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How Bonuses Are Taxed in Georgia (2026)
A bonus paid on a separate check in Georgia has a flat 22% federal tax withheld (37% on cumulative supplemental wages over $1,000,000 in a year), 7.65% FICA, and Georgia's flat 4.99% state income tax. 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 |
| Georgia state tax | 4.99% flat |
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.
Georgia 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 | Georgia tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 | $77 | $50 | $654 |
| $2,500 | $550 | $191 | $125 | $1,634 |
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $383 | $250 | $3,268 |
| $10,000 | $2,200 | $765 | $499 | $6,536 |
| $15,000 | $3,300 | $1,148 | $749 | $9,804 |
| $25,000 | $5,500 | $1,913 | $1,248 | $16,340 |
How Georgia Paycheck Tax Is Calculated (2026)
Source: Georgia Department of Revenue / Office of the Governor| Flat state rate | 4.99% |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction (single) | $12,000 |
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 |
Guideline version 2026-GA-v2 · Last verified 2026-08-19
Georgia Bonus Tax FAQ
How much are bonuses taxed in GA?
A Georgia bonus paid separately has the flat 22% federal supplemental tax withheld (37% above $1,000,000/year), 7.65% FICA, and Georgia's flat 4.99% state income tax. Georgia moved to a flat tax, so the same 4.99% applies to a bonus and to salary. Combined withholding is roughly 34%.
What is the Georgia bonus tax rate for 2026?
22% federal + 4.99% Georgia + 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare. On a $5,000 bonus that is about $1,100 federal, $250 Georgia, and $383 FICA withheld.
Is a Georgia bonus taxed higher than regular pay?
No. Georgia's 4.99% flat rate applies equally to a bonus and to salary. Only the federal withholding method changes - separate bonuses use the flat 22% supplemental rate.
Methodology & Source
Georgia state tax figures sourced from Georgia Department of Revenue / Office of the Governor (https://dor.georgia.gov/), citing HB 463 (signed 2026-05-11), cutting the flat rate from 5.19% to 4.99% retroactive to 2026-01-01; HB 463's higher standard deduction ($15,000/$30,000) takes effect 2027-01-01, NOT 2026 — 2026 uses $12,000/$24,000. 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). Georgia's married-filing-jointly and head-of-household figures have been independently verified against the source above.
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. Georgia 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 GA state calculations. Actual withholding may differ based on your W-4 elections, pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance), and other factors.
Guideline version: 2026-GA-v2 · Effective: 2026-01-01 · Last verified: 2026-08-19