What is the no tax on overtime calculator 2026?
In short
A worker earning $25/hour with 10 overtime hours a week for 50 weeks deducts $6,250 — the half-time premium portion of $18,750 in time-and-a-half pay — saving about $1,375 of federal tax in the 22% bracket. The deduction caps at $12,500 ($25,000 joint) and phases out above $150,000 MAGI.
This calculator computes your OBBBA overtime deduction for tax years 2025–2028: it isolates the deductible half-time premium from your total time-and-a-half pay, applies the $12,500/$25,000 cap and the $150,000/$300,000 MAGI phase-out, and shows the real federal tax savings at your bracket — plus the 7.65% FICA that still comes out of every overtime dollar.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter your regular hourly rate — not the time-and-a-half rate.
- 2Enter average overtime hours per week and how many weeks you work overtime.
- 3Enter total income (all wages including overtime) — this drives the phase-out and your tax bracket.
- 4Pick your filing status; the cap is $12,500 single / $25,000 married filing jointly.
- 5Read the deduction, the federal tax saved, and the FICA that still applies.
The formula
- premium
- — The extra half-time portion of time-and-a-half — the only part that is deductible
- cap
- — $12,500 single / $25,000 married filing jointly (per year)
- threshold
- — $150,000 single / $300,000 joint MAGI — deduction shrinks $100 per $1,000 above it
Worked example
The scenario
The result
Common use cases
- Hourly workers estimating what the 2025–2028 overtime deduction is actually worth before picking up extra shifts
- Couples near the $300,000 MAGI line checking how much of the deduction survives the phase-out
- Payroll and HR teams explaining why overtime paychecks still show FICA withholding
Limitations & assumptions
- Only the federally required FLSA half-time premium qualifies — double-time, state-only overtime rules, and contractual premiums above 1.5× are not modeled.
- The phase-out is modeled as a continuous 10% of MAGI excess ($100 per $1,000); the IRS worksheet rounds by $1,000 steps.
- The bracket estimate assumes the standard deduction; FICA uses the flat 7.65% (the Social Security portion actually stops at the $176,100 wage base).
- W-2s report qualified overtime separately starting TY2026 — only separately-reported overtime is deductible.
Frequently asked questions
Is overtime completely tax-free now?
How much tax does the overtime deduction save me?
What is the income limit for the overtime deduction?
Do I need to itemize to claim it?
Which years does the overtime deduction apply to?
Disclaimer: KalkWise calculators are provided for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the figures you enter and the assumptions described above. Actual outcomes will vary. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.