Quick answer
Rhode Island paycheck basics
Rhode Island taxes wages at three rates: 3.75% on the first $82,050 of taxable income, 4.75% up to $186,450 and 5.99% above that, and the brackets are the same whatever your filing status. Its withholding tables are just as simple. There is one set for all filing statuses, a $1,000 allowance for each exemption on Form RI W-4, and no exemptions at all once annual wages pass $290,800, so high earners are withheld on every dollar.
Every Rhode Island paycheck also carries a Temporary Disability Insurance contribution: 1.1% of wages up to $100,000 in 2026, which also funds Temporary Caregiver Insurance. This calculator applies the Division of Taxation's 2026 percentage method and TDI to your pay, alongside federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, to estimate your take-home pay. Rhode Island has no local income tax.
How Rhode Island taxes your paycheck
Rhode Island employers withhold with the Division of Taxation's 2026 percentage method. Your employer multiplies the value of one withholding exemption for your pay period by the number of exemptions on your RI W-4 and subtracts it from your wages: $38.46 per exemption on a biweekly paycheck, $1,000 a year. If your wages for the period are above the phase-out point ($11,184.62 biweekly, $290,800 a year), an exemption is worth $0. The rest goes through the table for your pay period, which applies to every filing status: 3.75% up to $3,156 biweekly, then 4.75% up to $7,171, then 5.99%. In the Division's example, an unmarried employee paid $2,195 weekly with one exemption has $87.57 withheld. A bonus paid with regular wages is withheld on the combined payment; the supplemental withholding rate is 5.99%. Traditional 401(k) deferrals and pretax health benefits reduce Rhode Island wages.
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $82,050 | 3.75% |
| $82,050 – $186,450 | 4.75% |
| Over $186,450 | 5.99% |
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $82,050 | 3.75% |
| $82,050 – $186,450 | 4.75% |
| Over $186,450 | 5.99% |
Rhode Island state payroll programs
Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) is paid entirely by employees. For 2026 the rate is 1.1% of wages up to a $100,000 taxable wage base, a maximum of $1,100. The same contribution funds Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI), Rhode Island's paid caregiver leave.
| Program | Employee rate | Wage base | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island TDI / TCI | 1.1% | Up to $100,000/year | Source |
Worked example
A $60,000 salary in Rhode Island, single, paid biweekly
- Annual salary:
- $60,000
- Filing status:
- Single
- Pay frequency:
- Biweekly (26 paychecks/year)
- Deductions:
- None
- State:
- Rhode Island
- Salary: +$2,307.69
- Federal income tax: −$193.08
- Social Security: −$143.08
- Medicare: −$33.46
- Rhode Island income tax: −$86.54
- Rhode Island TDI / TCI: −$25.38
Net pay per paycheck: $1,826.15
Computed with Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island
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 | $1,245.39 | $32,380.14 | $1,316.16 | $34,220.16 |
| $60,000 | $1,826.15 | $47,479.90 | $1,910.00 | $49,660.00 |
| $80,000 | $2,354.99 | $61,229.74 | $2,490.76 | $64,759.76 |
| $100,000 | $2,851.94 | $74,150.44 | $3,064.63 | $79,680.38 |
| $150,000 | $4,070.64 | $105,836.64 | $4,431.95 | $115,230.70 |
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 RI W-4. The calculator only shows the fields Rhode Island 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 − Rhode Island income tax − state payroll programs − local tax − post-tax deductions.
Rhode Island vs. neighboring states
Net pay on a $75,000 salary, single, paid biweekly, in Rhode Island compared with its bordering states.
| State | Net pay per paycheck | Net pay annual | Difference vs. Rhode Island (annual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $2,229.04 | $57,955.04 | — |
| Connecticut | $2,220.87 | $57,742.62 | −$212.42 |
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 are the Rhode Island income tax rates for 2026?+
3.75% on the first $82,050 of taxable income, 4.75% from $82,050 to $186,450, and 5.99% above $186,450. The brackets are the same for single filers, married couples and heads of household.
How much Rhode Island tax is withheld on a $60,000 salary?+
For an employee paid biweekly with one exemption, $2,307.69 less the $38.46 exemption is $2,269.23, and 3.75% of that is about $85.10 per paycheck. TDI adds about $25.38.
What is Rhode Island TDI and how much is deducted?+
Temporary Disability Insurance is an employee-paid payroll deduction: 1.1% of wages in 2026, on up to $100,000 of wages, so no more than $1,100 for the year. The same contribution also funds Temporary Caregiver Insurance.
Does filing status change Rhode Island withholding?+
No. Rhode Island's withholding tables apply to all filing status types. Only the number of exemptions on your RI W-4 and any additional amount you request change how much is withheld.
Why do high earners lose their Rhode Island exemptions?+
Rhode Island phases out exemptions at high incomes, and the withholding tables mirror that: when annual wages exceed $290,800 (for example, $11,184.62 on a biweekly paycheck), each exemption is worth $0.
How are bonuses taxed in Rhode Island?+
A bonus paid with regular wages is withheld as one payment. Paid separately, it can be added to your last regular pay and withheld on the total, and the Division's supplemental withholding rate is 5.99%.
Does Rhode Island tax 401(k) contributions?+
No. Traditional 401(k) deferrals and pretax health premiums reduce Rhode Island wages as they do federal wages. They are still subject to TDI.
Does Rhode Island have local income taxes?+
No. Rhode Island cities and towns do not tax wages.
What is the minimum wage in Rhode Island in 2026?+
$16.00 an hour.
Sources
- RI Division of Taxation — 2026 Employer's Income Tax Withholding Tables
- RI Division of Taxation — Withholding Tax Forms
- RI Department of Labor and Training — 2026 Tax Rates for UI and TDI
- 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