Why am being charged post tax deductions?

Asked by: Prof. Cassie Wyman  |  Last update: January 21, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (60 votes)

Post-tax deductions are payroll deductions taken out of an employee's paycheck after taxes have been withheld. Unlike pre-tax deductions, which reduce taxable income, post-tax deductions don't provide tax benefits, but they are essential for managing certain employee benefits and legal obligations.

Why am I paying post-tax deductions?

An after-tax deduction, also known as a post-tax deduction, is an amount of money that is subtracted from a taxpayer's earnings after taxes (federal, state, and local income, Social Security, and Medicare) are withheld. After-tax deductions can vary by state but may include: Roth 401(k) contributions.

Can you stop post-tax deductions?

Post-tax deductions

Common examples include Roth IRA retirement plans, disability insurance, union dues, donations to charity and wage garnishments. Employees can decline to participate in all post-tax deductions but wage garnishments.

Why would health insurance be post-tax?

post-tax health insurance. Again, most employer-sponsored health insurance is paid for using pre-tax gross income. However, employees can still have post-tax premium payments. Employees who purchase coverage through an insurance company and do not elect to enroll in employer-sponsored plans have post-tax premiums.

Which is better, pre or post-tax deductions?

Also, contributing pre-tax is better. Yes, you get a federal tax deduction either way, with pre-tax the savings are immediate, and with post-tax the savings are in April. But if you contribute pre-tax, you save SS and medicare tax too. Not so with post-tax.

What Is Post Tax Deduction On Paycheck? - CountyOffice.org

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Should I choose pre-tax or post-tax?

Try to estimate which one best reflects your present and future tax situation. If you expect your tax bracket to increase, the Roth contribution option will clearly make more financial sense. If you predict the reverse, pretax contributions will benefit you more in the long run.

How do you tell if a deduction is pre or post-tax?

Simply put, pre-tax means that premiums are deducted before taxes are calculated and deducted; after-tax means that premiums are deducted after taxes is calculated and deducted.

What is the meaning of post-tax?

Post-tax deductions, or after-tax deductions, are expenses or contributions subtracted from an employee's income after taxes have been withheld. Unlike pre-tax deductions, which are taken out before calculating income tax, post-tax deductions are applied after taxes are taken out of an employee's gross pay.

Can you deduct health insurance premiums without itemizing?

You may be able to deduct 100% of your health insurance premiums for yourself, your dependents or your spouse as a non-itemized deduction if you are self-employed. Report this amount on line 16 of the IRS Schedule 1 form.

Is it better to contribute to HSA pre or post-tax?

HSA Tax Advantages

All contributions to your HSA are tax-deducible, or if made through payroll deductions, are pre-tax which lowers your overall taxable income. Your contributions may be 100 percent tax-deductible, meaning contributions can be deducted from your gross income.

Are post-tax deductions may be either voluntary or mandatory?

Mandatory deductions are required by law and cannot be opted out of by the employee. Examples include federal taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), and child support payments. Voluntary deductions are not required by law and can be opted out of by the employee.

Do post-tax deductions reduce tax obligations?

A post-tax deduction is an amount withheld from an employee's paycheck after deducting all applicable taxes. These deductions do not reduce the employee's taxable income, making them different from pre-tax deductions, which are subtracted from gross income before tax computations.

Can I opt out of tax deductions?

Pretax deductions from your paycheck reduce your taxable income, which saves you money by reducing the amount of tax you pay. Because of the money saved, this is generally helpful for most people. However, you can elect to waive a pretax deduction and pay after-tax.

Is health insurance taken out of every paycheck?

Insurance Billing

The employee's insurance deductions occur in the month they are receiving insurance coverage. Those on a semimonthly pay frequency will see their medical, dental, and/or vision deductions split evenly over their two regularly scheduled paychecks in any given month.

Is critical illness insurance pre-tax or post-tax?

Any critical illness benefits totaling more than the costs incurred for medical care are generally taxable if the employee or employer paid the premium on a pre-tax basis.

Why is Social Security taxed twice?

“This is simply a way for Congress to obtain more revenue for the federal government at the expense of seniors who have already paid into Social Security.

Can I deduct post-tax health insurance premiums?

After-tax medical premiums are an alternative option if an individual doesn't want to participate in their employer's pre-tax plan or if their employer doesn't offer a pre-tax plan. When filing income taxes, you may be able to deduct these premiums.

What deductions can you take without itemizing?

You can deduct these expenses whether you take the standard deduction or itemize:
  • Alimony payments.
  • Business use of your car.
  • Business use of your home.
  • Money you put in an IRA.
  • Money you put in health savings accounts.
  • Penalties on early withdrawals from savings.
  • Student loan interest.
  • Teacher expenses.

Are dental bills tax deductible?

Medical expenses include dental expenses, and in this publication the term “medical expenses” is often used to refer to medical and dental expenses. You can deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040) only the part of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

Why do I have post tax deductions?

You take post-tax deductions (also called after-tax deductions) out of employee paychecks after taxes. Post-tax deductions have no effect on taxable wages and the amount of tax owed. Both pre-tax and post-tax deductions from payroll are voluntary deductions.

What is the difference between pretax and post tax deductions?

Post-tax deductions are expenses taken from an employee's net income after taxes have already been withdrawn. Unlike pre-tax deductions, post-tax deductions do not reduce taxable income. Companies use post-tax deductions for various reasons, including compliance with specific tax regulations or employee preferences.

What is post tax principle?

(4) Post Tax Principle: The post tax principle states that cash flows should be estimated after having taken taxes into consideration, meaning that cash flows are expressed post-taxes.

Is it better to do pre-tax or post-tax for health insurance?

Pre-tax contributions can reduce your overall tax burden now, but post-tax benefits can result in tax savings in the future. By working with a tax advisor and staying up to date on pre and post-tax benefits, common deductions, and your state and local taxation laws, you will save time and future headaches.

Is standard deduction pre-tax or post-tax?

All taxpayers with earned income, whether from a day job or side hustle, qualify to deduct a specific amount from their income before paying any taxes. For example, a single taxpayer earning US$40,000 a year and who had no children in the 2024 tax year would qualify for a standard deduction of $14,600.

What is the post-tax benefit?

Post-tax benefit contributions are taken from an employee's paycheck after taxes have already been deducted. This then means that the employer and employee will owe more income and employment tax, but the employee generally won't owe any income tax on the benefits when they use the plan in the future.