Washington Paycheck Calculator — Current Tax Year
Washington has no state income tax, and most calculators stop the explanation right there. But that’s not the whole picture: Washington is also one of only a few states with its own long-term care payroll tax, the WA Cares Fund, plus an employee-paid Paid Family & Medical Leave premium. Neither shows up if you only check for “state income tax.” This tool accounts for both.
🧮 Test a Raise, New Job, or Pay Cut
With no state income tax in the picture, a Washington raise behaves more predictably than in most states. See exactly what you’d keep.
The Part of a Washington Paycheck Most People Don’t Expect
“No state income tax” is technically accurate for Washington, and it’s also incomplete. In 2023, Washington rolled out the WA Cares Fund, a first-of-its-kind public long-term care insurance program funded entirely by employee payroll contributions. On top of that, Washington runs its own Paid Family & Medical Leave program, also split between employee and employer contributions. Neither of these is a “state income tax” in the legal sense, but both come out of your paycheck automatically, and neither shows up if you only Google “does Washington have state income tax” and stop reading at the first answer.
What’s Actually in a Washington Paycheck
- Federal income tax — calculated the same way as in any other state, based on IRS brackets, filing status, and dependents.
- Social Security and Medicare (FICA) — the standard federal payroll taxes withheld nationwide.
- WA Cares Fund — a flat 0.58% of all gross wages, withheld with no annual wage cap, funding a long-term care benefit you can draw on later in life.
- Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) — a small employee-paid premium, capped at the same wage base as Social Security, funding paid leave benefits for new parents and people dealing with serious illness or caregiving.
Individually these two programs are small dollar amounts on most paychecks. But because they’re genuinely unique to Washington — almost no other state runs a long-term care payroll tax like WA Cares — they’re exactly the kind of detail a “no income tax” headline glosses right over.
| Deduction | Rate | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | 10%–37% | Taxable income after deductions |
| Washington State Tax | 0% | Not applicable |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Income up to the annual wage base |
| Medicare | 1.45% | All earned income, plus 0.9% for high earners |
| WA Cares Fund | 0.58% | All gross wages, no annual cap |
| Paid Family & Medical Leave | ~0.81% (employee share) | Wages up to the Social Security wage base |
Why This Detail Actually Matters
Some workers qualify for an exemption from WA Cares, typically if they already carry qualifying private long-term care insurance purchased before the state’s original opt-out window closed, or fall into a small number of other exempt categories like certain visa holders or out-of-state employees. If you’re not sure whether you’re contributing, the cleanest way to check is your own pay stub — if you see a “WA Cares” or “LTC” line, you’re paying in. If you genuinely have an approved exemption on file with your employer, this calculator’s WA Cares estimate won’t apply to your actual paycheck, so treat that line as informational in that specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington really have no state income tax?
Correct, Washington collects no personal state income tax. However, it does withhold separate payroll contributions for the WA Cares Fund and Paid Family & Medical Leave, which are not income tax but still reduce take-home pay.
What is the WA Cares Fund?
It’s a state-run, employee-funded long-term care insurance program that withholds 0.58% of gross wages with no annual cap, providing a long-term care benefit that contributing workers can access later in life.
Can I opt out of the WA Cares Fund?
Only specific groups qualify for an exemption, such as those who purchased qualifying private long-term care insurance before the original opt-out deadline, certain visa holders, military spouses, and workers who live out of state. Most employees cannot opt out.
How accurate is this calculator?
This tool applies standard federal tax brackets, current FICA rates, and the verified WA Cares and Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rates to closely estimate take-home pay. Your actual paycheck may differ slightly if you qualify for an exemption.
Is the Paid Family & Medical Leave premium the same as WA Cares?
No, they’re separate programs. PFML funds paid leave for new parents, serious illness, or caregiving, while WA Cares funds long-term care benefits later in life. Most employees contribute to both.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce these Washington payroll deductions?
It reduces your federal taxable income, but WA Cares and PFML premiums are generally calculated on gross wages, so pre-tax retirement contributions typically don’t lower those specific premium amounts.
Why is there no wage cap on WA Cares but there is one on PFML?
These are two independently structured programs with different funding rules set by separate state agencies — WA Cares applies to all wages, while PFML premiums are capped at the same annual wage base used for Social Security.
How often are paychecks issued in Washington?
Pay frequency is set by the employer, though Washington law requires employees be paid at least once a month on an established, regular payday.
Explore More Paycheck Calculators
Comparing Washington against another no-tax state or curious how a bracket-based state stacks up? Start with our complete calculator hub, or browse a few related tools below:
This calculator provides general estimates based on standard federal tax brackets, current FICA rates, and the verified WA Cares Fund and Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rates, for informational purposes only. It does not constitute tax or financial advice. Premium rates are reviewed annually by Washington’s Employment Security Department — confirm current figures at paidleave.wa.gov and wacaresfund.wa.gov, or consult a licensed tax professional, before making financial decisions.