Quick answer
Arizona paycheck basics
Arizona has a flat 2.5% income tax, one of the lowest rates of any state that taxes wages. What makes an Arizona paycheck unusual is that the amount withheld is not worked out from that rate. Instead, each employee picks a withholding percentage on Arizona Form A-4, anywhere from 0.5% to 3.5% of gross taxable wages, and the employer withholds exactly that share of every paycheck.
If you never turn in a Form A-4, your employer must withhold 2.0% of your gross taxable wages, the default the Arizona Department of Revenue sets. Because the percentage applies to every dollar with no allowance or standard deduction, the default can come out close to, above or below your real tax, depending on your income and credits. This calculator lets you choose the percentage from your A-4, applies federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare, and shows Arizona take-home pay for your pay schedule.
How Arizona taxes your paycheck
For 2026 Arizona taxes individual income at a flat 2.5%; the department's 2026 estimated-tax booklet tells taxpayers to use 2.5%. Paycheck withholding works differently. Arizona law has employers withhold a percentage of gross taxable wages that the employee elects on Form A-4: 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0% or 3.5%, plus any extra dollar amount per paycheck the employee asks for. New employees are supposed to complete the A-4 within five days of hire; until they do, the employer withholds the 2.0% default. An employee who expects no Arizona tax liability for the year can elect zero withholding, but that election has to be renewed with a new A-4 by February 15 each year or the employer goes back to 2.0%. Gross taxable wages are federal wages, generally the box 1 amount on Form W-2, so traditional 401(k) deferrals and pretax health, dental and vision premiums lower the wages the percentage is applied to. Bonuses are wages too and are withheld at the same elected percentage.
| Filing status | Rate |
|---|---|
| All filing statuses | 2.50% |
Worked example
A $60,000 salary in Arizona, single, paid biweekly
- Annual salary:
- $60,000
- Filing status:
- Single
- Pay frequency:
- Biweekly (26 paychecks/year)
- Deductions:
- None
- State:
- Arizona
- Salary: +$2,307.69
- Federal income tax: −$193.08
- Social Security: −$143.08
- Medicare: −$33.46
- Arizona income tax: −$46.15
Net pay per paycheck: $1,891.92
Computed with Arizona's default withholding certificate (no allowances, no extra withholding) and no pre-tax or post-tax deductions. Your own paycheck will differ with different elections.
Take-home pay by salary in Arizona
Net pay at five common salaries, biweekly, with no bonus, tips or deductions — computed the same way as the worked example above, for Single and Married Filing Jointly.
| Annual salary | Single — per paycheck | Single — annual | MFJ — per paycheck | MFJ — annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,289.23 | $33,519.98 | $1,360.00 | $35,360.00 |
| $60,000 | $1,891.92 | $49,189.92 | $1,975.77 | $51,370.02 |
| $80,000 | $2,442.68 | $63,509.68 | $2,578.45 | $67,039.70 |
| $100,000 | $2,968.46 | $77,179.96 | $3,181.15 | $82,709.90 |
| $150,000 | $4,261.20 | $110,791.20 | $4,622.51 | $120,185.26 |
How to use this calculator
- Enter your pay. Choose salary or hourly, fill in the amount and hours, and pick how often you are paid.
- Fill in your federal Form W-4. Filing status, the Step 2 checkbox, and Steps 3 and 4 if they apply to you.
- Fill in your Form A-4. The calculator only shows the fields Arizona actually asks for.
- Add any deductions. Traditional or Roth 401(k), health premiums, HSA, FSA, or other pre-tax and post-tax amounts taken from your pay.
- Read your results. Net pay per paycheck, the full breakdown by category, and any warnings about your specific numbers.
Formulas used
Net pay = gross pay − pre-tax deductions − federal tax − FICA − Arizona income tax − state payroll programs − local tax − post-tax deductions.
