Wisconsin income tax brackets for 2026
Wisconsin taxes wages at rates from 3.5% to 7.65%. The rates apply to taxable income: your wages after pre-tax deductions and the deductions and exemptions shown below.
| Single: taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $15,110 | 3.5% |
| $15,110 to $51,950 | 4.4% |
| $51,950 to $332,720 | 5.3% |
| Over $332,720 | 7.65% |
| Married filing jointly: taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $20,150 | 3.5% |
| $20,150 to $69,260 | 4.4% |
| $69,260 to $443,630 | 5.3% |
| Over $443,630 | 7.65% |
Deductions, exemptions and credits
| Standard deduction | $13,960 single · $25,840 married (shrinks at higher incomes) |
|---|---|
| Personal exemption | $700 single · $1,400 married |
| Dependent exemption | $700 each |
- Wisconsin has four brackets from 3.5% to 7.65%; the 2025 budget widened the 4.4% bracket.
- Its sliding-scale standard deduction is large at low incomes ($13,960 for single filers) and falls to zero at about $136,000, so it mostly helps lower earners.
No Wisconsin payroll deductions
Wisconsin does not take disability, paid leave or unemployment contributions from employees. State unemployment insurance is paid by employers, so the only deductions from a Wisconsin paycheck are federal taxes, Wisconsin income tax and anything you choose, such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance.
Local income taxes in Wisconsin
Wisconsin cities and counties do not tax wages.
Example: $60,000 salary in Wisconsin
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 |
| Wisconsin income tax | -$79.60 | -$2,069.54 |
| Take-home pay | $1,858.48 | $48,320.46 |
Wisconsin income tax is about $2,069.54 a year here, 3.45% of gross pay. All taxes together take 19.5% 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 Wisconsin at different salaries
Yearly take-home pay for a single filer in Wisconsin, 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 $95,715 a year (20.2% in taxes).
| Salary | Wisconsin tax | Take-home per year | Per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $591 | $25,694 | $988.23 |
| $45,000 | $1,330 | $37,007 | $1,423.35 |
| $60,000 | $2,070 | $48,320 | $1,858.48 |
| $80,000 | $3,240 | $61,870 | $2,379.60 |
| $100,000 | $4,428 | $74,752 | $2,875.10 |
| $150,000 | $7,309 | $106,482 | $4,095.45 |
| $250,000 | $12,609 | $170,573 | $6,560.49 |
How the Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin tax is estimated for the whole year: wages after pre-tax deductions, less the standard deduction, less exemptions, run through the brackets above, then divided by the number of paychecks.
Wisconsin tax = Brackets(Wages − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction − exemptions)