Missouri Bonus Tax Calculator 2025
Missouri Bonus Tax Rate 2025: How Are Bonuses Taxed in Missouri?
Bonuses in Missouri are taxed at a 22% federal rate for amounts under $1 million, plus Missouri state income taxes ranging from 2% to 4.7% in 2025.
Your bonus gets taxed the same as your regular pay, including income taxes, Medicare, and Social Security.
Federal Tax on Missouri Bonuses
The federal bonus tax rate is 22% for bonuses under $1 million. This is called the flat rate method.
Your employer takes out 22% right away when they pay your bonus.
If your total bonuses are higher than $1 million, the first $1 million gets taxed at 22%, and every dollar over that gets taxed at 37%.
Here’s how it works:
- Bonus under $1 million = 22% federal tax
- Bonus over $1 million = 22% on first $1 million, then 37% on the rest
Missouri State Tax on Bonuses
Missouri state income tax rates range from 0% to 4.7% in 2025. The top rate dropped from 4.8% to 4.7% effective January 1, 2025.
Your bonus gets added to your regular income for Missouri tax purposes. The more you make total, the higher your Missouri tax rate.
Missouri Tax Brackets for 2025:
- 0% on income up to certain thresholds
- 2% to 4.7% on higher income amounts
Other Taxes on Your Missouri Bonus
Besides income taxes, your bonus also gets hit with:
Social Security Tax: 6.2% (up to annual wage limit)
Medicare Tax: 1.45% (no limit)
Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% (if you make over $200,000)
Kansas City and St. Louis Extra Tax
If you work in Kansas City or St. Louis, you pay an extra 1% earnings tax. This applies to your bonus too.
So your total tax on a bonus could be:
- 22% federal
- Up to 4.7% Missouri state
- 1% city tax (KC or STL only)
- 7.65% Social Security and Medicare
How Your Employer Calculates Bonus Tax
Your employer can use two methods:
Flat Rate Method: They take out 22% federal tax right away. This is the most common way.
Aggregate Method: Your employer adds your bonus to your regular paycheck and uses the total amount to calculate withholding. This often means more tax gets taken out.
Will You Get Money Back?
The 22% flat rate is just withholding. It’s not your final tax bill.
When you file your tax return, you’ll calculate your real tax rate. If too much was taken out, you get a refund. If not enough was taken out, you owe more.
Your actual tax rate depends on your total income for the year.
Example: $5,000 Bonus in Missouri
Let’s say you get a $5,000 bonus:
- Federal tax withheld: $1,100 (22%)
- Missouri tax: $50-$235 (depends on your income)
- Social Security: $310 (6.2%)
- Medicare: $72.50 (1.45%)
- Total taxes: About $1,532-$1,717
- You take home: About $3,283-$3,468
Key Things to Remember
Your bonus is taxed as regular income on your tax return. The 22% withholding is just an estimate.
Missouri’s standard deduction for 2025 is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filing jointly. This helps reduce your taxable income.
Save some of your bonus for taxes if you think you’ll owe more when you file your return.