Notice 1036 (12-2015) EARLY RELEASE COPIES OF 2016 PERCENTAGE METHOD TABLES FOR INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING
Notice 1036 (12-2015)
- Institutional AuthorsInternal Revenue Service
- Jurisdictions
- LanguageEnglish
Future Developments
For the latest information about developments related to Notice 1036, such as legislation enacted after it was published, go to http://www.irs.gov/notice1036.
Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding
Attached are early release copies of the Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding that will appear in Pub. 15, Employer's Tax Guide (For use in 2016). Pub. 15 will be posted on IRS.gov in December 2015.
The wage amounts shown in the Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding are net wages after the deduction for total withholding allowances. The withholding allowance amounts by payroll period have changed. For 2016, they are:
One Withholding
Payroll Period
Allowance
Weekly $77.90
Biweekly 155.80
Semimonthly 168.80
Monthly 337.50
Quarterly 1,012.50
Semiannually 2,025.00
Annually 4,050.00
Daily or Miscellaneous 15.60
(each day of the payroll period)
When employers use the Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding, the tax for the pay period may be rounded to the nearest dollar. (If rounding is used, it must be used consistently.) Withheld tax amounts should be rounded to the nearest dollar by dropping amounts under 50 cents and increasing amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next higher dollar. For example, $2.30 becomes $2 and $2.50 becomes $3.
Withholding Adjustment for Nonresident Aliens
For 2016, apply the procedure discussed below to figure the amount of income tax to withhold from the wages of nonresident alien employees performing services within the United States.
Note. Nonresident alien students from India and business apprentices from India aren't subject to this procedure.
Instructions. To figure how much income tax to withhold from the wages paid to a nonresident alien employee performing services in the United States, use the following steps.
Step 1. Add to the wages paid to the nonresident alien employee for the payroll period the amount shown in the chart below for the applicable payroll period.
Amount to Add to Nonresident Alien Employee's Wages for Calculating Income Tax Withholding Only
Payroll Period Add Additional
Weekly $43.30
Biweekly 86.50
Semimonthly 93.80
Monthly 187.50
Quarterly 562.50
Semiannually 1,125.00
Annually 2,250.00
Daily or Miscellaneous 8.70
(each day of the payroll period)
Step 2.
Use the amount figured in
Step 1and the number of withholding allowances claimed (generally limited to one allowance) to figure income tax withholding. Determine the value of withholding allowances by multiplying the number of withholding allowances claimed by the appropriate amount in the table shown earlier. Reduce the amount figured in
Step 1by the value of withholding allowances and use that reduced amount to determine the wages subject to income tax withholding. Figure the income tax withholding using the Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding provided on pages 3 and 4. Alternatively, you can figure the income tax withholding using the Wage Bracket Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding included in
Pub. 15(For use in 2016).
Social Security and Medicare Tax for 2016
For social security, the tax rate is 6.2% each for the employee and employer, unchanged from 2015. The social security wage base limit is $118,500, unchanged from 2015. The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% each for the employee and employer, unchanged from 2015. There is no wage base limit for Medicare tax.
Additional Medicare Tax Withholding
In addition to withholding Medicare tax at 1.45%, you must withhold a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax from wages you pay to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year. You are required to begin withholding Additional Medicare Tax in the pay period in which you pay wages in excess of $200,000 to an employee and continue to withhold it each pay period until the end of the calendar year. Additional Medicare Tax is only imposed on the employee. There is no employer share of Additional Medicare Tax. All wages that are subject to Medicare tax are subject to Additional Medicare Tax withholding if paid in excess of the $200,000 withholding threshold. For more information on what wages are subject to Medicare tax, see the chart, Special Rules for Various Types of Services and Payments, in section 15 of Pub. 15. For more information on Additional Medicare Tax, visit IRS.gov and enter "Additional Medicare Tax" in the search box.
Withholding on Supplemental Wages
See section Pub. 15 for the definition of supplemental wages.
