Tax Calculator 2026

The 2026 federal income tax brackets follow the TCJA rates made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. There are 7 brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. For single filers, the 10% bracket applies to income up to $11,925, the 12% bracket covers $11,926–$48,475, and the top 37% bracket kicks in above $626,350. Married Filing Jointly thresholds are roughly double.

For 2026, the standard deduction is $15,200 for Single filers, $30,400 for Married Filing Jointly, and $22,800 for Head of Household. Most taxpayers benefit from taking the standard deduction rather than itemizing, since the SALT deduction cap is $40,000.

Self-employment (SE) tax is 15.3% — split into 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. However, it's calculated on only 92.35% of your net SE income, not 100%. The Social Security portion applies only up to the wage base of $176,100. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to earnings above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ). You can deduct 50% of your SE tax from your adjusted gross income.

Your marginal tax rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of income — the highest bracket you fall into. Your effective tax rate is the average rate across all your income (total tax divided by total income). For example, if you earn $75,000 as a single filer, your marginal rate is 22%, but your effective federal rate is around 12.5% because your first $11,925 is taxed at just 10%.

Nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live or work in one of these states, you only pay federal income tax and FICA/SE tax, which can save you 5–13% depending on which taxing state you'd otherwise be in.

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) tax for W-2 employees is split between you and your employer. Your share is 7.65%: 6.2% for Social Security (on wages up to $176,100) and 1.45% for Medicare (no cap). An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages above $200,000. Your employer pays a matching 7.65%, but that doesn't come out of your paycheck.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) rates were made permanent in 2025 by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This means the lower individual rates (10%–37%) continue indefinitely. The SALT deduction cap was raised from $10,000 to $40,000. The standard deduction remains elevated. Without this legislation, rates would have reverted to pre-2018 levels with a top rate of 39.6%.

This calculator provides estimates based on 2026 federal tax brackets, standard/itemized deductions, FICA rates, self-employment tax rules, and state income tax rates. It covers all 50 states and D.C. However, it does not account for every credit, exemption, or deduction (such as QBI deduction, child tax credits, or AMT). For precise filing, consult a tax professional or use IRS-approved software.