
Tax Brackets: 2 percent, 3 percent, 5 percent, and 5.75 percent.
Local Tax: Virginia cities do not charge local income tax.
SDI Tax: Virginia does not have a State Disability Insurance tax.
2026 Standard Deduction: $8,750 for single filers; $17,500 for married filing jointly.
How the Brackets Work
Virginia uses a progressive state income tax system, meaning tax rates increase as your income rises.
$0 – $3,000: 2 percent
$3,001 – $5,000: 3 percent
$5,001 – $17,000: 5 percent
Over $17,000: 5.75 percent
Example Tax Calculation
If your Virginia taxable income is $50,000, your tax is calculated as follows:
First $3,000: 2 percent = $60
Next $2,000: 3 percent = $60
Next $12,000: 5 percent = $600
Remaining $33,000: 5.75 percent = $1,897.50
Total Virginia State Tax: $2,617.50
What Virginia Does Not Tax
Virginia does not impose a local income tax. Cities such as Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Alexandria do not charge additional local taxes. Additionally, there is no State Disability Insurance (SDI) tax in Virginia, whereas workers in some other states (like California) may pay 1.1 percent for this coverage.
How Virginia Compares to Other States
North Carolina: On a $90,000 salary, a single filer in Virginia pays approximately $4,361 in state income tax. In North Carolina, which uses a flat 3.99 percent rate as of 2026, the tax is approximately $3,082—roughly $1,279 less than in Virginia.
Maryland: Maryland also uses a progressive system with a 5.75 percent top rate. However, unlike Virginia, every Maryland county and Baltimore City charges an additional local income tax of 2.25 percent to 3.2 percent, often resulting in a higher combined tax bill.
Washington DC: DC uses a progressive tax that reaches 10.75 percent, but this rate only applies to income over $1 million.
Virginia vs. No-Tax States
Texas and Florida have zero state income tax. On a $90,000 salary, a worker in those states pays no state income tax, compared to $4,361 in Virginia. However, salaries in Virginia are frequently higher than in those states due to the prevalence of government, technology, and defense sector roles.
Standard Deduction and Exemptions
For the 2026 tax year, Virginia allows a standard deduction of $8,750 for single filers and $17,500 for married couples filing jointly. Residents may also claim personal exemptions of $930 for themselves and each dependent. These figures are subtracted from your gross income to determine your Virginia taxable income before the brackets are applied.
Who Benefits Most From Virginia Taxes
Virginia’s tax structure is moderate compared to states like California (13.3 percent top rate) and New York (10.9 percent top rate). It remains particularly attractive for military personnel, government contractors, and technology workers given the density of federal agencies and defense companies in Northern Virginia.
Use Our Calculator Above
The calculator provided on the page automatically applies these tax brackets based on your salary, filing status, and dependents to determine your Virginia state tax, federal tax, and net take-home pay.
REAL EXAMPLE — WHAT A 90,000 DOLLAR SALARY LOOKS LIKE IN VIRGINIA
Hourly Rate: $43.27 per hour
Biweekly Gross Pay: $3,461.54
Biweekly Net Pay: Approximately $2,373.65
Annual Net Pay: Approximately $61,715
Take Home Percentage: About 69 percent of gross pay
Step 1 — Gross Pay Per Year
Kevin earns $90,000 per year. With 26 paychecks per year, his gross pay per paycheck is $3,461.54.
Step 2 — Pre-Tax Deductions
401k Contribution (5%): $173.08 per paycheck.
Health Insurance: $150.00 per paycheck.
Total Pre-Tax Deductions: $323.08 per paycheck.
Step 3 — Taxable Gross Pay
After deducting pre-tax contributions, Kevin’s taxable gross pay is $3,138.46 per paycheck, which annualizes to $81,600.
Step 4 — Federal Income Tax
After subtracting the 2026 federal standard deduction of $16,100, Kevin’s taxable income is $65,500.
10% Bracket (First $12,400): $1,240
12% Bracket ($12,401 – $50,400): $4,560
22% Bracket (Remaining): $3,322
Total Annual Federal Tax: $9,122 ($350.85 per paycheck).