Arizona vs. neighboring states
Net pay on a $75,000 salary, single, paid biweekly, in Arizona compared with its bordering states.
| State | Net pay per paycheck | Net pay annual | Difference vs. Arizona (annual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $2,311.25 | $60,092.50 | — |
| California | $2,207.54 | $57,396.04 | −$2,696.46 |
| Nevada | $2,368.94 | $61,592.44 | +$1,499.94 |
| Utah | $2,240.94 | $58,264.44 | −$1,828.06 |
| New Mexico | $2,263.60 | $58,853.60 | −$1,238.90 |
Frequently asked questions
How is federal income tax withheld from my paycheck calculated?+
Employers use the IRS Publication 15-T percentage method with the elections on your Form W-4: filing status, whether Step 2 is checked, Step 3 credits, and any Step 4 adjustments. That produces an amount to withhold each pay period before Social Security, Medicare, and any state or local tax are applied.
What is FICA and why is it withheld on every paycheck?+
FICA is Social Security tax (6.2% of wages up to the annual Social Security wage base) plus Medicare tax (1.45% of all wages, with an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a year). Both are withheld on every US paycheck regardless of which state you work in, because they fund federal programs rather than a state one.
Is the result on this calculator the same as my actual paycheck?+
It is an estimate for planning, not a substitute for your pay stub. Your actual withholding depends on the exact elections on file with your employer, your specific pay dates, and any mid-year changes to your deductions — the calculator applies the published federal and state formulas to the numbers you enter.
What is the Arizona state income tax rate for 2026?+
A flat 2.5% of Arizona taxable income for every filing status. The Arizona Department of Revenue's 2026 estimated-tax booklet tells taxpayers to use 2.5% to estimate their 2026 liability.
How much Arizona tax is withheld from my paycheck?+
Whatever percentage you chose on Form A-4, applied to your gross taxable wages for the pay period. The choices are 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.5%. On a $60,000 salary paid biweekly with no pretax deductions, the 2.0% default is about $46.15 per paycheck.
What happens if I don't fill out an Arizona Form A-4?+
Your employer must withhold Arizona income tax at the default rate of 2.0% of your gross taxable wages until you give them a completed A-4. New employees are expected to complete the form within five days of starting work.
Which Arizona withholding percentage should I choose?+
Pick the percentage that brings your total withholding for the year closest to your expected Arizona tax. Because withholding is a flat share of wages with no deduction taken out first, a lower percentage often fits a single filer with modest income, while someone with other income may want a higher percentage or an extra amount per paycheck. The Arizona Department of Revenue publishes a withholding calculator for this.
Can I have zero Arizona tax withheld?+
Yes, but only if you expect to have no Arizona income tax liability for the year, meaning your tax after credits will be zero. You elect it in box 2 of Form A-4, and it must be renewed with a new A-4 by February 15 of the next year, or your employer goes back to the 2.0% default.
Does Arizona tax 401(k) contributions?+
Not through withholding. Arizona applies your withholding percentage to gross taxable wages, which follow the federal definition used for box 1 of Form W-2. Traditional 401(k) deferrals and pretax health premiums are excluded, so they lower Arizona withholding as well as federal.
How are bonuses withheld in Arizona?+
At the same A-4 percentage as the rest of your pay, because a bonus is part of gross taxable wages. Federally, a bonus is usually withheld at the flat 22% supplemental rate, and Social Security and Medicare apply as normal.
Does Arizona have local income taxes or state payroll deductions?+
No local income tax is withheld from Arizona paychecks, and Arizona has no employee-paid state disability or paid family leave deduction. Beyond federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare, the only state line on the pay stub is Arizona income tax at your A-4 percentage.
What is the minimum wage in Arizona in 2026?+
$15.15 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's state minimum wage table. Some Arizona cities set a higher local minimum wage.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Revenue — Form A-4, Employee's Arizona Withholding Election (2026)
- Arizona Department of Revenue — Employer's Instructions for Form A-4 (2026)
- Arizona Department of Revenue — 2026 Form 140ES booklet (2.5% rate)
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide
- Social Security Administration — 2026 COLA Fact Sheet