The Transition-Year Tax Estimator
The year you go from resident to attending: gap months, signing bonus, relocation and payroll tax, all in one bill.
These are example numbers. Answer a few questions and every calculator fills in with yours, saved in this browser.
Residency
New job
July and August have no paycheck.
Adds self-employment tax when entered
Tax profile
Form 1040, line 24. Used for the safe-harbor check.
Over $150,000 raises the safe harbor to 110%.
Your 2026, month by month
- Resident · $32,500 , Jan–Jun
- No paycheck , Jul–Aug
- Attending · $100,000 , Sep–Dec
Estimated 2026 tax bill
$38,725
23.8% of $162,500 in wages, payroll tax included
- Federal income tax
- $26,294
- Social Security (6.2%)
- $10,075
- Medicare (1.45%)
- $2,356
- Texas income tax
- $0
Blended vs. full attending year
- This year (transition)
- 23.8%
- Next year ($300,000 all year)
- 25.4%
Your employer withholds as if you’ll earn $300,000 all year. With six resident months and two unpaid months, you’ll usually be over-withheld, so expect a refund, not a bill.
Withholding check
≈ $3,727 refund
- Withheld as resident (Jan–Jun)
- $2,810
- Withheld as attending (Sep–Dec)
- $20,611
- 22% flat on bonus + relocation
- $6,600
- Total withheld vs. $26,294 owed
- $30,021
Safe harbor: you’re covered
No underpayment penalty is possible if this year’s withholding covers 100% of last year’s tax, or 90% of this year’s. Last year you owed $5,552; you’ve already had $30,021 withheld.
Moonlighting income without withholding? Add it above and we’ll show whether a quarterly payment is needed.
Educational estimate using 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction and FICA from the shared tax engine. Withholding is approximated from annualized payroll; your pay stubs are the source of truth.