US
2026 Federal Tax Brackets: What Each Rate Actually Costs You
The 2026 US federal income tax brackets for single and married filers, the standard deduction, and the difference between marginal and effective tax rates.
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United States · Tax & Income
US Income Tax & Paycheck Calculators
Federal tax in the US layers seven income brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% for 2026) on top of FICA (Social Security 6.2% to the wage base plus Medicare 1.45% uncapped), state income tax, and a self-employment surcharge for 1099 workers covering both halves of FICA. The Adjusted Gross Income line on the 1040 is the pivot — most other thresholds (IRA phase-outs, IRMAA Medicare surcharges, premium tax credits, education credits) key off it. The calculators in this hub model each layer: federal tax with the standard or itemized deduction picked automatically, FICA for the payroll wedge, paycheck math for net take-home, self-employment tax for 1099 income, and capital gains for short-term vs long-term sales.
Calculators
Federal Income Tax
US federal income tax with 2026 brackets and standard deduction
FICA
Social Security + Medicare payroll taxes (employee share)
Paycheck
Take-home pay per paycheck with federal tax + FICA + 401(k)
Self-Employment Tax
Schedule SE: 15.3% Social Security + Medicare on net earnings
US CGT
US federal CGT — long-term (0/15/20%) and short-term (ordinary)
Key terms
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Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Total income minus specific above-the-line deductions — the figure most US tax thresholds (IRA phase-outs, IRMAA brackets, premium tax credits) key off.
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Capital Gains Tax (Short vs Long-Term)
US federal tax on profit from selling an asset — short-term gains (held ≤1 year) taxed as ordinary income, long-term gains (>1 year) taxed at 0%/15%/20% preferential rates.
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FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act)
The US payroll tax that funds Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), paid in equal parts by the employee and employer on most wages.
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Form 1099
The IRS information return family used to report payments to independent contractors, dividends, interest, and other non-employee income — most commonly the 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC.
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Form W-2
The annual wage and tax statement a US employer sends each employee in January, summarising the prior year's wages and federal/state tax withholdings.
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Itemized Deductions
Specific tax-deductible expenses — mortgage interest, state/local taxes, charitable gifts, large medical bills — claimed on Schedule A when their total exceeds the standard deduction.
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Standard Deduction
A flat-dollar reduction in taxable income available to every US filer — $15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly in 2026 — used by ~90% of filers.
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Tax Bracket (Marginal Rate)
A range of taxable income taxed at a specific federal income-tax rate — the marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income, not the rate on your whole income.