When a bonus hits and a big chunk seems to vanish, it's tempting to think bonuses are taxed at a punishing rate. They're not. A bonus is ordinary income — taxed at the same rates as your salary when you file. What's different is how it's withheldon the day you're paid.
Supplemental withholding: the 22% rule
The IRS treats bonuses as "supplemental wages." The most common method is flat 22% federal withholding on the bonus (38% on amounts over $1 million), separate from your regular paycheck. Social Security (6.2%, up to the wage base), Medicare (1.45%), and any state tax are withheld too — so a $10,000 bonus can arrive looking like ~$6,500–$7,000.
Why you might get some back
Withholding is just a prepayment. If your actual marginal rate is below 22% — say you're in the 12% bracket — too much was withheld, and you get the difference back at tax time. If you're in the 32%+ bracket, 22% withholding may be too little and you could owe more.
The aggregate method
Some employers instead lump the bonus into a regular paycheck and withhold as if you earn that much every period — which can withhold even more up front. Either way, the final tax owed is the same; only the timing of the refund or balance differs.
Estimate your real take-home
To approximate a bonus, add it to your annual salary in the paycheck calculator and compare the take-home difference — that shows the true tax on the extra income at your marginal rate, rather than the flat 22% withholding. For converting pay structures, the hourly-to-salary calculator helps too.