01
Marginal tax rate
Your marginal tax rate is the rate applied to the next dollar of taxable income that falls within your highest applicable federal bracket. It does not mean your entire income is taxed at that rate.
2026 U.S. FEDERAL TAX CALCULATOR
Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax using your filing status, income and deductions. See your taxable income, estimated federal tax, effective tax rate and after-tax income in seconds.
2026
Current federal tax year
7
Federal ordinary income rates
Instant
Results from your inputs
FEDERAL TAX ESTIMATE
Tax Year 2026
7 Rates
10%
Federal rate
12%
Federal rate
22%
Federal rate
24%
Federal rate
32%
Federal rate
35%
Federal rate
37%
Top ordinary rate
Federal tax brackets are progressive. Your entire income is not automatically taxed at your highest bracket.
CALCULATE YOUR TAX
Estimate Your 2026 Federal Income Tax
Enter your information below to get an educational estimate of your federal ordinary income tax. Leave optional fields empty when they do not apply.
YOUR TAX DETAILS
Enter your income
Tax Year 2026
$
$
$
$
Standard deduction
Applied automatically for your filing status
$16,100
This calculator estimates federal ordinary income tax. It does not calculate every credit, capital gains rule, payroll tax, self-employment tax, AMT, state tax or every special tax provision.
Your tax estimate will appear here
Enter your income and filing status to see your estimated 2026 federal tax calculation.
ESTIMATED FEDERAL TAX
Your 2026 estimate
ESTIMATE
Estimated federal income tax
$0
Taxable income
$0
Effective tax rate
0%
Marginal tax rate
10%
Estimated after-tax income
$0
Federal tax by bracket
2026
Estimated withholding difference
$0
Simple comparison of withholding and estimated federal tax.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ESTIMATE
How a Federal Tax Calculator Works
A federal income tax calculator starts with your income and filing status, then estimates how much income is subject to federal income tax after the deductions included in the calculation. Filing status matters because the federal government uses different tax bracket thresholds and standard deduction amounts for different taxpayers.
For the 2026 tax year, the standard deduction is $16,100 for Single taxpayers and Married Filing Separately, $32,200 for Married Filing Jointly, and $24,150 for Head of Household. These amounts are part of the IRS inflation adjustments for 2026.
The federal income tax system is progressive. Instead of applying one tax rate to every dollar you earn, different portions of taxable income are taxed at different rates. That is why your marginal tax rate can be higher than your overall effective tax rate.
The result from this calculator is designed to give you a practical starting point. Your actual federal tax return can be more complicated because it may include tax credits, itemized deductions, investment income, retirement income, self-employment income and other tax rules.
TAX PLANNING
A clearer tax estimate can make financial planning easier.
BEYOND YOUR PAYCHECK
Your Final Tax Bill Can Depend on More Than Income
Your salary is only one part of the federal tax picture. Depending on your situation, taxable income may also include bonuses, interest, dividends, business income, retirement distributions and other sources of income.
Deductions can reduce the amount of income that is subject to federal income tax. Tax credits work differently because qualifying credits can directly reduce the tax you owe. This is why a simple income-based estimate should not be treated as a complete tax return.
Your tax withholding also matters when you look at what may happen when you file. Withholding is money sent to the government during the year on your behalf. If the amount withheld is different from your eventual federal tax liability, you may have a balance due or a refund.
This calculator keeps the process simple so you can understand the core federal income tax calculation before exploring more detailed tax planning topics.
2026 FEDERAL TAX BRACKETS
How the 2026 Federal Tax Brackets Work
The 2026 federal ordinary income tax system has seven rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. The income thresholds change depending on your filing status.
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 | $17,701 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 | $67,451 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 | $105,701 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 | $201,751 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 | $256,201 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 | Over $640,600 |
Married Filing Separately generally follows the same lower thresholds as Single, while the 35% bracket ends at $384,350 before the 37% rate applies.
KNOW YOUR TAX RATE
Marginal Tax Rate vs. Effective Tax Rate
These two tax rates are often confused, but they describe different parts of your federal tax calculation.
02
Effective tax rate
Your effective tax rate gives a broader view of your federal income tax burden by comparing estimated federal income tax with your overall income.
03
Taxable income
Taxable income is the amount used to calculate federal ordinary income tax after the deductions included in the calculation. It can be different from your gross salary.
TAX PLANNING BASICS
What Can Change Your Final Federal Tax Bill?
Your actual tax liability can be affected by several factors beyond gross income and the standard deduction.
Tax Credits
Qualifying tax credits can directly reduce federal income tax and can make your final liability different from a basic income-based estimate.
Tax Deductions
Certain deductions can reduce taxable income. Some taxpayers may also consider itemizing deductions instead of taking the standard deduction.
Capital Gains
Investment profits can have different federal tax treatment from ordinary wages, so a simple ordinary-income estimate may not show the entire picture.
Self-Employment
Self-employed taxpayers can have additional tax obligations, deductions and estimated-payment considerations.
Retirement Income
IRA and retirement-plan distributions can have different federal tax consequences depending on the account and your circumstances.
State Taxes
State income taxes are separate from federal income tax and vary significantly depending on where you live and work.
RELATED TAX RESOURCES
Explore More Tax Guides
Learn more about the tax topics that can affect your income, investments and financial decisions.
01
Income Tax
Understand taxable income, federal income tax and the basics of the U.S. tax system.
Explore Income Tax → 02Tax Brackets
See how marginal federal tax rates work for different filing statuses and income levels.
Explore Tax Brackets → 03Tax Deductions
Learn how deductions can reduce the amount of income subject to federal income tax.
Explore Tax Deductions → 04Tax Credits
Understand how qualifying tax credits can reduce the amount of federal tax you owe.
Explore Tax Credits → 05Tax Withholding
Learn how federal tax withholding can affect your balance when you file your return.
Explore Tax Withholding → 06Capital Gains Tax
Understand how profits from investments can be taxed differently from ordinary income.
Explore Capital Gains →
MONEY & TAX INSIGHTS
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TAX CALCULATOR FAQ
Common questions about federal income tax calculations.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Tax Calculator Questions, Answered
The calculator uses your filing status, income and deductions to estimate taxable income and apply the applicable 2026 federal ordinary income tax brackets.
The 2026 federal ordinary income tax rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. The income thresholds vary by filing status.
For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for Single and Married Filing Separately, $32,200 for Married Filing Jointly and $24,150 for Head of Household.
No. Federal income tax brackets are progressive. Only the portion of taxable income within a particular bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate.
Your marginal tax rate applies to the next dollar of taxable income within your highest applicable bracket. Your effective tax rate represents your overall estimated federal income tax compared with your income.
No. This calculator estimates federal ordinary income tax only. State and local income taxes vary by location and are not included.
No. The basic estimate does not calculate every federal tax credit. Your actual tax liability may therefore differ from the calculator's estimate.
You can use it as a general federal income-tax planning reference, but it does not calculate separate self-employment tax or every deduction and special rule that may apply to self-employed taxpayers.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
Explore Tax Resources →
Understand your tax picture before tax season.
Use your estimate as a starting point, then explore GrowthSmartly's tax resources to better understand deductions, credits, withholding, tax brackets and other factors that can affect your federal tax bill.