Income Tax Calculator US

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US Federal Income Tax Calculator — 2026

Calculate federal tax, marginal vs effective rate — updated for OBBBA 2025 tax changes

Gross Annual Income ($)

Filing Status

Deduction Type

Pre-Tax Contributions (401k, HSA, FSA — $)

Additional Income (freelance, interest, dividends — $)

Gross Income$75,000

Standard Deduction$16,100

Pre-Tax Contributions$7,000

Federal Taxable Income$51,900

Federal Income Tax—

Marginal Tax Rate (top bracket)—

Effective Tax Rate (actual %)—

After-Tax Income (federal only)—

Monthly Take-Home (before FICA/state)—

After-Tax Income

Federal Tax

The Most Misunderstood Thing About US Taxes: Marginal Rate ≠ Your Actual Rate

Ask most Americans what tax bracket they're in and they'll say "22%" or "24%." Then ask them what percentage of their total income goes to federal taxes — they usually don't know. The confusion between marginal rate and effective rate is the most expensive tax misconception in the US. Real example: A single filer earning $75,000 in 2026 thinks they're "in the 22% bracket." But their actual federal income tax is about $9,200 — an effective rate of just 12.3%, not 22%. Here's why: only the income above $47,150 (the threshold for the 22% bracket) is taxed at 22%. Everything below is taxed at lower rates. The US uses a progressive system — you pay each bracket's rate only on the income within that bracket, not on everything you earn.

2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Single Filer) — IRS Confirmed

Taxable Income	Rate	Tax on This Layer
$0 – $12,400	10%	Up to $1,240
$12,401 – $47,150	12%	Up to $4,170
$47,151 – $100,525	22%	Up to $11,742
$100,526 – $191,950	24%	Up to $21,941
$191,951 – $243,700	32%	Up to $16,560
$243,701 – $640,600	35%	Up to $138,915
Above $640,600	37%	37% on excess

2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Married Filing Jointly)

Taxable Income (MFJ)	Rate
$0 – $24,800	10%
$24,801 – $94,300	12%
$94,301 – $201,050	22%
$201,051 – $383,900	24%
$383,901 – $487,450	32%
$487,451 – $768,700	35%
Above $768,700	37%

2026 Standard Deduction — Key OBBBA Update

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed in 2025, made the TCJA-era tax structure permanent and added an additional inflation adjustment for the bottom two brackets. The 2026 standard deductions (per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32) are:

Filing Status	2026 Standard Deduction	Change from 2025
Single	$16,100	+$350
Married Filing Jointly	$32,200	+$700
Head of Household	$24,150	+$525
Married Filing Separately	$16,100	+$350

What This Calculator Doesn't Include

This is a federal income tax calculator. Your actual take-home pay is reduced further by:

FICA taxes — Social Security 6.2% (on wages up to $176,100 in 2026) + Medicare 1.45% = 7.65% total (employer matches this)
State income tax — ranges from 0% (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington) to 13.3% (California top rate). This calculator is federal-only.
Additional Medicare Tax — 0.9% on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ)
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — 3.8% on investment income above the same thresholds

💡 401(k) hack: Every dollar you put into a traditional 401(k) reduces your federal taxable income dollar-for-dollar. On a $75,000 salary in the 22% bracket, contributing the 2026 max of $24,500 saves $5,390 in federal tax alone (22% × $24,500). At 7% average returns, that $24,500 grows to approximately $186,700 in 20 years — the tax savings effectively give you a 22% head start on those contributions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does getting a raise push ALL my income into a higher bracket? ＋

No — and this is the most important thing to understand. Only the income above the bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate. If you're single and earn $47,000 (in the 12% bracket) and get a $5,000 raise to $52,000, only the $4,850 above the $47,150 threshold is taxed at 22%. The rest of your income continues to be taxed at 10% and 12%. You will never take home less money by earning more.

What is the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit? ＋

A deduction reduces your taxable income. In the 22% bracket, a $1,000 deduction saves you $220 in tax. A credit directly reduces your tax bill dollar-for-dollar. A $1,000 credit saves you $1,000 in tax regardless of your bracket. Credits (like Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit) are generally more valuable than deductions of the same dollar amount.

Should I itemize or take the standard deduction in 2026? ＋

Take whichever is larger. The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for MFJ. Only about 10-12% of US taxpayers itemize because most people's deductible expenses (mortgage interest, state taxes — now capped at $10,000 SALT, charitable contributions) don't exceed the standard deduction. If you own a home with a large mortgage, are charitably inclined, and live in a high-tax state, itemizing may pay off.