GEORGIA PAYCHECK CALCULATOR 2026
Georgia taxes income at a flat 5.19% — confirmed by the Georgia Department of Revenue for Tax Year 2026. Georgia applies a generous state standard deduction of $12,000 (Single) or $24,000 (MFJ) before the rate kicks in. There are no local income taxes anywhere in Georgia. Social Security is fully exempt; retirement and pension income is excluded up to $65,000 for taxpayers age 65+. Note: a pending legislative proposal (HB 1001) would cut the rate to 4.99% retroactively to January 2026 — this has not yet been enacted as of this page. Use the calculator to estimate your Georgia take-home pay now.
CALCULATE YOUR GEORGIA NET PAY
Flat 5.19% GA state tax · $12,000 / $24,000 standard deduction · No local taxes · 2026 verified data
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EVERY DEDUCTION ON A GEORGIA PAYCHECK IN 2026
Georgia paychecks have just four deduction lines — one of the simplest in the country. No local tax, no PFML, no SDI:
- Federal Income Tax — Progressive 10%–37% brackets applied after the 2026 federal standard deduction ($16,100 Single / $32,200 MFJ / $24,150 HOH). Note this is the federal deduction, which is higher than Georgia's state deduction.
- Social Security — 6.2% of gross wages up to the $176,100 annual wage base. Wages above this are SS-exempt for the rest of the year.
- Medicare — 1.45% on all wages with no cap. An additional 0.9% surtax applies to wages above $200,000.
- Georgia State Income Tax — Flat 5.19% on Georgia taxable income. Georgia taxable income equals Georgia adjusted gross income minus the Georgia standard deduction ($12,000 Single / $24,000 MFJ) — which is Georgia's own amount, not the federal figure.
Example — Single, $70,000 gross wages (2026):
GA Taxable = $70,000 − $12,000 (GA std ded) = $58,000
GA State Tax: $58,000 × 5.19% = $3,010.20
Effective GA rate on gross wages = 4.30%
GEORGIA STANDARD DEDUCTION — STATE VS FEDERAL
Georgia has its own state standard deduction that differs significantly from the federal amounts. Many taxpayers are surprised to learn their Georgia taxable income is higher than their federal taxable income — even though both use a "standard deduction" — because Georgia's deduction is much smaller:
| Filing Status | Georgia Std Deduction | Federal Std Deduction (2026) | Georgia Taxes More By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $12,000 | $16,100 | $4,100 more income taxed |
| Married Filing Jointly | $24,000 | $32,200 | $8,200 more income taxed |
| Head of Household | $12,000 | $24,150 | $12,150 more income taxed |
For a Single filer, Georgia taxes an extra $4,100 of income compared to the federal return. At 5.19%, this gap costs approximately $213 more in state tax per year compared to what would be owed if Georgia matched the federal standard deduction. Married couples filing jointly pay $8,200 more in Georgia-taxable income, costing roughly $426 extra per year.
GEORGIA'S FLAT TAX RATE REDUCTION SCHEDULE
| Tax Year | Georgia Flat Rate | Change | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 (and prior) | 5.75% (top of 6 brackets) | — | Pre-reform |
| 2023 | 5.75% | No change | HB 1437 (2022) transition |
| 2024 | 5.49% | −0.26 pp | HB 1437 — flat rate enacted |
| 2025 | 5.39% | −0.10 pp | HB 1437 automatic reduction |
| 2026 | 5.19% | −0.20 pp | HB 1437 — confirmed by GA DOR |
| 2027 | 5.09% (projected) | −0.10 pp | HB 1437 schedule (revenue-conditional) |
| 2028 | 4.99% (projected) | −0.10 pp | HB 1437 schedule |
| 2026 (proposed) | 4.99% (if HB 1001 passes) | Accelerated | HB 1001 — NOT yet enacted |
GEORGIA RETIREMENT INCOME EXEMPTIONS — 2026
| Income Type | Georgia Treatment (2026) | Age / Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security benefits | Fully exempt — not included in GA AGI | Any age, no income limit |
| Pension / retirement income | Up to $35,000 excluded per taxpayer | Age 62–64 |
| Pension / retirement income | Up to $65,000 excluded per taxpayer | Age 65 and older |
| Military retirement (under 62) | Up to $17,500 excluded | Under age 62 |
| Military retirement (under 62, with earned income) | Up to $35,000 excluded (if ≥$17,500 earned income) | Under age 62 |
| Military retirement (age 62+) | Qualifies for general retirement exclusion — up to $65,000 | Age 62 and older |
| IRA / 401(k) distributions | Counts toward retirement exclusion limit ($35k/$65k) | Age 62+ applies |
| Dependent deduction | $4,000 per qualifying dependent | No age limit |
| Personal exemption | $12,000 Single / $20,000 MFJ (2026) | All filers — built into withholding tables |
Georgia's combined retirement income exclusion makes it one of the most retirement-friendly states in the Southeast. A married couple age 65+ can exclude up to $130,000 in combined retirement income ($65,000 each) from Georgia tax — plus their Social Security, which is fully exempt. On a combined retirement income of $150,000, a Georgia couple age 65+ might pay Georgia income tax on only $20,000 of it.
