Updated for 2026 IRS & AZ State Tax Rules

Arizona Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Calculate your exact take-home pay in Arizona after 2026 Federal, FICA, Arizona state income tax (2.5% Flat Rate), and local municipal withholdings.

Income & Pay Rate

$85,000
$
Quick Select:
$15,000$180,000$350,000+

State & Filing Profile

Net Take-Home Pay
$2,335.20
Per Bi-Weekly (26x) paycheck
Paycheck Breakdown71.4% Take-Home
Net Pay:71.4%
Federal:10.2%
FICA:7.5%
State Tax:2.3%

Itemized Calculation (Bi-Weekly (26x))

Gross Pay$3,269.23
Pre-Tax Deductions-$280.77
Federal Income Tax-$334.92
FICA (SS & Medicare)-$243.62
State Tax (AZ)-$74.71
Net Take-Home Pay$2,335.20
Tax Freedom Day
March 14

Day 73 of 365 when your cumulative gross earnings satisfy your total annual tax liability ($16,985).

Effective Tax Rate
20.0%
Marginal Bracket
22%

Quick Summary: Arizona Tax Impact on $85,000 Salary

2026 Single Filer Baseline (Zero Pre-Tax Deductions)

Arizona taxes all individual wage income at a single flat rate of 2.5%. Arizona Form A-4 allows employees to choose their preferred withholding percentage.

Gross Salary$85,000
Est. Federal + FICA$16,817
Est. Arizona Tax$2,125
Net Take-Home Pay$66,059

📊 Itemized Paycheck Sample ($85,000 Baseline in Arizona)

Exact breakdown of gross pay vs. federal tax, FICA, state tax, and net pay per pay period.

Single Filer (2026)
Pay PeriodGross IncomeFederal Income TaxFICA (SS + Medicare)Arizona State TaxNet Take-Home Pay
Bi-Weekly (26x)$3,269.23$396.69$250.10$81.73$2,540.71
Monthly (12x)$7,083.33$859.50$541.88$177.08$5,504.88
Annual Total$85,000.00$10,314.00$6,502.50$2,125.00$66,058.50
Take-Home Pay Comparison

Arizona vs. California Baseline

On an $85,000 salary, single workers in Arizona take home$1,918 MORE per yearthan in California due to state income tax structure differences.

AZ Net$66,059
vs
CA Net$64,141
State Tax Guide

Comprehensive Arizona Paycheck & Tax Analysis (2026)

Detailed breakdown of tax brackets, FICA payroll taxes, state leave programs, and employer withholding compliance.

SECTION A: 2026 Arizona Tax Structure Breakdown

For tax year 2026, Arizona operates under a Flat Tax regime (2.5% Flat Rate).

⚡ 2026 Arizona Flat Tax Rate Parameters

State Flat Rate2.5% Flat Rate
Withholding FormForm A-4
$85k State Tax$2,125
Effective Rate2.50%

SECTION B: FICA & Federal Deductions in Arizona

Regardless of state residency, every worker in Arizona must contribute to federal taxation and Social Security / Medicare security programs under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA):

  • Federal Income Tax (IRS 2026): Calculated using 2026 IRS withholding tables after subtracting the 2026 Federal Standard Deduction ($15,000 for single filers; $30,000 for married filing jointly). On an $85,000 single salary, federal income tax equals $10,314.00 annually ($396.69 bi-weekly).
  • Social Security Tax (FICA): Assessed at 6.2% on gross wage income up to the 2026 wage base cap of $184,500. On an $85,000 salary, Social Security withholding equals $5,270.00 per year ($202.69 bi-weekly).
  • Medicare Tax (FICA): Assessed at 1.45% on all earned wages without an income cap. On an $85,000 salary, Medicare withholding equals $1,232.50 per year ($47.40 bi-weekly). High earners with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 for married joint filers) are subject to an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9%.

Combined Federal and FICA taxes on an $85,000 single salary total $16,816.50 per year across all US states.

SECTION C: State-Specific Payroll Programs in Arizona

Arizona does not mandate separate state disability insurance (SDI) or paid family leave (PFL) employee payroll taxes. Employee pay stubs in Arizona do not include state leave deductions unless your employer offers a voluntary private disability plan.

SECTION D: Form W-4 & Arizona State Withholding Guidance

To ensure your employer accurately withholds state and federal taxes from your paychecks in Arizona:

  • State Withholding Document: Arizona uses Form A-4 to establish state income tax withholding. You should complete Form A-4 upon hire or when updating your filing status to select correct state exemption allowances.
  • Pre-Tax Deduction Offsets: Electing pre-tax 401(k) contributions (up to $23,500 in 2026), Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions, or pre-tax health insurance premiums lowers your taxable wage baseline for federal tax and Arizona state tax.

Common Salary Anchors for Arizona

Select a specific annual salary baseline to view exact itemized take-home pay in Arizona:

Frequently Asked Questions: Arizona Paycheck Taxes

1. What is Arizona flat state income tax rate?
Arizona levies a low flat 2.5% state income tax rate across all income brackets.
2. Do Phoenix or Tucson charge local income taxes?
No Arizona city assesses local municipal wage income taxes.
3. How does Arizona Form A-4 withholding election work?
Form A-4 lets employees elect a state withholding rate percentage (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, etc.) on pay stubs.
4. What is take-home pay for $85,000 in Arizona?
An $85,000 single earner in Arizona takes home approx $66,500 net per year.

⚡ Quick Salary Benchmarks for Arizona

Click any benchmark salary level below to calculate itemized take-home pay for Arizona instantly:

2026 Tax Engine References & Methodology

Our paycheck calculation logic is modeled directly after official Internal Revenue Service (IRS) percentage withholding methods and individual state department of revenue guidelines. Estimates are provided for personal financial planning and educational purposes.

Disclaimer: Use Paycheck Calculator provides estimates based on standard 2026 tax formulas. Actual employer payroll withholding may vary based on custom W-4 elections, post-tax benefits, or specific payroll software rules. This tool does not provide formal tax or CPA advice.