Tennessee Paycheck Calculator
Tennessee does not tax wage income, so your paycheck keeps its whole state share. Here is what actually reaches your account.
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | — | — |
| Pre-tax deductions | ||
| 401(k) | — | — |
| Health premiums | — | — |
| Taxes withheld | ||
| Federal income tax | — | — |
| Social Security (6.2%) | — | — |
| Medicare (1.45%) | — | — |
| Additional Medicare (0.9%) | — | — |
| State income tax | — | — |
Quick reference
Tennessee payroll tax at a glance, 2026
| State income tax on wages | None |
| Local or city income tax | None |
| Social Security wage base (federal) | $184,500 |
| Data last checked | 20 September 2026 |
| Verification | Confirmed with the state revenue department |
What Tennessee takes from your paycheck
Nothing, as far as income tax goes. Tennessee is one of nine states that does not tax wage income, so the only income tax withheld from your pay is federal. Everything in the state column of your stub is zero.
That does not make Tennessee cheap. States without an income tax raise the money elsewhere — usually through higher sales tax, higher property tax, or severance taxes on resources.
The practical effect on a paycheck is straightforward: compared with a graduated-rate state, a middle earner in Tennessee typically keeps several thousand dollars more a year. Compare the figure above against a neighbouring state to see the gap on your own salary.
Local income taxes
No city, county or school district in Tennessee levies its own income tax. Your state rate is the whole of your state and local income tax burden — a simplification that not every state offers.
How Tennessee compares next door
On a $65,000 salary, single, with no pre-tax deductions:
- Alabama leaves you $3,010 worse off a year on $65,000 — graduated to 5%.
- Arkansas leaves you $2,206 worse off a year on $65,000 — graduated to 3.7%.
- Georgia leaves you $2,495 worse off a year on $65,000 — flat 4.99%.
- Kentucky leaves you $2,157 worse off a year on $65,000 — flat 3.5%.
- Mississippi leaves you $1,868 worse off a year on $65,000 — flat 4%.
Moving across a state line can be worth more than a pay rise — or cost more than one. These figures cover income tax only; sales tax, property tax and cost of living all move in the opposite direction in many cases.
Working across a state line
The general rule is that you owe tax where you physically do the work, and your home state credits you for it. If you live in Tennessee and work elsewhere, or the reverse, you may have to file two state returns even though you are only taxed once on the same income. Where the two states have a reciprocity agreement, you can ask your employer to withhold for your home state only.
Compare
Neighbouring states
Same salary, different state. The gap across a state line is often larger than a pay rise.
Similar systems
Other states with no income tax
Transparency
How this page is calculated
The calculation
- Annualise gross pay from the amount and frequency entered.
- Subtract the traditional 401(k) contribution and pre-tax health premiums.
- Apply the 2026 federal brackets after the federal standard deduction.
- Calculate FICA on gross pay less health premiums — 401(k) contributions are not exempt from Social Security or Medicare.
- Apply Tennessee's own deductions and exemptions, then its 2026 rates.
What is not included
Local and city income taxes; state disability and paid-family-leave contributions; garnishments and child support; the flat supplemental rate on bonuses; itemised deductions above the standard deduction; credits claimed on your annual return; and multi-state withholding if you live and work in different states.
Sources and verification
The 2026 rate and deductions on this page were confirmed directly against the Tennessee revenue department on 20 September 2026. Federal figures come from the IRS 2026 inflation-adjusted tables and Publication 15-T; the Social Security wage base comes from the Social Security Administration.
- Tennessee: www.tn.gov — the page we check against
- Federal: IRS 2026 inflation adjustments and Publication 15-T
- FICA: Social Security Administration 2026 contribution and benefit base
We re-read that source on a schedule — weekly through the March-to-June legislative season, monthly the rest of the year — and update this page when it moves. Five states changed their income tax part-way through 2026, so this is not a theoretical risk.
Found a figure that is wrong or out of date? Tell us — we correct it and note the change on the page.
Tennessee paycheck questions
Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
No. Tennessee does not tax wage income, so only federal tax, Social Security and Medicare are withheld from your paycheck.
How much is $50,000 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $42,355 a year for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions — roughly $1,629.04 every two weeks. Adjust the calculator for your own 401(k) and premiums.
How much is $65,000 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $54,408 a year for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions — roughly $2,092.60 every two weeks. Adjust the calculator for your own 401(k) and premiums.
How much is $100,000 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $79,180 a year for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions — roughly $3,045.38 every two weeks. Adjust the calculator for your own 401(k) and premiums.
Does Tennessee have a local or city income tax?
No. No city, county or district in Tennessee levies an income tax.
Why doesn't this match my pay stub exactly?
Usually a local tax, a state disability contribution, or a benefit deducted post-tax rather than pre-tax. Employers also use percentage-method withholding tables that round at each step.