Federal Income Tax Calculator 2026
Federal income tax calculator for 2026: estimate your IRS tax, effective rate and marginal bracket using the new standard deduction.
Editorial review: Farrow (pseudonym; identity and professional credentials are not disclosed). This page is for educational purposes, not professional advice.
Updated
Your inputs
Results update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Results
- Taxable income
- $62,900
- Effective rate
- 10.06%
- Marginal bracket
- 22%
- Deduction used
- $16,100 (standard)
Example with the starting values
These results use the calculator's initial inputs. Change the values above to calculate your own estimate.
Inputs
- Total income
- 85000 $
- Filing status
- Single
- Pre-tax adjustments (401k, IRA, HSA)
- 6000 $
- Itemized deductions (0 = standard)
- 0 $
- Tax credits
- 0 $
Results
- Estimated 2026 federal tax
- $8,550
- Taxable income
- $62,900
- Effective rate
- 10.06%
- Marginal bracket
- 22%
- Deduction used
- $16,100 (standard)
How does the Federal Income Tax Calculator work?
Federal income tax is the tax the IRS charges on your taxable income each year, using progressive brackets so higher slices of income pay higher rates.
Taxable income is your gross income minus pre-tax adjustments (traditional 401(k), IRA, HSA) and either the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) or your itemized deductions, whichever is larger.
Tax is then applied in layers using the IRS brackets from 10% to 37%. Only the income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. Credits are subtracted at the end.
The effective rate shown is federal tax after credits divided by total income, not taxable income; the marginal rate is the tax rate on the last dollar of taxable income.
For example, a single filer with $85,000 of income, $6,000 in pre-tax adjustments, the $16,100 standard deduction and no credits has $62,900 of taxable income and about $8,550 in federal income tax. That is a 10.06% effective rate on gross income; the marginal bracket is 22%.
This is an estimate for ordinary income. It does not model capital gains rates, the AMT, or self-employment tax.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between my marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income, which is always lower.
Does moving into a higher bracket reduce my take-home pay?
No. Only the dollars above the bracket threshold are taxed at the higher rate.
Where do these numbers come from?
IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, which sets the 2026 inflation-adjusted brackets and standard deduction.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly and $24,150 for head of household. People 65 or older or blind get an extra amount.
What are the 2026 tax brackets for a single filer?
10% up to $12,400, 12% to $50,400, 22% to $105,700, 24% to $201,775, 32% to $256,225, 35% to $640,600 and 37% above that, applied to taxable income.
Is a tax credit better than a deduction?
Yes, dollar for dollar. A credit cuts your tax bill directly, while a deduction only lowers taxable income, so a $1,000 deduction saves $220 in the 22% bracket.