Estimate your US federal income tax using simplified 2026 brackets and standard deduction, for single or married filing jointly.
The US federal system is progressive: each bracket's rate only applies to the income within that bracket, not your whole income. This calculator subtracts the standard deduction first, then applies simplified 2026 bracket thresholds for your filing status.
Illustrative estimate only, using simplified/rounded 2026 figures — not tax advice. Actual federal, state, and payroll tax rules are more detailed. Always confirm with the IRS or a licensed tax professional.
The US federal system has seven brackets for 2026 — 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% — and it is progressive, meaning each rate only applies to the slice of income that falls inside that bracket, not your entire income. Someone with $80,000 of taxable income is not taxed at one flat rate; the first portion is taxed at 10%, the next at 12%, and so on, which is why an "average" tax rate is always lower than the top bracket a filer is in.
Before any bracket applies, the standard deduction is subtracted from gross income to get taxable income. For 2026 that is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly. Itemizing (mortgage interest, state and local taxes up to the cap, charitable donations) only helps if those itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction — most filers take the standard deduction because it is larger.
Wages, self-employment income, interest, most dividends, rental income, and retirement account withdrawals generally count. Some income is excluded or treated differently, including most Roth withdrawals, municipal bond interest, and a portion of Social Security benefits depending on total income.
Federal brackets and the standard deduction are adjusted for inflation each year, so the dollar thresholds move even when tax law itself does not change. Withholding elections on your W-4, and any change in deductions or credits claimed, also shift the result.
Yes. This calculator covers federal tax only. Most states layer their own income tax on top with separate brackets, and a handful of states charge no income tax at all — see the State Income Tax Calculator for that layer.
A deduction reduces the income that gets taxed, so its value depends on your bracket. A credit reduces the tax bill itself, dollar for dollar, which generally makes credits more valuable than deductions of the same size.