Estimate Missouri Take-Home Pay, Including Local Earnings Tax
Calculate hourly or salary net pay using the official 2026 Missouri withholding formula, federal Form W-4 details, Social Security, Medicare, overtime, benefits, and the 1% Kansas City or St. Louis earnings tax when it applies.
Standard formula, Line 3 reduced withholding, and a valid exemption produce different paycheck results.
Kansas City, Missouri residents generally pay 1% on earned income; nonresidents generally pay on city-sourced work.
A St. Louis County address does not automatically make someone a City of St. Louis resident.
A nonresident working partly outside Missouri may need Form MO W-4A and a Missouri work percentage.
Missouri Hourly and Salary Paycheck Calculator
Use the visible fields first. Open the federal W-4 and year-to-date sections only when those details apply. The result estimates one representative paycheck and is not a tax-return calculation.
3. Federal Form W-4 details
4. Year-to-date FICA wages for the current check
Enter your details and calculate a representative Missouri paycheck.
Weekly, Biweekly, Semimonthly, Monthly and Annual Result
The live table converts the representative check into common budgeting periods. It assumes the same gross wages and deductions repeat throughout the year.
| Period | Estimated gross | Estimated net | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $0.00 | $0.00 | Hourly budgeting and short-term bills |
| Biweekly | $0.00 | $0.00 | A 26-check payroll schedule |
| Semimonthly | $0.00 | $0.00 | Two fixed pay dates per month |
| Monthly average | $0.00 | $0.00 | Rent, mortgage, and recurring bills |
| Annualized | $0.00 | $0.00 | Offer comparison and savings planning |
How to Get a More Accurate Missouri Paycheck Estimate
How Missouri Income-Tax Withholding Is Calculated
Missouri annualizes gross taxable wages, subtracts a standard deduction based on the MO W-4 filing-status choice, applies graduated rates, divides the result by the number of payroll periods, and requires the withheld amount to be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
Step 1: subtract the correct 2026 standard deduction
| MO W-4 selection | 2026 annual deduction | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 | Also used for married spouse works and married filing separate |
| Married — spouse does not work | $32,200 | This is a checkbox condition on MO W-4, not a separate tax-return filing status |
| Head of Household | $24,150 | Use only when that is the status selected on the form |
Step 2: apply the 2026 Missouri annual withholding brackets
| Annual Missouri taxable income layer | Rate on that layer | Calculation note |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$1,348 | 0.00% | No Missouri withholding on this first layer |
| $1,348.01–$2,696 | 2.00% | Apply only to this band |
| $2,696.01–$4,044 | 2.50% | Accumulate with earlier bands |
| $4,044.01–$5,392 | 3.00% | Marginal, not flat on all income |
| $5,392.01–$6,740 | 3.50% | Marginal band |
| $6,740.01–$8,088 | 4.00% | Marginal band |
| $8,088.01–$9,436 | 4.50% | Marginal band |
| Over $9,436 | 4.70% | Top withholding rate on the excess only |
MO W-4 Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4 are different instructions
- Line 2 additional withholding: adds a whole-dollar amount to the rounded standard calculation for every pay period.
- Line 3 reduced withholding: replaces the standard calculation with the exact amount entered by the employee. Select the Line 3 method in the calculator and enter that amount.
- Line 4 exemption: can apply only when a listed exemption condition is met. The ordinary no-liability exemption generally requires a new MO W-4 each year.
- No MO W-4 on file: the employer generally uses the single withholding status until a valid certificate is received.
Official 2026 Missouri formula example
The state PDF illustrates a married employee whose spouse works and who earns $35,000 annually. The $16,100 deduction leaves $18,900 of Missouri taxable wages. The annual formula produces $707.81; divided by 12 monthly pay periods, the official rounded withholding is $59 per month.
Separately paid overtime, bonus or supplemental wages
Missouri’s 2026 formula allows a separately paid supplemental or overtime payment to use a flat 4.7% Missouri withholding rate, or the employer may combine it with regular wages and apply the regular formula. When the payment is included with normal wages, the regular-pay formula applies to the total.
Open the official 2026 Missouri withholding formula PDF and review Form MO W-4 before changing payroll.
Missouri Local Earnings Tax: Who Pays the Extra 1%
Kansas City, Missouri and the City of St. Louis each impose a 1% earnings tax. For paycheck planning, the most important questions are whether you are a city resident and where a nonresident physically performed the work.
| Situation | Income generally subject to 1% | Calculator selection | Boundary warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, Missouri resident | Earned income even when work is outside the city | KC resident | Do not select for Kansas City, Kansas |
| Nonresident working in Kansas City, Missouri | Compensation earned inside KCMO city limits | KC nonresident plus in-city work percentage | A Kansas City postal address may not settle city-boundary status |
| City of St. Louis resident | Earned income regardless of employer location | St. Louis City resident | St. Louis County is not automatically the City of St. Louis |
| Nonresident working in the City of St. Louis | Compensation for work performed inside city limits | St. Louis nonresident plus supported in-city percentage | E-1R refund records use whole days worked outside the city and employer verification |
Kansas City resident and nonresident workflow
All Kansas City, Missouri residents are required to pay the earnings tax even when they work outside the city. Nonresidents pay on earned income sourced to work within Kansas City, Missouri. Retirement income such as Social Security, pensions, and retirement-account distributions is generally not earned income for this tax.
