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Federal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your filing status, income and deductions. The calculator applies the 2026 standard deduction (or your itemized amount) and the federal brackets, shows the tax in each bracket, your marginal and effective rates, and whether you get a refund or owe.

Your numbers

A separate deduction of $6,000 per person born before January 2, 1961, for 2025 to 2028, that shrinks by 6% of income over $75,000 ($150,000 on a joint return). A joint return can claim two.

Result

Estimate for information only, not professional advice. Last reviewed .

Tax year 2026. Tax figures last updated October 29, 2026. Sources.

How we calculate it

Adjusted gross income is wages plus other income minus adjustments. Taxable income is that minus the larger of your deduction choices: the standard deduction for 2026 ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) or your itemized deductions.

The tax is built bracket by bracket: each rate applies only to the slice of income inside its bracket. The rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Credits then reduce the tax dollar for dollar, and the result is compared with what you have already paid.

How to read your result

  • Taxable income is your income minus adjustments and your deduction. Only that amount is taxed.
  • The bracket table shows how much of your income falls in each bracket and the tax on it.
  • Marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar. Effective rate is your total tax divided by income, and it is lower.
  • A refund means you paid more than you owe during the year. A balance due means you paid less.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking a raise can push all your income into a higher bracket. Only the dollars above the line are taxed at the higher rate.
  • Comparing the marginal rate with the effective rate as if they were the same.
  • Entering income before deductions in the "taxable income" place. Enter wages and let the calculator subtract the deduction.
  • Forgetting credits, self-employment tax or state tax, which are separate from this estimate.

Assumptions and limits

  • An estimate of regular income tax for tax year 2026. It does not include self-employment tax, the alternative minimum tax, the net investment income tax, or state taxes.
  • Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends have their own lower rates: use the capital gains calculator for those.
  • Credits are entered as one amount. The child tax credit, earned income credit and others have eligibility rules that are not calculated here.
  • The new deduction for seniors (age 65 or older) is included. The deductions for tips, overtime and car loan interest, and the child tax credit, are not modeled yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?

The marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income. The effective rate is your total tax divided by your income, which is always lower because lower brackets taxed the earlier dollars at smaller rates.

Should I take the standard deduction or itemize?

Take whichever is larger. Most people take the standard deduction. Itemizing helps when mortgage interest, state and local taxes (up to the cap), and charitable gifts add up to more than the standard amount.

Do tax brackets change every year?

Yes. The IRS adjusts the bracket limits, the standard deduction and many other figures for inflation each year, usually announced in October or November for the next year.

Does moving into a higher bracket make me take home less?

No. Only the income above the bracket line is taxed at the higher rate. Earning more always leaves you with more money after federal income tax.

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Worked example (a fixed example using the starting numbers, it does not change as you type)

Inputs: Filing status = Single; Wages and other earned income ($) = 85000; Other income: interest, dividends, gains ($) = 0; Adjustments to income: IRA, HSA, student loan interest ($) = 0; Deduction = Standard deduction; Boxes checked for age 65 or older, or blind (0 to 4) = 0; People age 65 or older for the extra senior deduction (0 to 2) = 0; Tax credits ($) = 0; Tax already paid: withholding and estimates ($) = 12000.

  • Federal income tax $9,870.00
  • Taxable income $68,900.00
  • Adjusted gross income $85,000.00
  • Standard deduction used $16,100.00
  • Marginal tax rate 22%
  • Effective tax rate 11.61%
  • Refund $2,130.00

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Last reviewed: . Formulas and assumptions are described on our methodology page. For information only; not professional advice.