Withholding on supplemental wages when an employee receives $1 million or less of supplemental wages during the calendar year. If the supplemental wages paid to the employee during the calendar year are less than or equal to $1 million, the following rules apply in determining the amount of income tax to be withheld.
Supplemental wages combined with regular wages. If you pay supplemental wages with regular wages but don't specify the amount of each, withhold federal income tax as if the total were a single payment for a regular payroll period.
Supplemental wages identified separately from regular wages. If you pay supplemental wages separately (or combine them in a single payment and specify the amount of each), the federal income tax withholding method depends partly on whether you withhold income tax from your employee's regular wages.
1. If you withheld income tax from an employee's regular wages in the current or immediately preceding calendar year, you can use one of the following methods for the supplemental wages.
a. Withhold a flat 25% (no other percentage allowed).
b. If the supplemental wages are paid concurrently with regular wages, add the supplemental wages to the concurrently paid regular wages. If there are no concurrently paid regular wages, add the supplemental wages to alternatively, either the regular wages paid or to be paid for the current payroll period or the regular wages paid for the preceding payroll period. Figure the income tax withholding as if the total of the regular wages and supplemental wages is a single payment. Subtract the tax withheld from the regular wages. Withhold the remaining tax from the supplemental wages. If there were other payments of supplemental wages paid during the payroll period made before the current payment of supplemental wages, aggregate all the payments of supplemental wages paid during the payroll period with the regular wages paid during the payroll period, calculate the tax on the total, subtract the tax already withheld from the regular wages and the previous supplemental wage payments, and withhold the remaining tax.
2. If you didn't withhold income tax from the employee's regular wages in the current or immediately preceding calendar year, use method 1-b. This would occur, for example, when the value of the employee's withholding allowances claimed on Form W-4 is more than the wages.
Withholding on supplemental wages when an employee receives more than $1 million of supplemental wages during the calendar year.
If a supplemental wage payment, together with other supplemental wage payments made to the employee during the calendar year, exceeds $1 million, the excess is subject to withholding at 39.6% (or the highest rate of income tax for the year). Withhold using the 39.6% rate without regard to the employee's Form W-4.
Regardless of the method you use to withhold income tax on supplemental wages, they are subject to social security, Medicare, and FUTA taxes. Examples of withholding on supplemental wage payments are included in section Pub. 15.
You generally must withhold 28% of certain taxable payments if the payee fails to furnish you with his or her correct taxpayer identification number (TIN). This withholding is referred to as "backup withholding."
For more information on backup withholding, including the types of payments subject to backup withholding, see Nonpayroll Income Tax Withholding in Pub. 15.
Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding
(For Wages Paid in 2016)
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TABLE 1 -- WEEKLY Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $43 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$43 -- $222 $0.00 plus 10% -- $43
$222 -- $767 $17.90 plus 15% -- $222
$767 -- $1,796 $99.65 plus 25% -- $767
$1,796 -- $3,700 $356.90 plus 28% -- $1,796
