Vermont Bonus Paycheck Calculator
A bonus paid in Vermont is withheld at the flat 22% federal supplemental rate in 2026 (37% on amounts above $1 million), plus FICA of 7.65% and Vermont's graduated income tax (3.35% to 8.75%). Your final tax bill is settled when you file, not at withholding.
How are bonuses taxed in Vermont?
In Vermont, your employer withholds a flat 22% federal supplemental rate and 7.65% FICA, plus Vermont's graduated income tax (3.35% to 8.75%), so roughly 30–35% of a bonus is typically withheld up front. Withholding isn't your final tax: at filing time a bonus is ordinary income, so any over-withholding comes back as a refund. Against the 3 states Vermont borders, the same a $10,000 bonus is worth $6,375 here: New Hampshire keeps $660 more ($7,035), Massachusetts keeps $114 more ($6,489) and New York keeps $77 more ($6,452). Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York are the only borders worth crossing for the tax alone.
Calculate your exact bonus take-home pay
Your bonus take-home
$3,188
from $5,000 bonusFor a $5,000 bonus · Vermont · single
Estimate based on 2026 federal and Vermont tax rules updated Oct 2026 How we calculate
Your details
Taxation method
Most common: a flat 22% federal rate is withheld on the bonus.
More options Base salary
Your details
Bonus Amount
Enter your one-time bonus payment
Taxation Method
Choose how your bonus is taxed
Most employers use the flat supplemental rate method (22% federal withholding).
More options Base salary (for graduated states and the marginal method)
Base Salary
Optional: needed only to estimate state withholding in states with graduated rates
Location
Where you work
Filing Status
Your tax filing status
Your bonus take-home
$3,188
from $5,000 bonus
For a $5,000 bonus · Vermont · single
Tax breakdown
You keep
64¢of every dollar
Your average dollar keeps 64¢.
Tax rates
Estimate based on 2026 federal and Vermont tax rules updated Oct 2026 How we calculate
What a bonus is actually worth in Vermont
On top of a $75,000 salary in Vermont, here is what each extra dollar survives federal tax, Vermont income tax and FICA in 2026:
| Bonus | Gross | Vermont tax | You keep | Share kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 bonus | $5,000 | $330 | $3,188 | 63.7% |
| $10,000 bonus | $10,000 | $660 | $6,375 | 63.7% |
| $25,000 bonus | $25,000 | $1,650 | $15,937 | 63.7% |
Vermont takes about 6.6% of that money on top of the 22% federal marginal rate and 7.65% FICA.
How Vermont ranks on bonuses
Across all 50 states and DC, Vermont ranks 43rd for what a $10,000 bonus leaves in 2026, tied with 1 other state that levy no income tax on wages. That is $190 less than the median state ($6,565), and $358 more than California, where the same a $10,000 bonus leaves $6,017.
The best outcome anywhere is $7,035 in Alaska and the other states with no wage income tax, $660 more than Vermont keeps.
Vermont bonuses against the states next door
Crossing a state line changes what the same bonus is worth without changing what you are paid. Here is a $10,000 bonus in Vermont against the states it borders:
| State | State income tax | You keep | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $660 | $6,375 | — |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $6,489 | $114 more |
| New Hampshire | None | $7,035 | $660 more |
| New York | $540 | $6,452 | $77 more |
How Vermont bonus withholding works
Short answer: your employer withholds a flat 22% for federal income tax (the supplemental rate), plus 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare, plus Vermont withholding on top: typically 30–35% of a Vermont bonus withheld up front. Bonuses aren't actually taxed at a higher rate, though: at tax time they're ordinary income, and any over-withholding comes back in your refund. Here's how each piece works. Vermont is not alone: Delaware leave exactly the same $6,375.
- Federal supplemental rate: Most employers withhold federal income tax from bonuses at a flat 22%, $2,200 on a $10,000 bonus, or 37% above $1 million a year, regardless of your regular bracket.
- Vermont state tax: Bonus income is ultimately taxed through Vermont's graduated income tax (3.35% to 8.75%). The calculator estimates the Vermont share based on your inputs.
- FICA taxes still apply: Social Security (6.2% up to the annual wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% for high earners) come out of a bonus like any wage: $765 on $10,000.
- Over-withholding is common: The flat 22% federal rate is often higher than your actual effective rate, and the difference comes back as a refund. In Vermont the whole $10,000 nets $6,375 once state tax and FICA are in.
Your actual bonus tax depends on your total annual income, not the bonus alone: these figures assume a $75,000 Vermont salary. Enter your own numbers above for an estimate that fits your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically 30–35%: a flat 22% federal supplemental withholding, 7.65% FICA, and Vermont's graduated income tax (3.35% to 8.75%). Your actual tax owed depends on your full-year income and may be lower: the difference comes back as a refund when you file.
The IRS requires employers to withhold federal income tax from supplemental wages (including bonuses) at a flat 22% rate for amounts up to $1 million, rising to 37% above that. Your employer may alternatively add the bonus to your regular paycheck and withhold using the aggregate method. Worked through for Vermont: a $10,000 bonus keeps $6,375: 63.7% of it, after $660 of Vermont income tax.
It depends on your total annual income and tax bracket. If the 22% flat withholding rate is higher than your actual effective rate on the bonus, you'll get the difference back as a refund; if you're in a higher bracket, you may owe more. On a $75,000 salary in Vermont, a bonus is taxed at about 22% federally plus 6.6% to Vermont, so the 22% flat rate is close to the mark at that income.
Yes: as regular income. Some employers withhold Vermont tax on bonuses at a supplemental rate, but what you ultimately owe is determined by Vermont's graduated income tax (3.35% to 8.75%) applied to your full-year income.
Splitting a bonus across pay periods can reduce withholding if your employer uses the aggregate method, which annualizes your income, but it changes the timing, not the amount you ultimately owe. Where you live changes the amount: Vermont ranks 43 of 51 on what a $10,000 bonus leaves, against $6,565 in the median state and $6,017 in California.
Against the 3 states Vermont borders, the same a $10,000 bonus is worth $6,375 here: New Hampshire keeps $660 more ($7,035), Massachusetts keeps $114 more ($6,489) and New York keeps $77 more ($6,452). Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York are the only borders worth crossing for the tax alone. Vermont is not alone: Delaware leave exactly the same $6,375.
Vermont's first bracket covers $44,700-$74,600 (unusually large), meaning most middle-income earners pay the same 3.35% rate on most of their income. However, the starting rate of 3.35% is higher than many progressive states, which means even lower earners pay more than they might expect. A $100,000 earner pays an effective rate around 5%-6.5% (approximately $5,000-$6,500 annually), while the same earner in a flat-tax state like Pennsylvania would pay $3,070 (3.07% flat, though PA may have local EIT).
Related Tools
- Vermont Take-Home Pay Calculator: Calculate regular paycheck take-home pay in Vermont
- Why Are Bonuses Taxed Higher?: Full explanation of how bonus withholding works
- Bonus Tax Calculator: Bonus take-home pay after withholding, for any state