How to use the missouri paycheck calculator
- Enter gross pay for one check and pick the pay frequency.
- Pick your Missouri status. It decides the standard deduction.
- Add 401(k) and health premiums per check, then any W-4 entries.
- Read the whole-dollar Missouri line and net pay.
Missouri withholding in short
Missouri withholds from a graduated table that tops out at 4.7%, after a standard deduction that matches the federal 2026 figure for your status. There is no Missouri disability or paid leave premium on the paycheck, so income tax is the only state line. On a $2,800 biweekly check with a $140 401(k) deferral, single status, this missouri paycheck calculator shows $89 of state tax and $2,111.22 of take-home pay. For other states, see the general paycheck calculator.
Four statuses, three deductions
- S, single: $16,100.
- N, married filing separately or spouse works: $16,100.
- M, married and spouse does not work: $32,200.
- H, head of household: $24,150.
These equal the 2026 federal standard deductions for the same statuses.
The annual table
| Taxable income over | Tax at that point | Rate on the excess |
|---|---|---|
| $1,348 | $0 | 2.0% |
| $2,696 | $27 | 2.5% |
| $4,044 | $61 | 3.0% |
| $5,392 | $101 | 3.5% |
| $6,740 | $148 | 4.0% |
| $8,088 | $202 | 4.5% |
| $9,436 | $263 | 4.7% |
Income up to $1,348 is not taxed. The annual result is divided by the pay periods and rounded to a whole dollar.
Worked example: single, the default check
The $2,800 biweekly check with a $140 deferral leaves $2,660 of Missouri wages, or $69,160 a year. Subtract the $16,100 single deduction: $53,060. The table gives $263 plus 4.7% of the $43,624 above $9,436, which is $2,313.33 a year. Divided by 26 that is $88.97, and the Missouri line shows $89 after rounding to the nearest dollar.
Worked example: married, one earner
A married employee on status M is paid $5,200 every two weeks and defers $260 into a 401(k). Annual wages are $128,440. After the $32,200 deduction, taxable income is $96,240. The table gives $263 plus 4.7% of the $86,804 above $9,436, which is $4,342.79 a year, or $167.03 a paycheck and $167 after rounding. Federal withholding on that check is $425.11 and net pay is $3,950.09.
Method and sources
State rule: Missouri Department of Revenue, Form 4282, Employer's Tax Guide (Revised 03-2026), read in full on 2026-11-05 from a web.archive.org copy of the dor.mo.gov PDF: the 2026 Missouri Withholding Tax Formula (standard deductions of $16,100 single, married and spouse works, and married filing separate, $32,200 married and spouse does not work, and $24,150 head of household), the percentage table up to 4.7%, and the instruction to round the amount withheld to the nearest whole dollar. The guide's worked example, $35,000 a year paid monthly with a working spouse, gives $59 a month and is one of the tests. The USDA National Finance Center bulletin NFC-26-1773783048 (May 14, 2026) restates the same formula for federal employees. Federal income tax follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A, annual percentage method. Social Security is 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base and Medicare is 1.45% plus 0.9% over $200,000 of wages. The formulas are covered by the repository's automated tests. One worked case: $2,660 of taxable wages every two weeks is $69,160 a year; less the $16,100 deduction that is $53,060, so the annual tax is $263 plus 4.7% of the amount over $9,436, which comes to $2,313.33, or $88.97 a check before the whole-dollar rounding that shows $89.00. What it leaves out: local taxes, extra withholding requested on the Missouri W-4, supplemental wage rates and garnishments. This is a withholding estimate for one paycheck, not a payroll quote or tax advice. Your employer's payroll system and your final tax return decide the real figures. Constants to refresh each January: standard deductions, table rows and rates, Social Security wage base.
Worked examples
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri example | Gross pay this period ($): 2800; Pay frequency: biweekly; Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c): single; Missouri W-4 filing status: S; Pre-tax 401(k) per pay period ($): 140; Health and other section 125 premiums per period ($): 0; W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)?: no; W-4 Step 3 credits, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(a) other income, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(b) deductions, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(c) extra withholding per period ($): 0; Wages already paid this year ($): 0 | Gross pay this period: $2,800.00; Pre-tax deductions: $140.00; Federal income tax withholding: $245.58; Social Security (6.2%): $173.60; Medicare (1.45%): $40.60; Missouri income tax: $89.00; Net pay this period: $2,111.22; Net pay per year: $54,891.72; Total withheld as % of gross: 19.60% |
| Married, one earner | Gross pay this period ($): 5200; Pay frequency: biweekly; Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c): mfj; Missouri W-4 filing status: M; Pre-tax 401(k) per pay period ($): 260; Health and other section 125 premiums per period ($): 0; W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)?: no; W-4 Step 3 credits, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(a) other income, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(b) deductions, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(c) extra withholding per period ($): 0; Wages already paid this year ($): 0 | Gross pay this period: $5,200.00; Pre-tax deductions: $260.00; Federal income tax withholding: $425.11; Social Security (6.2%): $322.40; Medicare (1.45%): $75.40; Missouri income tax: $167.00; Net pay this period: $3,950.09; Net pay per year: $102,702.34; Total withheld as % of gross: 19.04% |
| Head of household, weekly pay | Gross pay this period ($): 1050; Pay frequency: weekly; Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c): hoh; Missouri W-4 filing status: H; Pre-tax 401(k) per pay period ($): 0; Health and other section 125 premiums per period ($): 0; W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)?: no; W-4 Step 3 credits, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(a) other income, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(b) deductions, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(c) extra withholding per period ($): 0; Wages already paid this year ($): 0 | Gross pay this period: $1,050.00; Pre-tax deductions: $0.00; Federal income tax withholding: $63.46; Social Security (6.2%): $65.10; Medicare (1.45%): $15.23; Missouri income tax: $24.00; Net pay this period: $882.21; Net pay per year: $45,874.92; Total withheld as % of gross: 15.98% |
FAQ
What is the top Missouri withholding rate in 2026?
4.7%, applied to annual taxable income above $9,436 after the standard deduction.
What is the Missouri standard deduction for withholding?
$16,100 for single and for married filing separately or with a working spouse, $32,200 for married with a spouse who does not work, and $24,150 for head of household.
Why does my Missouri withholding have no cents?
The Missouri formula rounds the amount for each pay period to the nearest dollar.
Does Missouri take disability or paid family leave from my pay?
No. Income tax is the only Missouri state deduction modelled here.
Does this include city earnings taxes?
No. Local taxes are not modelled, so a stub with a city tax line will show more withheld than this page.
Is my 401(k) deferral taxed by Missouri withholding?
Traditional 401(k) deferrals and section 125 premiums come out of wages before the Missouri table is applied.