$3,700 -- $7,992 $890.02 plus 33% -- $3,700
$7,992 -- $8,025 $2,306.38 plus 35% -- $7,992
$8,025 $2,317.93 plus 39.6% -- $8,025
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $164 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$164 -- $521 $0.00 plus 10% -- $164
$521 -- $1,613 $35.70 plus 15% -- $521
$1,613 -- $3,086 $199.50 plus 25% -- $1,613
$3,086 -- $4,615 $567.75 plus 28% -- $3,086
$4,615 -- $8,113 $995.87 plus 33% -- $4,615
$8,113 -- $9,144 $2,150.21 plus 35% -- $8,113
$9,144 $2,511.06 plus 39.6% -- $9,144
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TABLE 2 -- BIWEEKLY Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $87 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$87 -- $443 $0.00 plus 10% -- $87
$443 -- $1,535 $35.60 plus 15% -- $443
$1,535 -- $3,592 $199.40 plus 25% -- $1,535
$3,592 -- $7,400 $713.65 plus 28% -- $3,592
$7,400 -- $15,985 $1,779.89 plus 33% -- $7,400
$15,985 -- $16,050 $4,612.94 plus 35% -- $15,985
$16,050 $4,635.69 plus 39.6% -- $16,050
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $329 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$329 -- $1,042 $0.00 plus 10% -- $329
$1,042 -- $3,225 $71.30 plus 15% -- $1,042
$3,225 -- $6,171 $398.75 plus 25% -- $3,225
$6,171 -- $9,231 $1,135.25 plus 28% -- $6,171
$9,231 -- $16,227 $1,992.05 plus 33% -- $9,231
$16,227 -- $18,288 $4,300.73 plus 35% -- $16,227
$18,288 $5,022.08 plus 39.6% -- $18,288
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TABLE 3 -- SEMIMONTHLY Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $94 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$94 -- $480 $0.00 plus 10% -- $94
$480 -- $1,663 $38.60 plus 15% -- $480
$1,663 -- $3,892 $216.05 plus 25% -- $1,663
$3,892 -- $8,017 $773.30 plus 28% -- $3,892
$8,017 -- $17,317 $1,928.30 plus 33% -- $8,017
$17,317 -- $17,388 $4,997.30 plus 35% -- $17,317
$17,388 $5,022.15 plus 39.6% -- $17,388
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $356 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$356 -- $1,129 $0.00 plus 10% -- $356
$1,129 -- $3,494 $77.30 plus 15% -- $1,129
$3,494 -- $6,685 $432.05 plus 25% -- $3,494
$6,685 -- $10,000 $1,229.80 plus 28% -- $6,685
$10,000 -- $17,579 $2,158.00 plus 33% -- $10,000
$17,579 -- $19,813 $4,659.07 plus 35% -- $17,579
$19,813 $5,440.97 plus 39.6% -- $19,813
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TABLE 4 -- MONTHLY Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $188 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$188 -- $960 $0.00 plus 10% -- $188
$960 -- $3,325 $77.20 plus 15% -- $960
$3,325 -- $7,783 $431.95 plus 25% -- $3,325
$7,783 -- $16,033 $1,546.45 plus 28% -- $7,783
$16,033 -- $34,633 $3,856.45 plus 33% -- $16,033
$34,633 -- $34,775 $9,994.45 plus 35% -- $34,633
$34,775 $10,044.15 plus 39.6% -- $34,775
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $713 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$713 -- $2,258 $0.00 plus 10% -- $713
$2,258 -- $6,988 $154.50 plus 15% -- $2,258
$6,988 -- $13,371 $864.00 plus 25% -- $6,988
$13,371 -- $20,000 $2,459.75 plus 28% -- $13,371
$20,000 -- $35,158 $4,315.87 plus 33% -- $20,000
$35,158 -- $39,625 $9,318.01 plus 35% -- $35,158
$39,625 $10,881.46 plus 39.6% -- $39,625
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TABLE 5 -- QUARTERLY Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $563 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$563 -- $2,881 $0.00 plus 10% -- $563
$2,881 -- $9,975 $231.80 plus 15% -- $2,881
$9,975 -- $23,350 $1,295.90 plus 25% -- $9,975
$23,350 -- $48,100 $4,639.65 plus 28% -- $23,350
$48,100 -- $103,900 $11,569.65 plus 33% -- $48,100
$103,900 -- $104,325 $29,983.65 plus 35% -- $103,900
$104,325 $30,132.40 plus 39.6% -- $104,325
