2026 US Federal Tax Bracket Calculator
Estimate federal ordinary-income tax for the 2026 tax year using published IRS bracket thresholds. Enter taxable income, select a filing status, and see the estimated federal tax, marginal bracket and effective rate. The calculator works entirely in your browser.
Enter your numbers
Calculations run in this browser. Your entries are not sent to a NexusNova calculation server.
This calculator starts with taxable income and the selected filing status. It applies 2026 federal ordinary-income brackets only; review the exclusions in the guide below.
Your result
Your result will appear here after you calculate.
Use the figures to understand the math, then confirm material financial or tax decisions against official documents and the terms that apply to you.
How federal tax brackets work in 2026
The United States uses a progressive federal income-tax system. Your income is not all taxed at the highest rate that applies to you. Instead, taxable dollars are divided into layers, and each layer is taxed at the rate for its bracket. That distinction is why the marginal rate printed beside a bracket is not the same as your overall or effective tax rate.
This calculator uses the published 2026 ordinary-income thresholds for four individual filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, and head of household. For example, a single filer with $100,000 of taxable income reaches the 22% marginal bracket, but the earlier layers are taxed at 10% and 12%. The result is the sum of those slices, not 22% of the entire $100,000.
Formula and a practical example
For each bracket, the calculation is: tax for that band = taxable dollars inside the band × its rate. Add the amount from each band to get the estimated federal tax. The effective rate is estimated federal tax ÷ taxable income × 100. If taxable income is $100,000 for a single filer, the calculator applies 10% to the first $12,400, 12% to the next $38,000, and 22% to the remaining $49,600.
Start with taxable income from your tax worksheet or return estimate. If you only know gross wages, do not treat that number as taxable income without accounting for the deduction and other adjustments that apply to your situation. Filing status matters because the thresholds are different. The same taxable income may therefore produce a different estimate for a joint return and a single return.
What this estimate leaves out
This is a focused bracket calculator, not tax-preparation software. It does not subtract the standard or itemized deduction, apply credits, calculate payroll taxes, state or local income tax, alternative minimum tax, net investment income tax, or special rates for qualified dividends and long-term capital gains. It also cannot decide your filing status or determine which deductions you are eligible to claim. Use the result for a planning conversation, then compare it with your full tax worksheet.
Frequently asked questions
Does a higher bracket tax all of my income? No. Only the portion of taxable income inside that band is taxed at that marginal rate.
Is the 2026 tax year the same as the 2025 return? No. The 2026 tax year generally concerns income earned in 2026 and reported in 2027. Use thresholds for the correct tax year.
Where can I verify the rates? Consult the IRS 2026 tax-rate schedules and read the tool methodology. For related planning, compare your debt with the mortgage payoff calculator or estimate a trade with the stock profit calculator.