Payroll & taxes
Federal tax bracket calculator
Free tax bracket calculator for US federal income tax — including married filing jointly, single, and head of household. Enter gross or taxable income to see your marginal tax bracket, effective rate, and highlighted federal bracket ladder for 2025 or 2026. Federal-only — for state tax (e.g. California) and refunds, use our income tax calculator.
What is a tax bracket?
A tax bracket is a range of taxable income taxed at a specific marginal rate. The US federal income tax system is progressive: as your taxable income rises, only the dollars in each higher range are taxed at the next rate — not your entire paycheck.
For 2026, federal marginal rates run from 10% to 37%. Your marginal bracket is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income. Your effective rate is usually lower because income in lower brackets is taxed first.
This page is a dedicated federal tax bracket calculator — enter income below to see which bracket you are in and how tax is split across tiers. Brackets apply to taxable income after deductions, not necessarily your gross salary.
Tax bracket calculator — find your 2026 bracket
Use the calculator above as a tax bracket calculator 2026: pick tax year, filing status, and income mode. Results show your marginal tax bracket, effective rate, federal tax owed, and a highlighted bracket ladder so you can see tax in each tier.
Enter your income
Choose gross income (standard deduction applied) or taxable income if you already know your post-deduction amount.
Select filing status and year
Pick single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household. Toggle between 2025 and 2026 IRS tables.
Read your marginal tax bracket
The hero shows your marginal rate — the bracket your next dollar of taxable income would be taxed at.
Review the bracket ladder
See how much income falls in each federal tier and export CSV or PDF for planning.
2026 federal tax brackets (all filing statuses)
These are the IRS inflation-adjusted 2026 federal tax brackets for ordinary income. Thresholds differ by filing status — married filing jointly brackets are roughly double single at lower rates; head of household sits between single and joint for most tiers.
| Tax 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% | $640,601+ | $768,701+ | $640,601+ |
Official source: IRS federal income tax rates and brackets. The calculator also includes 2025 tables in the advanced panel for year-over-year comparison.
Married filing jointly tax bracket calculator
Select Married filing jointly in the calculator above for MFJ brackets. Joint filers share wider 2026 thresholds — the 22% bracket runs from $100,801 to $211,400 taxable income vs $50,401 to $105,700 for single filers.
Example: $150,000 taxable, MFJ — marginal rate 22%, effective rate about 16% on taxable income. At $250,000 taxable, marginal moves to 24%.
This is a dedicated married filing jointly tax bracket calculator — not a full return. For dependents, credits, or combined federal + state estimates, use the income tax calculator.
Marginal vs effective tax rate
Marginal tax rate is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income — the bracket you are “in.” If someone says they are in the 22% tax bracket, they mean their next dollar would be taxed at 22%, not that all income is taxed at 22%.
Effective tax rate is total federal income tax divided by taxable income — your average rate across all brackets. It is almost always lower than the marginal rate because lower tiers apply first.
Example: $75,000 taxable income, single filer — marginal rate 22%, effective rate about 15% on taxable income. At $100,000 taxable, marginal stays 22% with effective rate about 17%.
Gross income vs taxable income
Gross income is total wages before deductions — W-2 Box 1 style. Taxable income is what remains after the standard deduction (or itemized deductions) and certain pre-tax contributions. Federal brackets apply to taxable income, not gross pay.
This calculator offers two input modes: Gross income (default) subtracts the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status automatically. Taxable income uses your amount directly — useful if you already calculated taxable income on a return or another tool.
Example: $50,000 gross, single, standard deduction — taxable income is $35,000 ($15,000 deduction), placing you in the 12% marginal bracket. A $100,000 salary does not mean all income is taxed at 22%.
Worked examples (2026, single filer)
These examples use the calculator engine with 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction where noted. Federal tax only — no state tax, credits, or withholding.
| Scenario | Taxable income | Marginal bracket | Federal tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 gross (standard deduction) | $35,000 | 12% | $3,952 | 11.3% |
| $75,000 taxable | $75,000 | 22% | $11,212 | 15.0% |
| $100,000 taxable | $100,000 | 22% | $16,712 | 16.7% |
Enter your own numbers in the calculator for married filing jointly, head of household, or 2025 tax year. For state tax and refund estimates, use the income tax calculator.
Tax bracket calculator vs income tax calculator
This tax bracket calculator answers: “What federal tax bracket am I in?” and “What are my marginal and effective rates?” It is federal-only, bracket-first, and optimized for quick education — not a full annual return estimate.
The income tax calculator answers: “How much federal and state income tax will I owe for the year?” and “Will I get a refund?” It includes all 50 states + DC, 401(k), child tax credit, itemized deductions, and withholding.
Use this tool to find your bracket and understand progressive rates. Use the income tax calculator when you need state tax, credits, or a refund preview. For per-paycheck withholding, see the paycheck calculator.