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $2,138 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$2,138 -- $6,775 $0.00 plus 10% -- $2,138
$6,775 -- $20,963 $463.70 plus 15% -- $6,775
$20,963 -- $40,113 $2,591.90 plus 25% -- $20,963
$40,113 -- $60,000 $7,379.40 plus 28% -- $40,113
$60,000 -- $105,475 $12,947.76 plus 33% -- $60,000
$105,475 -- $118,875 $27,954.51 plus 35% -- $105,475
$118,875 $32,644.51 plus 39.6% -- $118,875
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TABLE 6 -- SEMIANNUAL Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $1,125 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$1,125 -- $5,763 $0.00 plus 10% -- $1,125
$5,763 -- $19,950 $463.80 plus 15% -- $5,763
$19,950 -- $46,700 $2,591.85 plus 25% -- $19,950
$46,700 -- $96,200 $9,279.35 plus 28% -- $46,700
$96,200 -- $207,800 $23,139.35 plus 33% -- $96,200
$207,800 -- $208,650 $59,967.35 plus 35% -- $207,800
$208,650 $60,264.85 plus 39.6% -- $208,650
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $4,275 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$4,275 -- $13,550 $0.00 plus 10% -- $4,275
$13,550 -- $41,925 $927.50 plus 15% -- $13,550
$41,925 -- $80,225 $5,183.75 plus 25% -- $41,925
$80,225 -- $120,000 $14,758.75 plus 28% -- $80,225
$120,000 -- $210,950 $25,895.75 plus 33% -- $120,000
$210,950 -- $237,750 $55,909.25 plus 35% -- $210,950
$237,750 $65,289.25 plus 39.6% -- $237,750
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TABLE 7 -- ANNUAL Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $2,250 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$2,250 -- $11,525 $0.00 plus 10% -- $2,250
$11,525 -- $39,900 $927.50 plus 15% -- $11,525
$39,900 -- $93,400 $5,183.75 plus 25% -- $39,900
$93,400 -- $192,400 $18,558.75 plus 28% -- $93,400
$192,400 -- $415,600 $46,278.75 plus 33% -- $192,400
$415,600 -- $417,300 $119,934.75 plus 35% -- $415,600
$417,300 $120,529.75 plus 39.6% -- $417,300
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding The amount of income tax
allowances) is: to withhold is:
Not over $8,550 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$8,550 -- $27,100 $0.00 plus 10% -- $8,550
$27,100 -- $83,850 $1,855.00 plus 15% -- $27,100
$83,850 -- $160,450 $10,367.50 plus 25% -- $83,850
$160,450 -- $240,000 $29,517.50 plus 28% -- $160,450
$240,000 -- $421,900 $51,791.50 plus 33% -- $240,000
$421,900 -- $475,500 $111,818.50 plus 35% -- $421,900
$475,500 $130,578.50 plus 39.6% -- $475,500
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TABLE 8 -- DAILY or MISCELLANEOUS Payroll Period
(a) SINGLE person
(including head of household) --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding
allowances) divided by the
number of days in the payroll The amount of income tax
period is: to withhold per day is:
Not over $8.70 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$8.70 -- $44.30 $0.00 plus 10% -- $8.70
$44.30 -- $153.50 $3.56 plus 15% -- $44.30
$153.50 -- $359.20 $19.94 plus 25% -- $153.50
$359.20 -- $740.00 $71.37 plus 28% -- $359.20
$740.00 -- $1,598.50 $177.99 plus 33% -- $740.00
$1,598.50 -- $1,605.00 $461.30 plus 35% -- $1,598.50
$1,605.00 $463.58 plus 39.6% -- $1,605.00
(b) MARRIED person --
If the amount of wages (after
subtracting withholding
allowances) divided by the
number of days in the payroll The amount of income tax
period is: to withhold per day is:
Not over $32.90 $0
of excess
Over -- But not over -- over --
$32.90 -- $104.20 $0.00 plus 10% -- $32.90
$104.20 -- $322.50 $7.13 plus 15% -- $104.20
$322.50 -- $617.10 $39.88 plus 25% -- $322.50
$617.10 -- $923.10 $113.53 plus 28% -- $617.10
$923.10 -- $1,622.70 $199.21 plus 33% -- $923.10
$1,622.70 -- $1,828.80 $430.08 plus 35% -- $1,622.70
$1,828.80 $502.22 plus 39.6% -- $1,828.80
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- Institutional AuthorsInternal Revenue Service
- Jurisdictions
- LanguageEnglish