Check Kansas City earnings-tax coverage. If employer withholding did not fully satisfy the tax, or a refund is needed, review the city’s RD-109 and electronic-filing instructions after calculating the in-city share.
City of St. Louis resident, nonresident and remote-work workflow
City residents generally owe the 1% tax on earned income. A nonresident generally owes it on compensation for work performed in the city. A nonresident refund request uses Form E-1R, identifies whole days worked outside the city, and requires employer verification.
Review St. Louis individual earnings-tax rules and open the E-1R refund page.
Remote Work and Multistate Missouri Withholding
State withholding and city earnings tax are separate decisions. A worker can have Missouri-source wages without Kansas City or St. Louis tax, or local city tax without every wage dollar being Missouri-source in the same way.
| Work pattern | Missouri state withholding approach | Form or record | Calculator setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri resident working in Missouri | Standard Missouri withholding generally applies to covered wages | MO W-4 | All covered wages are Missouri-source |
| Nonresident performing all services in Missouri | Withhold as for a resident employee | MO W-4 and payroll records | All covered wages are Missouri-source |
| Nonresident working partly in and partly outside Missouri | Calculate full withholding, then apply the Missouri-source wage percentage | MO W-4A plus location/time records | Partial Missouri work + percentage |
| Nonresident performing all services outside Missouri | Wages are generally not subject to Missouri withholding | MO W-4A or employer documentation as applicable | All services outside Missouri |
| Missouri resident working in another state | Missouri withholding or an authorized out-of-state withholding arrangement may require review | MO W-4C and other-state records when applicable | Use employer payroll treatment; verify separately |
How the partial-state calculation works
The Missouri employer guide instructs payroll to calculate the full Missouri withholding amount, then multiply it by the percentage of wages attributable to services performed in Missouri. For example, a full $40 withholding amount at a 60% Missouri allocation becomes $24.
Open Form MO W-4A, review the 2026 Missouri Employer’s Tax Guide, and check Missouri nonresident filing guidance.
How the 2026 Federal W-4 Fields Change Net Pay
The calculator uses the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T automated percentage method for a 2020-or-later Form W-4. It annualizes taxable wages, applies Step 4 adjustments and the filing-status table, subtracts Step 3 credits, and adds Step 4(c) extra withholding.
| W-4 entry | Enter this | Typical effect | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1(c) | Status shown on the active W-4 | Selects a withholding schedule | Using a planned return status instead of the payroll form |
| Step 2 checkbox | Check only when checked on W-4 | Usually increases withholding for multiple-job households | Checking because the employee works overtime |
| Step 3 | Annual credit amount on the form | Reduces withholding across pay periods | Entering a per-check amount |
| Step 4(a) | Annual other income listed on W-4 | Increases withholding | Entering salary again |
| Step 4(b) | Annual deductions listed on W-4 | Reduces withholding | Double-counting payroll deductions |
| Step 4(c) | Extra dollars per paycheck | Adds the same amount to each check | Entering an annual amount |
Open the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator with recent pay stubs and the latest return available.
Missouri Paycheck Mini Tools
Use these focused tools for common follow-up questions without putting one-time payments or refund allocations into the recurring-paycheck inputs.
Hourly to Weekly and Annual Gross
Salary to Hourly Converter
Missouri Withholding Formula Check
1% Local Earnings-Tax Allocation
One-Time Bonus Withholding Helper
Minimum-Wage Gross Check
Net Pay Frequency Converter
Gross Needed for a Target Net Check
2026 Minimum Wage, Tipped Pay and Overtime
Missouri’s state minimum wage is $15.00 per hour in 2026. Covered tipped employees must receive at least $7.50 per hour directly from the employer, and wages plus tips must reach at least $15.00 per hour.
| 2026 rule | Rate or formula | What to verify | Pay-stub action |
|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum wage | $15.00/hour | Coverage and any federal rule that is more protective | Divide straight-time gross by covered straight-time hours |
| Tipped cash wage | At least $7.50/hour plus enough to reach $15.00 with tips | Reported tips, tip credit, and make-up pay | Compare cash wage and tips for each workweek |
| Overtime | Generally 1.5× regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek | Exemption status and regular-rate components | Check workweek hours, not only daily hours |
| Tipped overtime floor | Total overtime value at least $22.50; maximum tip credit remains $7.50 | Employer cash payment and actual tips | Check that the employer makes up any shortfall |
| Public works prevailing wage | Occupation- and county-specific on covered public works over $75,000 | Project coverage and annual wage order | Do not substitute the ordinary $15 rate |
“No tax on overtime” does not make an overtime paycheck tax-free
A federal return deduction may apply to qualified FLSA overtime premium compensation, subject to limits and phaseouts. Payroll generally still withholds federal income tax, Missouri tax, city earnings tax when applicable, Social Security, and Medicare when the overtime is paid.
