Finance
Tax Bracket Calculator
See your 2026 US federal tax bracket, marginal rate, and effective rate. Per-tier breakdown for single, joint, separate, and head of household.
Federal income tax (2026)
Total tax
$11,414.00
Marginal rate
22%
Effective rate
15.22%
| Rate | Bracket range | Income in bracket | Tax in bracket |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,925 | $11,925.00 | $1,192.50 |
| 12% | $11,925 to $48,475 | $36,550.00 | $4,386.00 |
| 22% | $48,475 to $103,350 | $26,525.00 | $5,835.50 |
Estimate only. Uses 2026 US federal income tax brackets and does not include state, local, FICA, deductions, or credits. Consult a tax professional for filing.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tax Bracket Calculator
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of income, the highest bracket you reach. Your effective rate is total federal tax divided by total taxable income, expressed as a percentage. The effective rate is always lower because your first dollars are taxed at 10%, not at your top bracket rate. For example, a single filer with $100,000 of taxable income has a 22% marginal rate but an effective rate of about 17%.
Are tax brackets cliffs or tiers?
They are tiers. Crossing into a higher bracket only raises the rate on dollars above that threshold, not on every dollar you earned. A single filer who earns $50,000 pays 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on the next $36,550, and 22% only on the remaining $1,525, not 22% on the full $50,000. A raise never reduces your take-home pay.
Which year do these brackets apply to?
Tax year 2025, the income you report on returns filed in early 2026, using the IRS inflation-adjusted brackets for 2025. The IRS resets bracket thresholds each year for inflation, so 2024 and 2026 figures differ. This calculator does not cover other tax years.
Does this include state tax, FICA, or deductions?
No. The calculator computes federal income tax only on the taxable income you enter. It does not subtract the standard deduction, apply credits, or account for Social Security, Medicare, or state and local taxes. Enter your taxable income after any deductions you plan to claim for the most accurate result.
Why do single and married-filing-separately numbers differ at the top brackets?
Through the 32% bracket, married filing separately (MFS) uses the same thresholds as single filers ($11,925, $48,475, $103,350, $197,300, $250,525). At the top, MFS switches to half the married-filing-jointly figures, so the 37% rate starts at $375,800 for MFS versus $626,350 for single. That compresses the 35% tier for high-income separate filers.