Step 5 — Virginia State Income Tax
After subtracting the standard deduction ($8,750) and personal exemption ($930), Kevin’s taxable income is $71,920.
2% on first $3,000: $60
3% on next $2,000: $60
5% on next $12,000: $600
5.75% on remaining $54,920: $3,157.90
Total Annual Virginia Tax: $3,877.90 ($149.15 per paycheck).
Step 6 — Social Security and Medicare
Social Security (6.2%): $214.62 per paycheck.
Medicare (1.45%): $50.19 per paycheck.
Step 7 — Net Pay Take Home
After all deductions and taxes, Kevin’s biweekly net take-home pay is $2,373.65. This totals approximately $5,143 per month or $61,715 per year.
What If Kevin Lived in Texas or Florida Instead
Both states have zero state income tax. Kevin would receive approximately $2,522.80 per paycheck—an increase of $149 per paycheck, or $3,878 more per year.
What If Kevin Lived in North Carolina Instead
With North Carolina’s flat 3.99% state tax rate for 2026, Kevin’s net pay would be approximately $2,417.14 per paycheck, providing roughly $1,131 more per year than in Virginia.
What If Kevin Increased His 401k to 10 Percent
Increasing contributions by 5% would reduce his federal and state tax burden. While his net pay would decrease by about $125 per paycheck, he would be saving an additional $173 per paycheck for retirement.
What If Kevin Was Married Filing Jointly
Using the 2026 joint standard deduction of $32,200, his annual federal tax would drop to approximately $5,432. His net pay would increase to roughly $2,515.57 per paycheck.
What Is the Living Wage in Virginia
According to 2026 MIT data, a single adult in Virginia needs approximately $25.72 per hour to meet basic needs. Kevin’s $90,000 salary comfortably exceeds this threshold.
Use Our Calculator to Test Your Own Numbers
Use our calculator above to adjust your salary, filing status, dependents, and 401k contributions. Compare Virginia against other states to see your exact take-home pay.
VIRGINIA VS TEXAS VS FLORIDA — HOW MUCH MORE YOU TAKE HOME IN NO TAX STATES
State Tax Comparison: Virginia vs. Texas and Florida
Texas State Tax: 0 percent
Florida State Tax: 0 percent
Virginia State Tax: 2 percent to 5.75 percent
Annual Difference (on $90k): Virginia residents pay $4,361 more in state tax.
Monthly Difference: Approximately $363 less take-home pay.
Same Salary, Different State: The Real Difference
Comparing a $90,000 salary across these states with identical filing status and deductions:
Virginia: State income tax is approximately $4,361/year (after $8,750 standard deduction and $930 exemption). Annual take-home (after Federal/FICA) is approximately $67,784.
Texas/Florida: State income tax is $0. Annual take-home (after Federal/FICA) is approximately $72,145.
The Bottom Line: Moving to Texas or Florida saves about $4,361 per year, or roughly $168 more per biweekly paycheck.
The Impact of Higher Salaries
The tax gap widens significantly as your income increases, since Virginia’s top 5.75 percent bracket applies to most income over $17,000:
$150,000 Salary: Virginia tax is ~$7,811 vs. $0 in TX/FL.
$200,000 Salary: Virginia tax is ~$10,686 vs. $0 in TX/FL.
$300,000 Salary: Virginia tax is ~$16,436 vs. $0 in TX/FL.
Adjusted Salaries: Why Gross Pay Matters
Virginia salaries are often higher due to the concentration of government contracting, defense, and technology sectors. To match the take-home pay of a $90,000 Virginia salary in a zero-tax state like Texas, you would need a salary of approximately $84,000. Always compare full take-home pay rather than just the headline tax rate.
Virginia vs. Texas: Which Is Better?
Virginia Advantages: Higher salaries in government/tech, top-tier schools, four distinct seasons, proximity to Washington D.C., and access to mountains/beaches.
Texas Advantages: Zero state income tax, lower housing costs compared to Northern Virginia, and a rapidly growing tech and energy sector. Major hubs include Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.
Virginia vs. Florida: Which Is Better?