Verify Missouri’s 2026 minimum-wage and tipped-pay rules and review Missouri overtime guidance.
Missouri Final Paycheck and Wage-Complaint Steps
Missouri’s official guidance distinguishes termination from resignation. The state also warns that Missouri does not have a general wage-collection law authorizing a state agency to litigate every back-wage claim for an employee.
Missouri guidance says wages are due at termination. If unpaid, the worker should request the wages by certified mail with return receipt; the employer has seven days to respond.
The Labor Department says Missouri law does not set a specific final-wage deadline for a resignation. If unpaid by the next regular pay period, collection may require legal action.
Missouri does not generally require vacation, holiday, or severance pay unless an employer contract or policy creates the right.
Before contacting payroll or filing a complaint
If an employer lowers the hourly rate or salary
Missouri requires at least 30 days of advance written notice before an employer reduces an employee’s wage rate. The notice rule does not prevent an employer from reducing scheduled hours or moving an employee to a different position with different duties, and the new rate still cannot violate applicable minimum-wage law.
Review Missouri’s wage-reduction notice guidance before comparing the old and new rate.
Read the terminated-worker final-pay guidance, check the resignation guidance, and open the minimum-wage complaint page.
How Common Deductions Affect Taxable Wages
The employer’s plan document and payroll coding control. Use this table to choose the calculator field, then verify the treatment on the actual pay stub.
| Typical deduction | Federal/Missouri wages | FICA wages | Calculator entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k) | Often reduced | Usually not reduced | Pre-tax; income-tax wages only |
| Qualified Section 125 medical premium | Often reduced | Often reduced | Pre-tax; also reduce FICA when confirmed |
| HSA through cafeteria plan | May be reduced | May be reduced | Confirm payroll tax treatment |
| Roth retirement contribution | Usually not reduced | Usually not reduced | Post-tax |
| Garnishment or child support | Usually not reduced | Usually not reduced | Post-tax |
| Union dues or after-tax insurance | Usually not reduced | Usually not reduced | Post-tax |
Why Your Missouri Paycheck Does Not Match the Calculator
| Different line | Check first | Likely explanation | Question for payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | Rate, hours, overtime, tips, commission | Timecard or regular-rate issue | “Which hours and pay codes produced this gross?” |
| Federal taxable wages | 401(k), health, HSA/FSA, fringe benefits | Benefit reduces some taxes but not others | “Which deductions reduced federal taxable wages?” |
| Federal withholding | W-4 status and Steps 2–4 | Active W-4 differs from entries | “What W-4 settings were used?” |
| Missouri withholding | MO W-4 status, Line 2, Line 3, exemption, rounding | Different status or reduced-withholding instruction | “What MO W-4 status and line amounts are active?” |
| KC/St. Louis tax | Residence, city boundary, physical workdays | Resident rule, nonresident sourcing, or overwithholding | “What city location and work allocation did payroll use?” |
| Social Security | Year-to-date Social Security wages | Wage-base limit reached or different FICA wages | “What are my YTD Social Security wages?” |
| Medicare | YTD Medicare wages and $200,000 threshold | Additional Medicare started | “How much is regular versus Additional Medicare?” |
| Bonus check | Separate versus aggregate method | Employer combined bonus with regular wages | “Which supplemental-wage method was used?” |
Official Missouri, City and Federal Payroll Resources
Use these sources before changing withholding, filing a refund, disputing wages, or submitting a complaint.
Annual deductions, brackets, whole-dollar rounding, and supplemental-pay methods.
Open the formula PDFDaily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly wage-bracket tables.
Open the official tablesFiling status, Line 2 extra withholding, Line 3 reduced withholding, and exemptions.
Open the employee certificateNonresident certificate and percentage allocation for work partly inside Missouri.
Open the allocation formNonresident allocation, taxable wages, filing status, and employer procedures.
Open the official guideOfficial Department of Revenue planning tool.
Use MyTax MissouriCoverage for residents, nonresidents, earned income, and filing.
Open KCMO guidanceRD-109 and individual city filing information.
Open KCMO formsResident, nonresident, partial-year, workday, penalty, and refund rules.
Open city guidanceForm E-1R for employer-verified whole days worked outside the city.
