Gross-Up Calculator
Find the gross amount needed to hit an exact take-home figure.
Formula
About this calculator
Sometimes you know the number that has to land in someone's account — a $5,000 signing bonus, a relocation payment, a spot award — and you need to work backwards to the gross figure that survives withholding. That reverse calculation is called a gross-up, and it is exactly what employers do when they promise an employee a specific after-tax amount.
The math flips a normal paycheck on its head. Instead of starting from gross and subtracting tax, you divide the desired net by one minus the combined tax rate. The percentage method uses the flat 22% federal supplemental rate plus 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and your state rate. The aggregate method is more precise: it layers the payment on top of your existing salary and solves for the gross using your true marginal bracket, which this calculator does by iteration.
Grossing up matters because a flat 'add 30% for taxes' rule of thumb almost always misses. In a no-income-tax state like Texas the gross-up is smaller; in California with a high marginal rate it is considerably larger. Enter your target net, your salary and your state to see both methods side by side and the exact gross to request or pay out.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to gross up a payment?
Grossing up means increasing a payment so that, after all taxes are withheld, the employee is left with a specific target net amount. Employers use it for bonuses, relocation and awards where they've promised an exact take-home figure.
How do you calculate a gross-up?
Divide the desired net amount by one minus the combined tax rate (federal + Social Security + Medicare + state). For a precise figure on top of a salary, the aggregate method solves for the gross using your true marginal tax bracket.
Why is the gross-up bigger in some states?
Because state income tax is part of the combined rate. A high-tax state like California requires a larger gross-up to net the same amount than a no-income-tax state like Texas or Florida.
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⚠️ This is a simplified estimate for a single filer and is for planning only — not tax advice. Real gross-ups also depend on filing status, YTD earnings, local taxes and benefit deductions. Confirm with payroll or a tax professional.