A bonus that pushes your annual income over $100,000 (or other key thresholds) is generally taxed as "supplemental wages," with a flat 22% federal withholding rate for amounts up to $1 million. While this may cause a lower immediate take-home amount than expected, the bonus does not change your tax bracket, only the amount taxed at that higher marginal rate.
Impact of a bonus taking your earnings over 100k
Not only will this bonus be taxed at 40% (leaving you with £600), but you also lose £500 from your tax-free personal allowance. To add insult to financial injury, that £500 will also be taxed at 40%, costing you another £200.
Percentage Method (Most Common) – The IRS requires a flat withholding rate of 22% for bonuses under $1 million (as of 2025). This means your employer will typically withhold 22% of your bonus for federal income taxes—regardless of your actual tax bracket.
You can't entirely avoid taxes on a bonus, but you can significantly lower the amount by contributing to tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA, HSA), deferring the bonus to a year you expect to be in a lower tax bracket, or making charitable donations, thereby reducing your taxable income or increasing deductions at tax time.
Before you start making plans to spend it, it's important to understand how that income will get taxed. Yes, your bonus money is taxable—typically 22% is withheld for taxes—and it's up to you to make sure the appropriate amount gets paid.
There are two approaches you could take. The first is increasing the amount you invest monthly. Bumping up your monthly contributions to $200 would put you over the $1 million mark. The other option would be to try to exceed a 7% annual return with your investments.
Since bonuses are paid in addition to your normal paycheck, taxes are withheld at a higher rate than your regular wages. This is because they are considered supplemental income.
Bonus contributed pre-tax to super
For example, tax on a $50,000 bonus: Paid to you and your marginal tax rate is 32.5% = $16,250. Paid to you and your marginal tax rate is 37% = $18,500.
By losing the allowance, it adds an extra 20% of tax (the basic rate) onto the income you earn between £100,000 and £125,140. For every £2 that you earn over £100,000, you lose £1 of your Personal Allowance. You also won't be eligible for additional rate tax until you earn a higher income over £125,141.
One of the most notable differences between bonuses and raises is the duration of the compensation. Bonuses are one-time, short-term financial rewards. A raise is an increase to your current salary for the foreseeable future and provides more long-term benefits.
The flat withholding rate for bonuses is 22% — except when those bonuses are above $1 million. If your employee's bonus exceeds $1 million, congratulations to both of you on your success! These large bonuses are taxed at a flat rate of 37%.
Make a Retirement Contribution
One of the most effective ways to reduce taxes on a bonus is to reduce your gross income with a contribution to a tax-deferred retirement account. This could be either a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA).
Bonuses under $1 million are typically taxed at a flat rate of 22%. Example: If you receive a bonus of $20,000, the flat federal tax rate of 22% would amount to $4,400. If you receive a bonus above $1 million, you'd pay the 22% rate on the first million. Beyond that, the rate jumps to 37%.
Employers in California, for example, withhold supplemental wages at a 10.2% state rate — meaning residents' bonuses would likely be withheld at a combined 32.2% state and federal rate, Barlow said.
If you are deferring income into a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), a portion of the bonus may be withheld for that as well. While there's no eliminating the tax burden of a bonus altogether, you might be able to lower it. Here are some ways to reduce the sting of taxes from your bonus: Reduce your taxable income.
Yes. Bonuses are taxed more than regular pay because they are considered supplemental income. They are always federally taxed, no matter which tax bracket you're in.
The "7-3-2 Rule" refers to two main concepts: a financial strategy for wealth building, suggesting it takes 7 years for the first major savings milestone, 3 years for the next, and 2 years for the third, driven by compounding and increasing investments; and a trucking rule (7/3 split) allowing drivers to split their 10-hour mandatory break into 7 hours in the sleeper berth and 3 hours of off-duty rest, offering flexibility.