Open E-1R information2026 $15 rate, tipped pay, coverage, posters, and complaints.
Open Labor StandardsOnline minimum-wage and overtime complaint workflow.
Open the complaint pageOfficial explanation of the 30-day advance written-notice rule.
Review the notice rule2026 federal wage-bracket and percentage-method withholding.
Read Publication 15-TOfficial 2026 contribution base and employee rate.
Check the SSA wage baseCompare Missouri Take-Home Pay with Other States
Use the same gross pay, W-4 details, pay frequency, and benefit deductions before comparing locations. Then add housing, transportation, insurance, and other living costs outside the paycheck.
Compare Missouri state and city withholding with a state that has no personal state income tax.
Open the Texas paycheck calculatorCompare Missouri’s withholding and local tax with California state tax and payroll deductions.
Open the California paycheck calculatorMissouri Paycheck Calculator FAQs
What is the Missouri income-tax withholding rate in 2026?
Missouri’s 2026 withholding formula uses graduated annual rates from 0% through 4.7% after subtracting the standard deduction associated with the employee’s MO W-4 filing-status choice.
Does Missouri have local income tax on paychecks?
Kansas City, Missouri and the City of St. Louis each impose a 1% earnings tax. Residents generally pay on earned income regardless of where they work, while nonresidents generally pay on compensation earned for work inside the city.
Do St. Louis County residents automatically pay the St. Louis City earnings tax?
No. St. Louis County and the independent City of St. Louis are different jurisdictions. A county resident may owe the city tax when working inside the City of St. Louis, but the county address alone does not make the person a city resident.
Does Kansas City earnings tax apply to Kansas City, Kansas?
No. This page’s Kansas City earnings-tax calculation is for Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City, Kansas is in another state and has different tax rules.
How does remote work affect the 1% city earnings tax?
City residents generally remain taxable on earned income even when working elsewhere. A nonresident generally allocates wages based on work performed inside the city, but city-specific workday, employer-verification, refund, and filing rules control the final result.
Does MO W-4 Line 3 replace the normal Missouri withholding calculation?
Yes. Line 3 tells the employer to use the exact reduced withholding amount entered for each pay period instead of the standard Missouri formula. Line 2 works differently because it adds an amount to standard withholding.
How is Missouri withholding allocated for a nonresident remote worker?
When a nonresident performs services partly inside and partly outside Missouri, payroll generally calculates the full Missouri withholding amount and multiplies it by the percentage of wages attributable to Missouri services. Form MO W-4A and work-location records support the allocation.
Are wages subject to Missouri withholding when a nonresident works entirely outside Missouri?
Generally, no. Missouri’s withholding rule says a nonresident employee who performs all services outside Missouri is not subject to Missouri wage withholding, although employer documentation and the employee’s overall filing situation should still be reviewed.
What is Missouri’s minimum wage in 2026?
Missouri’s statewide minimum wage is $15.00 per hour in 2026. Covered tipped employees must receive at least $7.50 per hour directly from the employer, and cash wages plus tips must reach at least $15.00 per hour.
Does the calculator support both hourly and salary pay?
Yes. Hourly mode uses regular and overtime hours. Salary mode converts an annual salary into weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly payroll.
Does this calculator use the 2026 federal W-4 method?
It uses the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T automated percentage method for a 2020-or-later Form W-4, including filing status, the Step 2 checkbox, Step 3 credits, Step 4(a) other income, Step 4(b) deductions, and Step 4(c) extra withholding.
How does Missouri withhold tax from a separately paid bonus?
Missouri’s 2026 formula allows a separately paid supplemental or overtime payment to use a flat 4.7% Missouri withholding rate, or the employer may combine the payment with regular wages and apply the normal formula.
Does the estimate stop Social Security at the 2026 wage base?
Yes. The current-check calculation uses the $184,500 wage base and can use year-to-date Social Security wages entered by the user. Medicare has no wage cap.
When is a final paycheck due after termination in Missouri?
Missouri Labor guidance says wages are due at termination. If they are not paid, the former employee should request the wages by certified mail with return receipt; the employer then has seven days to respond.
When is a final paycheck due if an employee quits?
The Missouri Labor Department says state law does not specify a final-wage deadline for an employee who quits. If wages are not paid by the next regular pay period, collection may require legal action.
Why is my actual Missouri paycheck different from the estimate?
Differences commonly come from gross hours, MO W-4 method, Line 2 or Line 3, Missouri-source allocation, whole-dollar state rounding, city residence or work allocation, federal W-4 settings, benefits, bonuses, tips, and year-to-date FICA wages.
Is this official tax, payroll, or legal advice?
No. It is a planning tool. Use the Missouri Department of Revenue, Missouri Department of Labor, Kansas City Finance Department, St. Louis Earnings Tax Department, IRS, SSA, employer payroll records, or a qualified professional for an official decision.