Tax year 2026 · Updated September 3, 2026
Federal Income Tax Calculator
See how much federal income tax you owe for 2026, how it is built up bracket by bracket, and what your marginal and effective rates really are.
| Adjusted gross income | $75,000.00 |
| Deduction used | $16,100.00 |
| Taxable income | $58,900.00 |
| Tax before credits | $7,670.00 |
| Child Tax Credit | $0.00 |
| Federal income tax | $7,670.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $4,650.00 |
| Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200k) | $1,087.50 |
| Total federal taxes | $13,407.50 |
How the income tax is built up
| Rate | Taxable income band | Amount in band | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $12,400.00 | $1,240.00 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $38,000.00 | $4,560.00 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $8,500.00 | $1,870.00 |
How federal income tax is calculated
The calculation on Form 1040 has four steps, and the calculator shows each one:
- Adjusted gross income (AGI): your income minus pre-tax contributions such as a traditional 401(k), traditional IRA or HSA.
- Taxable income: AGI minus the larger of the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household in 2026) or your itemized deductions.
- Tax by bracket: each slice of taxable income is taxed at its own rate, from 10% on the first $12,400 (single) up to 37%.
- Credits: the Child Tax Credit and other credits reduce the tax dollar for dollar.
taxable income = income − pre-tax contributions − max(standard deduction, itemized deductions) income tax = Σ (income in bracket × bracket rate) − credits effective rate = income tax ÷ income
The 2026 figures come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, which set the standard deduction and bracket thresholds for 2026 after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the current rate structure permanent.
Federal taxes on every paycheck in 2026
Federal income tax withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T: your pay is annualised, adjusted for the entries on your Form W-4, reduced by the standard deduction built into the withholding tables ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household), and run through the 2026 rate schedule below. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500; Medicare is 1.45% of all wages plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 | $17,700 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 | $67,450 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 | $105,700 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 | $201,775 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 | $256,200 – $640,600 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | over $768,700 | over $640,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much federal income tax will I pay on $75,000 in 2026?
A single filer with $75,000 of wages and the standard deduction has $58,900 of taxable income and owes about $7,670.00 in federal income tax, an effective rate of 10.2%. Social Security and Medicare add $5,737.50.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the bracket your last dollar falls into; your effective rate is total income tax divided by total income. Because the standard deduction and lower brackets are taxed at 0%, 10% and 12% first, the effective rate is always lower than the marginal rate.
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
Seven rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. For single filers the 22% bracket starts at $50,400 of taxable income and the 37% bracket at $640,600; joint filers' thresholds are roughly double. The full table is below.
Does the calculator include the Child Tax Credit?
Yes. It applies $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 and $500 per other dependent, reduced by $50 for every $1,000 of income above $200,000 ($400,000 for joint filers), as a nonrefundable credit. The refundable portion and other credits are not modeled.
Example: married couple, two children, $120,000
With $6,000 of pre-tax 401(k) contributions and the $32,200 joint standard deduction, taxable income is $81,800. Tax before credits is $9,320.00; the $4,400 Child Tax Credit brings federal income tax to $4,920.00.
Is this the same as what is withheld from my paycheck?
No. Withholding is an approximation your employer makes each pay period; this is the estimated tax you actually owe for the year. Compare the two with the W-4 withholding calculator.
What is not included?
Long-term capital gains and qualified dividend rates, the alternative minimum tax, self-employment tax, refundable credits (EITC, refundable Child Tax Credit), and above-the-line deductions other than the pre-tax contributions you enter. State income tax is handled by the paycheck calculators.
Related calculators
Sources and updates
Figures are for tax year 2026 and were checked against the sources below on . Rates change every January; we review every data file at the start of each year and whenever a state announces a mid-year change.
- IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (standard deduction, rate brackets)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, Worksheet 1A percentage method for automated payroll systems
- Social Security Administration, 2026 contribution and benefit base $184,500
- IRS Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates (6.2% and 1.45%; Additional Medicare Tax 0.9% over $200,000)
- Tax Foundation, 2026 Tax Brackets (head of household and married filing separately thresholds)
This calculator gives estimates for information only and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Your employer's payroll system, local taxes, benefits and year-to-date wages can change the exact amounts on your pay stub. See how we calculate.