Tennessee has no state income tax
Tennessee is one of nine states that do not tax wages. Your employer withholds only federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, so a Tennessee paycheck is usually several percent larger than the same salary in a state with an income tax.
- Tennessee does not tax wages. Its old Hall tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed in 2021, so there is no personal income tax at all.
- Tennessee instead has one of the highest combined sales tax rates in the country.
The other states without a tax on wages are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. If you live in Tennessee but work in a state that taxes income, that state usually taxes your wages there.
No Tennessee payroll deductions
Tennessee does not take disability, paid leave or unemployment contributions from employees. State unemployment insurance is paid by employers, so the only deductions from a Tennessee paycheck are federal taxes and anything you choose, such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance.
Local income taxes in Tennessee
Tennessee cities and counties do not tax wages.
Example: $60,000 salary in Tennessee
A single filer earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, with a standard 2026 W-4 and no 401(k) or health deductions:
| Every two weeks | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 | -$5,020.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 | -$3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 | -$870.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,938.08 | $50,390.00 |
With no Tennessee income tax and no state payroll contributions, nothing at all goes to the state. All taxes together take 16% of pay. Federal withholding is the 2026 single schedule: $60,000 less the $8,600 allowance gives $51,400, taxed at $1,240 plus 12% above $19,900, or $5,020 a year.
Take-home pay in Tennessee at different salaries
Yearly take-home pay for a single filer in Tennessee, paid every two weeks, with no pre-tax deductions or local tax. For a married couple filing jointly on $120,000, take-home pay is about $100,780 a year (16% in taxes).
| Salary | Tennessee tax | Take-home per year | Per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $0 | $26,285 | $1,010.96 |
| $45,000 | $0 | $38,338 | $1,474.52 |
| $60,000 | $0 | $50,390 | $1,938.08 |
| $80,000 | $0 | $65,110 | $2,504.23 |
| $100,000 | $0 | $79,180 | $3,045.38 |
| $150,000 | $0 | $113,791 | $4,376.58 |
| $250,000 | $0 | $183,182 | $7,045.46 |
How the Tennessee paycheck estimate works
Federal income tax follows IRS Publication 15-T for 2026: your paycheck is annualized, an allowance for the standard deduction is taken off, the 2026 withholding schedule for your filing status is applied, and W-4 credits and extra withholding are added back per paycheck. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 and Medicare 1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000.
No Tennessee income tax is calculated.
Take-home = Gross − pre-tax deductions − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare