How this calculator works
The single most common tax misconception is that your "tax bracket" is the rate you pay on all your income. It isn't. The U.S. uses a progressive system, which means your income is sliced into bands, and each band is taxed only at its own rate. Your marginal rate — the bracket everyone quotes — applies only to your last dollar of income. The rate you actually pay across everything, your effective rate, is always lower, often dramatically so.
This calculator takes your income, subtracts the standard deduction for your filing status (plus any extra deductions you enter) to get your taxable income, then walks the 2026 brackets one band at a time. It shows how much of your income lands in each bracket, the tax from each, your true effective rate, and — the part that actually matters for decisions — what your next dollar would be taxed at.
The method
Only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate — never your whole income.
- Taxable income: $85,000 − $16,100 deduction =
$70,000. - The slices: each band of that taxable income is taxed only at its own rate — the bracket table above shows exactly how much of yours lands in each.
- Total tax ≈ $10,314 — a 22% marginal bracket but only a 14.7% effective rate on taxable income (about 12% of gross).
- A $1,000 raise is taxed at your 22% marginal rate — costing $220, not your whole income jumping a bracket.
Acronyms used on this page
- FICA
- Federal Insurance Contributions Act (payroll tax)
2026 federal tax brackets
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0–$12,400 | $0–$24,800 | $0–$17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400–$50,400 | $24,800–$100,800 | $17,700–$67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400–$105,700 | $100,800–$211,400 | $67,450–$105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700–$201,775 | $211,400–$403,550 | $105,700–$201,750 |
| 32% | $201,775–$256,225 | $403,550–$512,450 | $201,750–$256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225–$640,600 | $512,450–$768,700 | $256,200–$640,600 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | over $768,700 | over $640,600 |
Brackets apply to taxable income (after deductions). The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, and $24,150 head of household.
Frequently asked questions
Marginal vs effective rate — what's the difference?
Marginal is the rate on your last dollar (your bracket). Effective is total tax ÷ income, the true average. Because only income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal one.
Does a higher bracket mean I take home less?
No. Only income above the threshold is taxed at the higher rate, not all of it. A raise is always a net gain — you just pay your marginal rate on the part above the line.
What are the 2026 brackets?
10/12/22/24/32/35/37% on bands of taxable income that vary by filing status. For a single filer, 10% runs to ~$12,400 and 37% begins above $640,600.
Is this my whole tax bill?
No — this is federal income tax only. Social Security and Medicare (FICA) payroll taxes and any state/local income tax are separate and add to your total.