Federal Income Tax Calculator
2026 Brackets, Credits and Your Refund
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax, effective and marginal rate, and refund or balance due — with the new standard deduction, the $2,200 child tax credit, Schedule 1-A deductions and qualified dividends and capital gains.
Read the full answer — method, rates and figures
Quick answer: For 2026, federal income tax is charged in seven brackets, 10% to 37%, on taxable income: your income minus the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) or your itemized deductions if larger. A single filer earning $75,000 in wages has $58,900 of taxable income and owes $7,670: 10.2% of income, although the top dollar is taxed at 22%.
A married couple on $150,000 with two children owes $10,940 after the $2,200-per-child tax credit. Qualified dividends and long-term gains stack on top at 0%, 15% or 20%, and the new Schedule 1-A deductions (tips, overtime, the $6,000 senior deduction, car-loan interest) come off on top of the standard deduction.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the Internal Revenue Code, checked September 26, 2026.
How much federal income tax will I pay in 2026?
Taxable income = income − standard deduction, then the brackets. Single on $75,000: $7,670 (10.2% effective, 22% bracket).
Total federal tax
$7,670
Effective rate
10.2%
Marginal bracket
22%
Estimated to pay
$7,670
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Total federal tax
$7,670
Effective rate
10.2%
Marginal bracket
22%
Estimated to pay
$7,670
| Adjusted gross income | $75,000 |
| Standard deduction | −$16,100 |
| Taxable income | $58,900 |
| Income tax (brackets + 0/15/20% on qualified income) | $7,670 |
| Total tax | $7,670 |
| Withheld | $0 |
Last reviewed 13 October 2026 by the Richify AI agent team.
Reviewed by Felix, Richify's AI CFO — an AI author, presented as one.
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Adjusted gross income = wages + interest + other income + qualified dividends and gains − pre-tax contributions. We subtract the larger of the 2026 standard deduction (plus the 65+ add-on) and your itemized deductions, then the Schedule 1-A deductions, which you get whether or not you itemize, each with its own income phase-out. Married filing separately can't take the Schedule 1-A deductions.
Ordinary taxable income runs through the brackets; qualified dividends and long-term gains sit on top of it and are taxed at 0% up to $49,450 of taxable income for your filing status, then 15%, then 20% (the IRS Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet). The child tax credit reduces income tax first; any unused part is refundable up to $1,700 per child. The 3.8% net investment income tax and the 0.9% Additional Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 are added last.
2026 federal tax brackets (single)
| Rate | Taxable income | Tax at bottom of band |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $1,240 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $5,800 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $17,966 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $41,024 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $58,448 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | $192,979 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 §4.01, read September 26, 2026.
Ways to lower the bill before year-end
Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions come straight off your income at your marginal rate; see how much room you have with the 401(k) calculator and the HSA calculator. If you are in the 0% bracket for gains, you can sell winners tax-free up to the limit, which the capital gains tax calculator works out. For what each paycheck looks like after withholding and FICA, use the paycheck calculator.
How to use this calculator
- Choose your filing status and enter your wages (box 1 of your W-2, or salary before pre-tax 401(k) if you enter that separately).
- Add interest, other income and any qualified dividends or long-term capital gains.
- Enter people 65+, children under 17 and any tips, overtime premium or car-loan interest you can deduct.
- Enter federal tax withheld to see your estimated refund or balance due.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
Single: 10% to $12,400, 12% to $50,400, 22% to $105,700, 24% to $201,775, 32% to $256,225, 35% to $640,600, 37% over $640,600 of taxable income. Married filing jointly bands are roughly double (the 12% band ends at $100,800).
Rates apply only to the income inside each band, so moving into a higher bracket never lowers your take-home pay.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 single or married filing separately, $32,200 married filing jointly, and $24,150 head of household (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32).
People 65 or older add $2,050 (unmarried) or $1,650 each (married), and can also take the separate $6,000 senior deduction through 2028.
How much is the child tax credit for 2026?
$2,200 per qualifying child under 17, of which up to $1,700 is refundable (15% of earned income above $2,500), plus $500 for each other dependent. It shrinks by $50 for every $1,000 of income over $400,000 on a joint return or $200,000 otherwise.
Will I get a refund or owe?
Your refund is the federal tax withheld from your paychecks (box 2 of your W-2) plus any refundable credit, minus your total tax. Enter what has been withheld so far, or your expected full-year withholding, and the calculator shows the difference.
A large balance due usually means your W-4 needs updating.
What is the difference between my marginal and effective tax rate?
The marginal rate is what your next dollar of ordinary income is taxed at; the effective rate is your total tax divided by your total income. In the $75,000 example the marginal rate is 22% but the effective rate is only 10.2%, because the first dollars are sheltered by the standard deduction and taxed at 10% and 12%.
What does this calculator leave out?
Self-employment tax and the 20% qualified business income deduction, the earned income credit, education and energy credits, the alternative minimum tax and state income tax. It also assumes your Social Security benefits (if any) are handled separately — use the Social Security tax calculator for those.
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Further Reading
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