Alaska Bonus Tax Calculator
Data compiled and maintained by Edmond Daher · Updated 2026-06-16
Your Alaska bonus is ordinary income; the payday deduction is a flat withholding prepayment, not a higher rate. Alaska takes no state income tax (it runs on oil revenues and the Permanent Fund), so only the flat 22% federal prepayment and FICA come out. Enter your numbers to see what's held back now beside what the bonus will really cost when you file, and your refund or amount owed. Everything runs in your browser.
The quick take: a stand-alone Alaska bonus has a flat 22% federal tax withheld, 0% for state tax (Alaska has no income tax), plus 7.65% FICA. Treat it as money on account. The real tax is your marginal rate, reconciled on your return; the tool below shows the gap either way.
Estimate only, not tax advice — terms.
Alaska vs. Washington, Oregon and Hawaii: bonus withholding compared
Take a $10,000 bonus for someone on $70,000 and compare Alaska with bordering Washington, Oregon and Hawaii:
| State | Bonus method | State withheld | Total withheld |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | no state income tax | $0 | $2,965 |
| Washington | no state income tax | $0 | $2,965 |
| Oregon | flat 8% | $800 | $3,765 |
| Hawaii | aggregate method | $760 | $3,725 |
Totals stack federal 22%, state, and FICA for a single filer — the actual income tax lands when the return is filed.
No Alaska bonus tax: where does the missing money go?
A bonus doesn't trigger a different tax — just a flat withholding up front. When you file, it's folded into your income and taxed at your marginal rate through the normal brackets. If your real rate sits under 22%, the surplus refunds; if it runs above, you cover the shortfall. On the $18,000 example below, roughly $1,810 is over-withheld and comes back to you at filing. The one piece that never refunds is FICA (7.65%) — a genuine tax, not a prepayment.
Breaking down the withholding on a Alaska bonus
Federal withholding on a bonus. The IRS default holds back a flat 22% for federal income tax when the bonus is separate from your regular pay (IRS Pub 15). A mandatory 37% hits supplemental pay beyond $1,000,000 a year; neither figure is a special "bonus" rate, both are withholding defaults.
No state line in Alaska. Alaska doesn't tax wage income, so your bonus keeps every state dollar — the withholding you see is purely federal 22% plus FICA. Alaska levies neither a state income tax nor a statewide sales tax, and it pays eligible residents an annual Permanent Fund Dividend from oil revenues.
FICA: withheld and owed. Social Security and Medicare take 7.65% of the bonus — a true tax, not a prepayment. Neither piece refunds at filing, so both columns of the tool show it unchanged; the income-tax withholding is the only part that trues up.
Working out a whole paycheck? See the Alaska paycheck calculator.
$28,000 salary, $18,000 bonus: the Alaska withholding-vs.-tax breakdown
Here's how a $18,000 bonus plays out for a single filer making $28,000 in Alaska:
- On the check: the employer holds back $3,960 for federal, $0 state, and $1,377 for FICA — $5,337 in all (29.6% of the bonus), leaving about $12,663.
- The real bill: at filing the bonus is taxed roughly $2,150 in income tax (federal $2,150), with the identical $1,377 FICA on top.
- The gap: about $1,810 of income-tax over-withholding comes back as a refund when you file. FICA ($1,377) stays either way — it's a real tax.
A single-filer illustration only — drop your real salary, bonus, and filing status into the tool above for your figure.
Alaska bonus tax FAQ
How much tax comes out of a bonus in Alaska?
Nothing goes to Alaska, which has no income tax. Federal withholding is a flat 22% on a separately paid bonus (37% past $1,000,000 a year) and FICA is 7.65% — the 22% is a prepayment that trues up at filing.
Are bonuses taxed at a higher rate in Alaska?
No. A bonus is ordinary income taxed at your normal marginal rate when you file; the flat 22% withheld is a prepayment, not a tax rate.
Why might I owe tax on my Alaska bonus at filing?
Because 22% is only a prepayment. If your true marginal rate is above 22% (high earners), the flat withholding falls short and you owe the rest; below 22%, you're over-withheld and get money back.
Does Alaska tax my bonus at all?
Alaska charges no state income tax on it. You still owe federal income tax (a flat 22% is withheld, trued up at filing) and FICA on the bonus.
Bonus tax calculators near Alaska
Alaska paycheck calculator · all state bonus tax calculators →
Sources
- IRS Publication 15 (2026) — Supplemental Wages (flat 22% / 37% above $1M)
- Alaska income-tax status & rate: see the Alaska paycheck calculator sources (state DOR, verified 2026-06-16).