Gross-Up Calculator 2026: $1,500 → $1,811.88
The take-home calculator answers "what do I keep from this gross?". A gross-up answers the inverse: "what gross do I need so that this net lands in the bank?". Employers use it for relocation bonuses, taxable reimbursements, and offers quoted as a net number.
This tool inverts the same 2026 engines as the take-home paycheck calculator (IRS Pub 15-T percentage method + employee FICA) with a binary search to the nearest cent.
Read the evergreen explainer → · $3,000 net → $3,885.07
find G such that take-home(G) = target net
take-home(G) = G − 401(k) − other pre-tax − federal withholding(G) − FICA(G)
Worked example: $1,500 net → $1,811.88 gross
Single, biweekly (26), no 401(k), Step 2 unchecked, target net $1,500:
- Required gross: $1,811.88
- Federal withholding: $173.27
- FICA (SS + Medicare): $138.61
- Resulting take-home: $1,500.00
The $2,000 biweekly default from the take-home tool (net $1,651.15) round-trips: gross-up($1,651.15) recovers $2,000.00.
| Scenario (single, biweekly) | Target net | Required gross |
|---|---|---|
| Default hero | $1,500.00 | $1,811.88 |
| W-4 Step 2 checked | $1,500.00 | $1,890.82 |
| 10% traditional 401(k) | $1,500.00 | $2,034.71 |
| Step 3 credits $2,000/yr | $1,500.00 | $1,716.14 |
| Step 4(c) extra $50 | $1,500.00 | $1,874.10 |
| Round-trip from $2,000 gross | $1,651.15 | $2,000.00 |
Hero $1,500 breakdown
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Required gross | $1,811.88 |
| Federal income tax | $173.27 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $138.61 |
| Traditional 401(k) | $0.00 |
| Resulting take-home | $1,500.00 |
Other frequencies and filing status
| Case | Target net | Required gross |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly single, $750 | $750.00 | $905.95 |
| Monthly single, $3,000 | $3,000.00 | $3,614.59 |
| Biweekly married, $1,500 | $1,500.00 | $1,732.23 |
| Biweekly HoH, $1,500 | $1,500.00 | $1,760.56 |
| Biweekly married, $2,000 | $2,000.00 | $2,354.51 |
Inverts Pub 15-T + employee FICA. Supports W-4 Step 2, Step 3 credits, Step 4(c) extra withholding, SS wage-base YTD, and Additional Medicare 0.9%. No Roth 401(k) and no state or local tax. Educational estimate from IRS Pub 15-T (2026) and 26 U.S.C. § 3101; not tax advice.
Official sources
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026) — percentage method tables
- IRS Topic No. 751 — Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
Related tools (United States):
- Take-home paycheck calculator
- Federal income tax withholding calculator
- FICA calculator
- Bonus tax (supplemental wages)
It is the gross wages that produce a target take-home after taxes. If you want $1,500 net biweekly (single, no 401k), the engine needs $1,811.88 gross to cover federal withholding and FICA.
Yes. It inverts the 2026 Pub 15-T + FICA engine from the take-home tool. Gross-up(take-home($2,000)) recovers $2,000 when net is $1,651.15.
Roth 401(k) and state or local taxes. W-4 Step 2/3/4(c), SS YTD, and Additional Medicare 0.9% are supported. Educational estimate, not tax advice.