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Tax · 2026 federal brackets

Tax bracket calculator

See your 2026 marginal rate, effective rate, and the exact amount of tax in each bracket. Filing-status-aware (Single, MFJ, MFS, HoH).

By Snowballr Research Team
Last reviewed May 21, 2026Fact-checked against primary sourcesEditorial standards
Built from: IRS · FINRA · SEC · BLS · Federal Reserve · Freddie Mac · Methodology & sources →
The #1 tax misconception

Being "in the 22% bracket" doesn't mean 22% of your income goes to federal tax. It means 22% applies only to dollars above the 22% threshold. A single filer earning $85,000 pays 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on the next $36,550, and 22% only on the rest — for an effective rate around 12.5%.

How federal income tax actually works

The US uses a progressive marginal system: each chunk of your income is taxed at a different rate. The bracket you're "in" is just the top rate you reach — not the rate on your whole income. Most filers' effective rate runs 30–50% lower than their marginal rate.

2026 standard deductions

  • Single / MFS: $15,000
  • Married filing jointly: $30,000
  • Head of household: $22,500
  • Additional age 65+ / blind: $1,950 (single/HoH) or $1,550 (MFJ/MFS) per qualifying condition

Use itemized only if your deductible items (mortgage interest, SALT capped at $10K, charitable, medical above 7.5% AGI) exceed the standard.

What this calculator does not include

  • FICA (payroll tax): Social Security 6.2% on wages up to $176,100 + Medicare 1.45% on all wages, +0.9% above $200K single / $250K MFJ. Effectively another ~7.65% on most wages.
  • State income tax: 0% in 9 states (AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY); up to 13.3% in CA top bracket. New York City stacks city tax on top of state.
  • Capital gains: long-term (held 1+ year) taxed at 0/15/20% on top of brackets; short-term taxed as ordinary income.
  • Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT): +3.8% on investment income for high earners.
  • AMT: alternative minimum tax can override regular tax for some high-income filers with many deductions.

Quick tax-bracket math for planning

  • Single with $50K income: 22% marginal, ~10% effective
  • MFJ with $100K income: 22% marginal, ~9% effective
  • Single with $200K income: 32% marginal, ~21% effective
  • MFJ with $400K income: 32% marginal, ~21% effective

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