Virginia Salary Calculator

About the Virginia Paycheck Calculator

Virginia has a progressive state income tax from 2% to 5.75%, with the top rate starting at only $17,000 of taxable income — so most of a full-time salary is taxed at 5.75%. There is no local income tax anywhere in the Commonwealth and no mandatory state benefit deduction, which keeps the math simpler than in neighboring D.C. or Maryland. A Virginia salary calculator gives you the exact net number before you budget, negotiate an offer, or plan retirement contributions.

How Virginia State Income Tax Works

Virginia uses a four-bracket progressive income tax. What makes Virginia distinctive is where the top bracket starts: the highest 5.75% rate kicks in at just $17,000 of taxable income. Because most full-time salaries are far above $17,000, the vast majority of your income is taxed at 5.75%, and your effective Virginia rate lands close to that top figure.

Virginia has no local income tax anywhere in the Commonwealth, no state disability insurance, and no paid-family-leave payroll deduction — so your paycheck math is federal taxes, FICA, and Virginia state income tax, unless you elect pre-tax benefits.

Virginia Income Tax Brackets (2026)

The same brackets apply to single, married, and head-of-household filers:

What Gets Deducted from a Virginia Paycheck

1. Federal Income Tax

Withheld based on your IRS Form W-4 and the 2026 federal tax brackets. The 2026 federal standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly. Your effective federal rate depends on your filing status and W-4 elections.

2. Social Security

A flat 6.2% on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Both you and your employer contribute equally. The maximum Social Security tax you can pay is $11,439 per year.

3. Medicare

A flat 1.45% on all wages with no cap. Earners above $200,000 (or $250,000 filing jointly) also pay an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9%, employee-only with no employer match.

4. Virginia State Income Tax

Progressive from 2% to 5.75% on Virginia taxable income. The 2026 Virginia standard deduction is $8,500 for single filers and $17,000 for married filing jointly, plus a $930 personal exemption for each taxpayer and dependent.

5. Pre-Tax Deductions

These reduce both your federal and Virginia state taxable income before tax is calculated:

• 401(k) / 403(b): Traditional contributions are pre-tax at both levels.
• HSA / FSA: Health savings and flexible spending contributions are pre-tax.
• Health insurance premiums: Employer-sponsored premiums are typically pre-tax.

Virginia Paycheck Deductions at a Glance (2026)

Virginia vs. Neighboring States: Take-Home Pay

At a $100,000 gross salary for a single filer:

Estimates only. Single filer, standard deduction, no pre-tax deductions.

W-4 and VA-4 Tips for Virginia Workers

Your federal W-4 controls federal withholding; Virginia uses its own withholding certificate, Form VA-4. Complete both correctly to avoid a surprise bill in April.

• Dual-income households: Both spouses should complete Step 2(c) on the federal W-4 — skipping it is the most common cause of federal under-withholding.
• Virginia Form VA-4: Claim your personal and dependent exemptions here. Update it after marriage, divorce, or a new dependent.
• Maximize pre-tax contributions: Every dollar in a 401(k) or HSA lowers both your federal and Virginia taxable income.
• Northern Virginia commuters: If you live in Virginia but work in D.C. or Maryland, reciprocity rules usually mean you pay Virginia tax, not the other jurisdiction's — check your withholding.

For Employers: Virginia Payroll Obligations

Virginia employer-side payroll obligations beyond standard FICA and FUTA:

• State Unemployment Insurance (SUI): Virginia's SUI taxable wage base is $8,000. New employers pay a standard rate; experienced-employer rates vary with claims history.
• FUTA: 6% on the first $7,000 of wages, reduced to an effective 0.6% ($42/employee/year) when Virginia SUI is filed on time.
• Employer FICA match: Employers match the 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare on every paycheck.
• State income tax withholding: Employers withhold Virginia income tax and remit it to the Virginia Department of Taxation on a monthly, quarterly, or semi-weekly schedule based on size.

Conclusion

Virginia's progressive 2%–5.75% income tax — with the top rate starting at just $17,000 — means most workers pay close to 5.75% on the bulk of their salary, but the absence of any local income tax keeps Virginia simpler and often cheaper than D.C. or Maryland. Your take-home is lower than in no-tax states like Florida or Tennessee, yet competitive across the Mid-Atlantic.

Run your specific numbers — filing status, W-4 elections, and any 401(k) or HSA contributions — to get your accurate Virginia take-home pay. The gap between a rough estimate and the real figure can easily be $2,000–$4,000 per year.