Georgia paycheck taxes at a glance
| State income tax | Flat 4.99% |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $15,000 single, $30,000 joint |
| Per dependent | $5,000 exemption |
| Pre-tax deductions | 401(k), HSA and health premiums lower state tax too |
| Local income tax | None on wages |
| State payroll deductions | None |
| Reciprocity | None |
| Figures | Tax year 2026 |
Every paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), worked out with the same 2026 IRS figures as ourmain paycheck calculator.
Worked examples
A $70,000 salary in Atlanta, single, paid every two weeks
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,692.31 | $70,000 |
| Federal income tax | − $252.69 | − $6,570 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $205.96 | − $5,355 |
| Georgia income tax | − $105.56 | − $2,745 |
| Take-home pay | $2,128.10 | $55,331 |
Single, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Georgia taxable income is $55,000 and the state tax is $2,745, an effective 3.921% of gross pay. Only $55,000 is taxed after the new $15,000 standard deduction, so the 4.99% rate works out to under 4% of gross pay.
A $120,000 household in Savannah, married filing jointly with two children
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $4,615.38 | $120,000 |
| 401(k) at 6% | − $276.92 | − $7,200 |
| Federal income tax | − $183.69 | − $4,776 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $353.08 | − $9,180 |
| Georgia income tax | − $139.72 | − $3,633 |
| Take-home pay | $3,661.97 | $95,211 |
Married filing jointly, 2 children, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Georgia taxable income is $72,800 and the state tax is $3,633, an effective 3.027% of gross pay. The $30,000 joint deduction, two $5,000 dependent deductions and the 401(k) deferral together shelter more than a third of this salary from Georgia tax.
What changed in 2026
Governor Kemp signed HB 463 on May 11, 2026. It lowered the flat rate from 5.19% to 4.99%, raised the standard deduction from $12,000 to $15,000 ($24,000 to $30,000 for joint filers) and raised the dependent deduction from $4,000 to $5,000, all retroactive to January 1, 2026. Georgia has had no personal exemption since 2024, so the standard and dependent deductions are the only amounts subtracted before the rate applies.
Why your 2026 withholding may run high
Employers had to keep withholding at 5.19% until the law took effect and could switch to the new 4.99% tables from May 11, 2026. Pay stubs from early 2026 therefore took out more Georgia tax than you will owe for the year. This calculator shows the tax for the full year at the new rules, so expect the difference back as a refund when you file.
Tips and overtime: a limited Georgia version
Georgia did not adopt the federal tip and overtime deductions. Instead HB 463 created smaller Georgia subtractions for qualified overtime pay and qualified cash tips, with a $1,750 limit noted in the Department of Revenue’s 2026 employer guide. You claim them on your return; employers do not reduce withholding for them, and this calculator does not include them.
No local income tax and no reciprocity
Atlanta, Savannah and every other Georgia city and county leave wages alone; local governments rely on property and sales taxes. Georgia has no reciprocal agreements, so if you live in Alabama or South Carolina and work in Georgia, Georgia taxes those wages. Living in Florida and working in Georgia still means paying Georgia tax.
Georgia vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary, single, no pre-tax deductions and no local tax:
| State | Income tax | State tax + programs | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Flat 4.99% | $2,994 | $58,599 |
| Florida | None on wages | $0 | $61,593 |
| Alabama | 2% to 5% (3 brackets) | $3,127 | $58,466 |
| Tennessee | None on wages | $0 | $61,593 |
| North Carolina | Flat 3.99% | $2,484 | $59,109 |
| South Carolina | 1.99% to 5.21% (2 brackets) | $2,657 | $58,935 |
Where you work and where you live can both matter. See paycheck calculators for every state for the full comparison.