Virginia Advantages: Stability from federal agency presence, higher compensation in defense and tech, and access to elite education systems.
Florida Advantages: Zero state income tax, warm weather year-round, no winter heating costs, and no state estate tax. Major hubs include Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
Who Should Choose Virginia?
Staying in Virginia is recommended if your industry (e.g., defense or government contracting) pays a premium in the state. It is also ideal for those who value the Mid-Atlantic lifestyle, proximity to family, or the four-season climate.
Who Should Choose Texas or Florida?
Moving is an excellent option if you are a remote worker retaining a high salary, a high earner (over $150,000) looking to maximize take-home pay, or a retiree living on pensions/investment income.
Use Our Calculator to Compare
Use our calculator above to adjust your salary, filing status, and dependents. Switch the state dropdown between Virginia, Texas, and Florida to see the exact impact on your annual net pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia uses a progressive tax system with four brackets. The rates are 2 percent, 3 percent, 5 percent, and 5.75 percent. The 5.75 percent rate applies to income over $17,000. As of 2026, Virginia has not added any new top bracket—the 5.75 percent rate remains the highest.
No. Virginia has no local income tax. Cities like Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Alexandria do not charge any local income tax. Every dollar you earn for work in Virginia is only taxed at the state level.
No. Virginia does not have a State Disability Insurance tax. Unlike California, where workers pay 1.1 percent SDI, Virginia workers pay nothing. Your paycheck does not have an SDI deduction in Virginia.
Social Security takes 6.2 percent of your gross pay up to $184,500 per year for 2026. Medicare takes 1.45 percent of all your gross pay with no limit. These are federal taxes, not Virginia state taxes, and they apply to every worker in every state the same way.
The Virginia standard deduction for 2026 is $8,750 for single filers and head of household. For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction is $17,500. You can also claim personal exemptions of $930 for yourself and each dependent.
No. Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits. However, Social Security tax is still deducted from your paycheck at 6.2 percent up to $184,500. That is a federal tax, not a state tax.
Most retirement income (pensions, IRAs, 401(k) withdrawals) is taxed at Virginia's regular rates. Social Security is fully exempt. Taxpayers 65 and older may also claim an Age Deduction of up to $12,000 (phasing out above $50,000 single / $75,000 married income), plus a separate $800 personal exemption.
According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator, a single adult with no children in Virginia needs to earn approximately $25.72 per hour to meet basic needs, based on the most recently published 2026 data. This includes housing, food, healthcare, and other essentials.
The median household income in Virginia is approximately $92,100 per year, based on 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data. This means half of Virginia households earn more than this amount and half earn less. Our calculator uses $90,000 as a realistic example for the average Virginia worker.
North Carolina has a flat state income tax rate of 3.99 percent as of 2026, down from 4.25 percent in 2025. On a $90,000 salary, a single filer in Virginia pays approximately $4,361 in state tax after the standard deduction and personal exemption. The same salary in North Carolina pays approximately $3,082 in state tax after North Carolina's standard deduction. North Carolina gives you about $1,279 more per year.
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Accurate for Virginia Workers
Official Virginia Brackets: We use the official progressive tax rates: 2 percent on the first $3,000, 3 percent on the next $2,000, 5 percent on the next $12,000, and 5.75 percent on income over $17,000.
Correct Deductions: All calculations are applied after Virginia’s $8,750 standard deduction and $930 personal exemption. We also account for the fact that Virginia has no local income tax and no SDI tax.
Updated for 2026 Tax Laws
Latest Federal Data: We utilize the 2026 federal tax brackets. The standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
Social Security Compliance: Our calculator incorporates the current Social Security wage base of $184,500. We ensure all information is current and free of outdated data.
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Data Sourced from Official Government Agencies
Verified Sources: Our Virginia tax brackets come from the Virginia Department of Taxation, federal data is sourced from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Social Security information comes directly from the Social Security Administration. We review and update our figures whenever these agencies publish new changes.
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Written & verified by Gulfam Haider Mehdi
Founder & Developer, PayCheckCalculator.com
Last updated: July 2026