Short guides to the 2026 tax rules behind our calculators. Everything here uses the same figures as the calculators — if a rate changes, both change together.
2026 Federal Tax Brackets & Rates
Federal income tax uses seven marginal brackets. "Marginal" means only the income inside each bracket is taxed at that rate — your whole salary is never taxed at your top rate.
| Rate | Single filer | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 | Up to $24,800 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. On top of federal income tax, every worker pays Social Security (6.2% of wages up to the $184,500 wage base) and Medicare (1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% over $200,000 single / $250,000 married).
Standard Deduction Guide
The standard deduction is the amount of income the federal government does not tax at all. For 2026 it is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly. If your deductions are larger than that — mortgage interest, state taxes, charitable gifts — itemizing may save you more.
States have their own rules. Some use the federal amount (Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota); others set their own — for example California $5,540 single, New York $8,000, Georgia $15,000, North Carolina $12,750 and Arizona $15,750. A few states use a personal exemption instead of a deduction (Illinois $2,925, Indiana $1,000, Massachusetts $4,400), and Utah gives a taxpayer credit instead. Each state page on this site lists its own figure.
Tax Filing Tips
- Check your withholding early. Run the paycheck calculator with your real pay in January — a surprise at filing time is usually a withholding problem, not a tax problem.
- Update your W-4 after big changes. A new job, a raise, marriage or a child all change what should be withheld. Adjusting the W-4 beats owing a lump sum in April.
- Pre-tax deductions lower your taxable income. Traditional 401(k) contributions and health-insurance premiums reduce federal taxable income (health premiums also reduce Social Security and Medicare tax; 401(k) does not).
- Keep your last pay stub of the year. It is the fastest way to check your W-2 when it arrives, and to spot a wrong state or local withholding.
- File on time, even if you cannot pay in full. The penalty for filing late is much larger than the penalty for paying late, and the IRS offers payment plans.
Common Tax Questions
Enter your gross pay per pay period, how often you are paid, your filing status and your state. The calculator annualizes your pay, applies the 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deduction, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and your state's 2026 income tax, then divides the result back into per-paycheck, monthly and annual take-home pay.
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, and all calculations happen in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or stored.
Nine states tax no wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Pick any of them in the calculator above and the state tax line will be $0.
Your employer may withhold differently (allowances, extra withholding, bonuses, overtime), and local taxes, garnishments, union dues and other deductions are not included here. Use this as a planning estimate, not a pay-stub replacement.