Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator

Use Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator to estimate net or “take home” pay for salaried employees. Simply input salary details, benefits and deductions, and any other necessary information as prompted below, and let our tool handle the rest.

What Are Payroll Taxes?

Payroll taxes withheld from employee paychecks fund Social Security and Medicare, to which the employer also makes payroll tax contributions.

The Social Security tax is paid by both the employee and the employer at a rate of 6.2% of the employee’s wages. The Medicare tax is also paid by both employee and employer, but at a rate of 1.45%.

Employers are also required to pay taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) and the State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA). The employer must also collect federal income tax from employee paychecks, and pay that amount to the IRS. The rate is determined by the employee’s tax bracket.

Each state also has specific state payroll taxes that must be withheld and paid.

Wisconsin Payroll Taxes

In addition to Social Security and Medicare, Wisconsin assesses state income tax and state unemployment taxes (SUTA). 

State Income Tax

The state of Wisconsin has a rather complex income tax system, ranging from 3.54% to 7.65%, depending on your tax bracket. 

Employers are required to withhold state income taxes from their employees’ wages. Refer to Wisconsin’s withholding tax guide for more information on how to make proper calculations.

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

State unemployment tax is an employer-paid tax and not withheld from employees. SUTA tax rates in Wisconsin range from 0% to 12% for established businesses. The rate for new businesses in Wisconsin is 3.05%. 

The current SUTA taxable wage base in Wisconsin is $14,000. 

Paying Payroll Taxes

Just as you need an EIN to pay federal payroll taxes, in Wisconsin you’ll need to register for state withholdings. Wisconsin employers are required to annually file and submit Form WT-7.

Employers can file and pay  withholdings at the Department of Revenue’s My Tax Account or TeleFile.

Employers can file and pay SUTA taxes through the Department of Workforce Development website.

Using a Payroll Tax Service

In Wisconsin, payroll and payroll taxes come with countless laws and restrictions, which is why many business owners turn to a payroll service provider to ensure their business remains fully compliant. It’s usually less expensive than creating a new staff position for managing payroll, and relatively easy.  

You’ll just send over your digital timesheets and relevant information and the service provider will take care of the calculations, payments and taxes, freeing you up to focus on growing your business. 

We highly recommend hiring a payroll service — as a busy entrepreneur, you won’t regret it!