Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your US federal income tax using the 2026 brackets and standard deduction, with a clear breakdown of taxable income, total tax owed, and your marginal vs. effective rate. See exactly how each bracket stacks up against your income.
How to Use
- Enter your gross annual income in dollars.
- Choose your filing status: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household.
- The standard deduction for your status is subtracted automatically to find taxable income.
- Read your total federal tax, effective rate (tax ÷ gross income), and marginal rate (your top bracket).
- Use a preset to compare common income and filing-status combinations side by side.
Show Work
2026 brackets (single)
About the Income Tax Calculator
The Income Tax Calculator is a simple, free helper for personal-finance and money decisions that runs entirely on your own device. Estimate your US federal income tax using the 2026 brackets and standard deduction, with a clear breakdown of taxable income, total tax owed, and your marginal vs. effective rate. See exactly how each bracket stacks up against your income.
How it works
Enter your figures and the result appears instantly, updating the moment you change anything. There is no submit button and nothing to wait for, so it is easy to try a few what-if numbers and compare the results. Just check each box holds the kind of value it expects.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the bracket that applies to your last dollar of taxable income — the rate you pay on an additional dollar earned. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by your gross income, which is always lower because the early brackets are taxed at lower rates. For example, being "in the 22% bracket" rarely means you pay 22% of everything.
Does this calculator include state taxes or FICA?
No — this estimates US federal income tax only. It does not include state or local income tax, Social Security and Medicare (FICA) withholding, or self-employment tax. For a full picture of what lands in your bank account, use the Take-Home Paycheck calculator, which layers those on top.
How does the standard deduction work here?
The tool subtracts the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status from gross income before applying the brackets, so the result reflects taxable income. It assumes you take the standard deduction rather than itemizing. If your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, state taxes, charity) exceed the standard amount, your actual tax could be lower.
Are these the 2026 tax brackets?
Yes, the calculator uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction amounts. Brackets are inflation-adjusted each year by the IRS, so always confirm you are using the year that matches your filing.
Is this tax advice?
No. This is an estimate for planning and education, not tax advice. It does not account for credits (child tax credit, earned income credit), additional taxes (NIIT, AMT), or your full personal situation. Consult a tax professional or the IRS for filing decisions.
How do I use the Income Tax Calculator?
Just type your numbers. The answer shows up right away — there is no button to press. Change anything and it updates by itself.
Does it cost anything or need an account?
No. The tool is completely free, there is no account to create, and it keeps working offline after the page first loads.
Is anything I type uploaded?
No. The tool works entirely on your device, so the values you enter never leave your browser.
Common Use Cases
Estimating your refund or balance due
Compare your projected federal tax against what your employer has withheld year-to-date to anticipate a refund or a payment at filing time.
Comparing filing statuses
See how married filing jointly stacks up against filing separately, or whether head of household lowers your bill versus single.
Planning a raise or bonus
Check your marginal rate to understand how much of a raise or year-end bonus you actually keep after federal tax.
Quarterly estimated taxes
Freelancers and contractors can rough out annual federal liability to size their quarterly estimated payments.
Roth conversion headroom
See how much more income you can recognize before crossing into the next bracket when planning a Roth conversion or capital gain.
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