Limitations and disclaimer
This free tax bracket calculator estimates federal income tax brackets on wage-style income with the standard deduction in gross mode. It does not include state income tax, tax refunds, withholding, 401(k) or itemized deductions, self-employment tax, capital gains, AMT, or local city taxes in v1.
Results are for planning and education only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified preparer or the IRS before filing. The calculator does not store your data or require an account.
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Frequently asked questions about this tax bracket calculator
How do tax brackets work?
US federal tax uses progressive brackets: each slice of taxable income is taxed at its own rate from 10% up to 37%. Moving into a higher bracket does not re-tax all your income at that rate — only dollars above the threshold. Enter income above to see your ladder breakdown.
What tax bracket am I in for 2026?
Your 2026 marginal bracket depends on taxable income and filing status, not gross salary alone. Enter income and status in the calculator — the hero shows your marginal rate and highlighted bracket row. Example: $50,000 gross, single → 12% marginal after the standard deduction.
What is my marginal tax rate?
Your marginal tax rate is the federal rate on your last dollar of taxable income. The calculator displays it as a percentage in the results hero. At $75,000 taxable, single, 2026 marginal rate is 22%.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Marginal rate is the bracket on your next dollar of taxable income. Effective rate is total federal tax divided by taxable income — your average rate across all brackets. Effective is usually lower than marginal.
What income puts you in the 22% tax bracket?
For 2026 single filers, the 22% bracket starts at $50,401 taxable income (up to $105,700). That is roughly $65,401 gross with the standard deduction. Married filing jointly 22% starts at $100,801 taxable. Use the calculator for your exact status.
How do I calculate my tax bracket?
Subtract your standard or itemized deduction from gross income to get taxable income, then find which IRS bracket range contains that amount. Or enter gross or taxable income in this calculator — it applies 2026 federal brackets and shows marginal rate plus a full ladder.
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
2026 federal marginal rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Dollar thresholds vary by filing status — see the reference table on this page or the IRS bracket page. The calculator supports both 2025 and 2026 tables.
Does going up a bracket tax all my income at the higher rate?
No. Only income above each bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate. Lower tiers still apply to income within earlier ranges. That is why your effective rate is lower than your marginal bracket.
How can I lower my tax bracket?
Common ways to reduce taxable income include traditional 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and deductions (standard or itemized). Lower taxable income can move you to a lower marginal bracket. This calculator’s gross mode applies the standard deduction only — for 401(k) or credits, use the income tax calculator.
What is taxable income?
Taxable income is gross income minus deductions (and certain adjustments). Federal brackets apply to taxable income, not gross wages. Switch to Taxable income mode if you already know this number from a return or worksheet.
Single vs married filing jointly brackets?
Married filing jointly brackets are wider — roughly double single thresholds at lower rates — so the same household income often sits in a lower marginal bracket than two single filers combined. Select your status in the calculator to compare.
Head of household brackets?
Head of household uses wider brackets than single for most rates (you must qualify with a dependent). 2026 HOH 12% runs to $67,450 taxable vs $50,400 for single. Choose head of household in the calculator if it matches your filing status.
Federal vs state tax brackets?
This tool covers federal brackets only. States set separate income tax rates and brackets — or no income tax at all. For combined federal + state estimates, use the income tax calculator.
How is this different from the IRS withholding estimator?
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator helps you complete Form W-4 for paycheck withholding. This tax bracket calculator shows which federal bracket your annual income falls into and explains marginal vs effective rates — use both for different questions.
Can I export my bracket estimate?
Yes. Use Export CSV or Export PDF below the calculator for inputs, marginal and effective rates, federal tax, and bracket ladder rows — no account required.
Is this tax bracket calculator free?
Yes. Free to use with no sign-up. Export results to CSV or PDF. It does not file taxes or sell your data.
How accurate is this calculator?
Estimates use IRS 2025 and 2026 federal bracket tables and standard deduction amounts in gross mode. Actual returns may differ due to itemized deductions, credits, other income, and AMT. This is a planning estimate, not tax advice.
When do 2026 tax brackets apply?
2026 federal brackets apply to tax year 2026 income — the return typically due April 15, 2027 (or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday). Select 2026 in the calculator for current-year planning.
Is there a married filing jointly tax bracket calculator?
Yes. Choose Married filing jointly above. MFJ uses roughly double single thresholds at lower rates — the same household income often sits in a lower marginal bracket than two single filers. See the MFJ section on this page for 2026 threshold examples.
Does California have different tax brackets?
Yes. California (and every state with income tax) sets its own brackets and rates — separate from federal. This tool is federal-only. For California or other state brackets plus federal, use the income tax calculator.
What are the 2026 income tax brackets?
2026 federal marginal rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Dollar cutoffs depend on filing status — see the reference table on this page or enter your income above for a personalized bracket ladder.