GEORGIA VS SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORS — $70,000 TAKE-HOME
| State | Tax Structure (2026) | State Tax on $70k (Single) | Est. Annual Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Flat 5.19% | ~$3,010 | ~$54,863 |
| Florida | No state income tax | $0 | ~$57,873 |
| Tennessee | No state income tax | $0 | ~$57,873 |
| Alabama | Progressive up to 5% | ~$2,877 | ~$54,996 |
| North Carolina | Flat 4.25% | ~$2,296 | ~$55,577 |
| South Carolina | Progressive up to 6.2% | ~$3,201 | ~$54,672 |
| Mississippi | 0% first $10k / 4% above | ~$2,400 | ~$55,473 |
| Virginia | Progressive up to 5.75% | ~$3,186 | ~$54,687 |
| Kentucky | Flat 4.0% | ~$2,576 | ~$55,297 |
2026 FEDERAL TAX BRACKETS — SINGLE FILERS
| Federal Taxable Income (Single, 2026) | Federal Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $11,925 | 10% |
| $11,926 – $48,475 | 12% |
| $48,476 – $103,350 | 22% |
| $103,351 – $197,300 | 24% |
| $197,301 – $250,525 | 32% |
| $250,526 – $626,350 | 35% |
| Above $626,350 | 37% |
GEORGIA PAYCHECK CALCULATOR — FAQs
What is Georgia's income tax rate in 2026?
Georgia's flat income tax rate is 5.19% for 2026, confirmed by the Georgia Department of Revenue. Governor Kemp proposed accelerating a cut to 4.99% retroactively to January 2026 via House Bill 1001, but this has not been enacted into law as of this page. Under the existing HB 1437 schedule, the rate is projected to continue declining — to approximately 5.09% in 2027 and 4.99% in 2028 — subject to revenue conditions.
What is Georgia's standard deduction?
Georgia's state standard deduction is $12,000 for Single filers and $24,000 for Married Filing Jointly in 2026 — unchanged from 2025. These are Georgia's own amounts, separate from the federal standard deduction ($16,100 Single / $32,200 MFJ). Georgia's deduction is lower, so Georgia taxes a larger share of income than federal returns do.
Does Georgia have local income taxes?
No. Georgia does not permit local income taxes anywhere in the state. No city, county, or municipality — including Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, or Columbus — levies a local income tax on wages or salaries.
Is Social Security or retirement income taxed in Georgia?
Social Security is fully exempt from Georgia income tax at all ages and income levels. Retirement and pension income (401k, IRA, pension, annuity) is excluded up to $35,000 per taxpayer for ages 62–64 and up to $65,000 for ages 65+. Military retirement receives its own exclusion of up to $17,500 (or $35,000 with matching earned income) for those under 62. Married couples filing jointly each get their own retirement exclusion separately.
How much will I take home on a $70,000 salary in Georgia?
Single filer at $70,000: GA taxable income = $58,000 ($70,000 − $12,000 GA std ded). GA state tax = $58,000 × 5.19% = $3,010.20. Combined with ~$6,772 federal tax and ~$5,355 FICA, estimated annual take-home: ~$54,863 (~$4,572/month). Same calculation applies statewide — no local taxes anywhere in Georgia.
Run your Georgia estimate again anytime: Georgia Paycheck Calculator 2026