How Ohio taxes your paycheck
Ohio employers withhold state income tax with the Department of Taxation's tables that took effect August 1, 2026. Your yearly pay, minus $650 for each exemption on your Form IT 4, is withheld at 1.6% up to $26,050, 2.99% from there to $100,000 and 3.4% above $100,000.
Those are withholding rates, not the rates on your tax return. For 2026 Ohio charges no tax on taxable income of $26,050 or less, and $332 plus 2.75% of the amount over $26,050 above that. What is withheld from your pay counts toward that tax when you file.
Form IT 4 gives you one exemption for yourself unless someone else can claim you as a dependent, one for your spouse unless you are single or your spouse files a separate Ohio return, and one for each dependent. If you do not turn in an IT 4, your employer withholds as if you had no exemptions.
A traditional 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums lower your Ohio state withholding, because Ohio withholds on the pay that counts toward your adjusted gross income.
City income tax is withheld for the city or village where you work. The rate applies to your pay before 401(k) contributions are taken out; only pre-tax benefits such as health premiums are left out. Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo charge 2.5%, and Cincinnati charges 1.8%. If you live in a different city from the one you work in, your home city may tax your wages as well, and cities differ on how much credit they give for tax paid where you work. This calculator covers the city where you work.
School district income tax depends on where you live, not where you work. Your employer withholds it when the district you list on Form IT 4 has a tax. Most of these districts tax the same pay as the state, after your exemptions. Districts with an earned income tax do not subtract exemptions, so their tax comes out slightly higher than this calculator shows: up to $13 a year for each exemption.
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to wages up to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | No limit |
| Social Security | 6.2% | $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% (2.35% over $200,000) | No limit |
| Ohio income tax | 1.6% to 3.4% | No limit |
Ohio withholding rates
| Yearly taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $26,050 | 1.6% |
| $26,050 to $100,000 | 2.99% |
| Over $100,000 | 3.4% |
Taxable income here is your yearly pay after pre-tax deductions, minus $650 for each exemption.
Ohio city income taxes in this calculator
| City where you work | Local income tax |
|---|---|
| Akron | 2.5% |
| Cincinnati | 1.8% |
| Cleveland | 2.5% |
| Columbus | 2.5% |
| Dayton | 2.5% |
| Toledo | 2.5% |
| Another Ohio city or village | Set by the city |
| No city income tax | None |
Choose this if the city, village or township where you work has no income tax.
If you choose "Another Ohio city or village", the calculator starts with a 2% city income tax. Enter the income tax rate of the city or village where you work. Look up city and school district rates by address with The Finder
Some Ohio school districts tax the income of people who live in them, at rates from 0.25% to 2% in 2026. The calculator applies the rate you enter to the same pay as the state tax, after your exemptions, which is how most of these districts work.
How to use the Ohio paycheck calculator
Enter your salary, or your hourly wage and hours, choose how often you are paid and pick the filing status on your W-4. The calculator estimates your Ohio (OH) take-home pay for each paycheck and for the year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Ohio income tax and local taxes.
It follows the published withholding formulas that employers' payroll systems use, so it works as a paycheck estimator for a job offer, a raise or a change to your W-4. Open "401(k), benefits and W-4 details" to add pre-tax deductions, dependents or extra withholding. Your real paycheck can differ if your employer takes out deductions the calculator does not know about.
Ohio take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 with no dependents, no 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, in Ohio with one exemption on Form IT 4 and no city or school district income tax.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | Taxes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $991.13 | $25,769.53 | $4,230.47 |
| $40,000 | $1,288.67 | $33,505.53 | $6,494.47 |
| $50,000 | $1,586.22 | $41,241.53 | $8,758.47 |
| $60,000 | $1,883.74 | $48,977.53 | $11,022.47 |
| $75,000 | $2,297.36 | $59,731.53 | $15,268.47 |
| $100,000 | $2,945.05 | $76,571.53 | $23,428.47 |
| $150,000 | $4,210.97 | $109,485.19 | $40,514.81 |
| Hourly rate | Per week | Per year | Before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $513.42 | $26,697.85 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 an hour | $668.14 | $34,743.29 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 an hour | $822.86 | $42,788.73 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 an hour | $977.58 | $50,834.17 | $62,400 |
| $40.00 an hour | $1,254.91 | $65,255.05 | $83,200 |
| $50.00 an hour | $1,524.08 | $79,252.19 | $104,000 |
Ohio paycheck questions
What is the Ohio income tax rate on a paycheck in 2026?
Since August 1, 2026 employers withhold 1.6% of taxable pay up to $26,050 a year, 2.99% from $26,050 to $100,000 and 3.4% above $100,000. Taxable pay is your yearly pay minus $650 for each exemption on Form IT 4.
Why is more withheld than Ohio's 2.75% tax rate?
The withholding tables use their own rates. On your 2026 return, Ohio charges nothing on taxable income of $26,050 or less, and $332 plus 2.75% of the amount above $26,050 otherwise. Tax withheld during the year is credited against that amount when you file.
What is the city income tax in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati?
Columbus and Cleveland charge 2.5% and Cincinnati charges 1.8%. Employers withhold it from the wages you earn in the city.
Does a 401(k) lower my Ohio city income tax?
No. Ohio cities tax wages before 401(k) contributions are taken out. A 401(k) does lower your Ohio state withholding and your federal income tax.
Do I pay Ohio school district income tax?
Only if you live in a school district that has one. In 2026 the rates run from 0.25% to 2%. Enter your district on Form IT 4 and your employer withholds the tax; you can look up your district by address with The Finder on the Department of Taxation's website.
How many exemptions should I claim on Ohio Form IT 4?
One for yourself unless someone else can claim you as a dependent, one for your spouse unless you are single or your spouse files a separate Ohio return, and one for each dependent.
Sources
- Ohio Department of Taxation: employer withholding tables effective August 1, 2026, optional computer formula
- Ohio Department of Taxation: employer withholding
- Ohio Department of Taxation: Form IT 4, Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate
- Ohio Revised Code 5747.02, income tax rates
- Ohio Department of Taxation: school districts with an income tax for 2026
- Ohio Department of Taxation: 2026 employer and school district withholding tax filing guidelines
- Ohio Revised Code 718.01, qualifying wages for municipal income tax
- City of Columbus: general income tax information
- Central Collection Agency: 2026 employer's return of income tax withheld, with Cleveland's rate
- City of Cincinnati: income taxes
- City of Toledo: income tax rate
- City of Akron: income tax
- City of Dayton: tax information and forms
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base for 2026
- 2026 401(k) contribution limit
Tax figures last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we calculate