Mississippi Salary & Paycheck Calculator 2026

Withholding on a Mississippi paycheck flows through Form 89-350, the state's withholding exemption certificate. Mississippi's income-tax structure technically has progressive elements (0% on first $10,000 of taxable income, 4.7% above), but for any worker earning above ~$13,000 in wages the effective rate is 4.7% on most of their income. The state is on a glide path toward 4.0% by 2030 if revenue triggers fire. No local income tax in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, or anywhere else in Mississippi. The state's small standard deduction ($2,300 single) means Mississippi taxable income runs $13K+ higher than federal AGI for typical filers.

Take-home math at three tiers, Mississippi single filer 2026: $60,000 → about $4,400 federal + $4,590 FICA + $2,243 MS state (after $2,300 standard deduction + 0% first-$10K bracket) = $11,233 deductions, take-home $48,767 (81%). $100,000 → $11,800 federal + $7,650 FICA + $4,123 MS = $23,573, take-home $76,427 (76%). $150,000 → $24,000 federal + $9,275 FICA + $6,473 MS = $39,748, take-home $110,252 (74%). Mississippi's effective rates run higher than peer Southern states like Tennessee (0%) but lower than Alabama (5% effective) or South Carolina (6.4%). The lower cost-of-living (Jackson runs 12% below national average) compounds the take-home advantage.

Mississippi's tax structure is among the simpler in the country: flat top rate, federal-conforming for some deductions but not the standard deduction, no local income tax, no estate tax, no inheritance tax. Property tax averages 0.65% effective — among the lower rates in the US. Sales tax stacks 7% state + up to 1% local for ceilings around 8% — moderate. Mississippi exempts Social Security from state tax fully. The state also fully exempts qualified retirement income (401(k) withdrawals, IRA distributions, pensions) for retirees age 65+ — making Mississippi one of the more retiree-friendly Southern states despite the moderate income-tax burden during work years.

The single highest-leverage tactic for Mississippi W-2 earners is maxing pre-tax 401(k) and HSA, since Mississippi conforms to federal pre-tax treatment. A $24,500 401(k) deferral saves about $1,152 in Mississippi state tax. The bigger long-term lever for Mississippi residents is the retirement-income exemption — qualified retirement distributions (Social Security, 401(k), IRA, pensions) are fully exempt for retirees age 65+, making Mississippi notably retiree-friendly. Pre-retirement workers should plan to keep traditional retirement balances large enough to fully exploit the post-65 exemption window. Mississippi MACS 529 contributions earn a state deduction up to $10,000 single / $20,000 MFJ per beneficiary.