US Tax Calculator 2026
Federal & state income tax with IRS 2026 brackets and OBBBA SALT cap
Last updated: November 2025 · Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Notice 2025-67, One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Tax Year & Location
Income & Filing Status
Deductions
Tax Credits
$2,200 per child under 17 (OBBBA); up to $1,700 refundable
EV credit, education credits, etc.
Income Distribution
Tax Calculation Breakdown
2026 Tax Information
Official IRS 2026 federal tax brackets. Standard deduction: $16,100 for your filing status. Federal marginal rate: 22%. Effective rate: 10.2%. SALT cap: $40,400.
Estimate for informational purposes. Consult a tax professional for filing. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or the OBBBA tip/overtime/senior bonus deductions.
2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Post-OBBBA)
Federal vs. State Income Tax
The US has a layered tax system. Federal income tax is collected by the IRS and applies nationwide using the same bracket structure. State income tax is separate, 41 states and DC levy a broad income tax (Washington taxes only capital gains above a threshold). Nine states have no income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (its 5% interest & dividends tax was fully repealed effective January 1, 2025), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Your total tax burden is the sum of federal, state, and any local income taxes.
Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing in 2026
For 2026 the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). The One Big Beautiful Bill Act raised the SALT cap to $40,400 for 2026 (up from $10,000 under TCJA), with a 1% annual escalator through 2029 and a reversion to $10,000 in 2030. The cap phases down by 30% of MAGI above $500,500 but never falls below $10,000. Itemizing now makes sense for many more filers in high-tax states.
How Tax Brackets Work
The federal system uses progressive tax brackets, meaning different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. The 2026 rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. A single filer earning $60,000 does not pay 22% on the entire amount, they pay 10% on the first $12,400, 12% on $12,400 to $50,400, and 22% only on $50,400 to $60,000. That is why the effective (average) rate is always lower than the marginal (top bracket) rate.
Filing Status
Filing status determines bracket thresholds, standard deduction, and eligibility for certain credits. The five statuses are Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household, and Qualifying Surviving Spouse. MFJ generally provides the most favorable brackets and highest standard deduction. Head of Household, available to unmarried taxpayers paying more than half the cost of maintaining a home for a qualifying dependent, offers wider brackets than Single.
What Else OBBBA Changed for 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119-21, July 4, 2025) made the TCJA rates permanent, raised the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per child (up to $1,700 refundable), made the $15M estate & gift exemption permanent (indexed), and created new temporary deductions for tip income (up to $25,000), overtime pay (up to $12,500 single / $25,000 MFJ), and a $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors 65+. These temporary deductions phase out above $75k–$300k MAGI and sunset in 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the federal income tax brackets for 2026?
Per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, 2026 single brackets are 10% up to $12,400, 12% up to $50,400, 22% up to $105,700, 24% up to $201,775, 32% up to $256,225, 35% up to $640,600, and 37% above $640,600. MFJ thresholds are roughly double through the 24% bracket. Head of household uses its own table with slightly different upper thresholds.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 single & MFS, $32,200 MFJ, $24,150 head of household. Age 65+ or blind adds $1,650 ($2,050 for unmarried non-surviving-spouse filers) per qualifying condition.
How did OBBBA change the SALT cap?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act raised the State And Local Tax deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 in 2025 and $40,400 in 2026, escalating 1% annually through 2029 and reverting to $10,000 in 2030. The cap is reduced by 30% of MAGI over $500,500, never below a $10,000 floor.
Should I take the standard deduction or itemize for 2026?
Itemize if mortgage interest + SALT (up to $40,400 under OBBBA) + charitable + medical above 7.5% of AGI exceed your standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 MFJ). The new SALT cap makes itemizing attractive again for many high-tax-state filers.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income, your top bracket. Effective rate is total tax divided by total income, always lower because lower brackets apply to earlier dollars.
How are long-term capital gains taxed in 2026?
0% up to $49,450 single / $98,900 MFJ; 15% up to $545,500 single / $613,700 MFJ; 20% above. The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax adds on top for investment income above $200k single / $250k MFJ MAGI.
What is the 2026 Child Tax Credit?
OBBBA permanently raised the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit. The credit phases out above $200k single / $400k MFJ MAGI.
Do I need to file a 2026 federal tax return?
Generally yes if 2026 gross income exceeds $16,100 (single, under 65). File anyway if you had withholding, qualify for refundable credits like EITC or the refundable CTC, or had self-employment income above $400.