What tax year do these brackets use?

The 2026 IRS brackets from Revenue Procedure 2025-32, shown in a visible tax year label in the tool.

What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?

Marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income; effective rate is your total tax divided by total income — always lower than the marginal rate.

Does this include state income tax?

No. This tool covers federal tax only. Use the Paycheck Calculator for a combined federal, state, and FICA estimate.

Should I include the standard deduction?

Yes, unless you plan to itemize deductions instead. The toggle lets you compare both scenarios.

Does this calculate self-employment tax?

No. Self-employed filers should also check the Self-Employment Tax Calculator for Social Security and Medicare tax on net earnings.

Why is my effective rate so much lower than my bracket?

Because only income above each threshold is taxed at that threshold's rate — lower brackets still apply to your first dollars of income.

Are these brackets the same every year?

No. The IRS adjusts bracket thresholds annually for inflation, so this tool is re-based on the latest published figures each tax year.

Can I use this for tax planning mid-year?

Yes. Many people use it to estimate year-end liability and adjust withholding or estimated payments accordingly.

Federal Income Tax Bracket Calculator

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Calculate US federal income tax by bracket, filing status, and taxable income.

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Tax Year: 2026

Gross IncomeFiling Status

Apply standard deduction (16,100)

Total Tax

7670.00

Marginal Rate

22%

Effective Rate

13.02%

Taxable income: 58900.00

Federal tax only. Uses 2026 IRS brackets. Not a substitute for professional tax advice.

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About Federal Income Tax Bracket Calculator

Federal Income Tax Bracket Calculator computes total US federal income tax owed using the progressive 2026 IRS bracket system for any filing status. Enter gross income and choose single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household to see exactly how much of your income falls into each bracket. The tool distinguishes marginal rate (the rate on your last dollar earned) from effective rate (the average rate across all your income), a distinction that trips up most people estimating their own taxes. A full per-bracket breakdown table shows precisely how much tax is owed at each rate, and the standard deduction toggle lets you compare taxable income before and after the deduction. Built on the same bracket engine used by the site's paycheck calculator, so results stay consistent across tools.

Key Features

Progressive Bracket Math
Taxes each slice of income at its own bracket rate rather than applying one flat rate to the whole amount.
All Four Filing Statuses
Covers single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, and head of household with their own bracket tables.
Marginal vs Effective Rate
Shows both your top bracket rate and your true blended average tax rate side by side.
Standard Deduction Toggle
Switch the 2026 standard deduction on or off to see taxable income calculated either way.
Per-Bracket Breakdown
Expandable table shows exactly how much income and tax fall into each of the seven brackets.
Visible Tax Year Label
A 2026 tax year badge keeps the source year obvious so results are never mistaken for a different year.

How to Use

1
Enter your gross income
Input your total income before any deductions for the year you want to estimate.
2
Choose your filing status
Select single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household.
3
Toggle the standard deduction
Leave it on to estimate real taxable income, or off to see tax on gross income directly.
4
Review your tax summary
Check total tax owed, marginal rate, and effective rate in the summary cards.
5
Open the bracket breakdown
Expand the table to see exactly how much tax applies at each bracket rate.

Real-World Use Cases

Year-End Tax Planning

A freelancer estimates total federal liability before year-end to decide whether to make an estimated tax payment.

Job Offer Comparison

A job seeker compares take-home impact of a raise that pushes part of their income into a higher bracket.

Withholding Sanity Check

An employee cross-checks their paycheck withholding against expected annual tax liability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Free Tools

Explore these tools that work great alongside Federal Income Tax Bracket Calculator:

Paycheck / Take-Home Pay Calculator

Estimate net take-home pay after federal tax, state tax, and FICA withholding.

401(k) / Retirement Growth Calculator

Project 401(k) balance at retirement including employer match and salary growth.

Compound Interest Calculator

Calculate future value with compound frequency and monthly contributions.