Your tax bracket is based on how much you make . When it comes time to file , it doesn ' t matter whether you get your bonus as a separate check or not , all that matters is your total amount of income . On the other hand , whether you get your bonus in a separate check or as part of your regular paycheck can affect how much is withheld at the time . It ' s common to withhold 25 % of a bonus check , which may be higher or lower than your actual tax bracket . In reality , unless you ' re getting a very large bonus , it ' s not going to make much of a difference , and it will all even out when you file , anyway . See here bonustaxedhigh 201412 <| sep |> Darn , thanks though ! <| sep |> Lol this is the most hilarious bullshit I ' ve ever heard