Federal Tax Calculator 2026
Estimate your nationwide baseline take-home pay. We apply the official 2026 IRS tax brackets, standard deductions, and FICA rules to reveal your true US salary potential.
Estimate Your US Salary Deductions
Input your gross income to instantly see your federal tax liability. This tool is 100% free and does not store your financial data.
Enter Income Details
Calculate your baseline US salary before state taxes. We automatically apply the latest standard deductions.
Ready to Calculate
Enter your income details to see your federal tax breakdown and effective tax rate.
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
The US utilizes a progressive tax system. This means your income is divided into chunks, and each chunk is taxed at the corresponding rate below, not your entire salary.
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets (Estimated)
Showing rates for: Single
| Marginal Tax Rate | Taxable Income Range |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,925 |
| 12% | $11,925 to $48,475 |
| 22% | $48,475 to $103,350 |
| 24% | $103,350 to $197,300 |
| 32% | $197,300 to $250,525 |
| 35% | $250,525 to $626,350 |
| 37% | $626,350 to and above |
Important: These are marginal rates applied only to your taxable income (Gross Income minus the Standard Deduction). You do not pay the highest percentage on your entire salary.
2026 Standard Deductions
- Single$15,000
- Married Filing Jointly$30,000
- Married Filing Separately$15,000
- Head of Household$22,500
The 3-Step Tax Process
Find Taxable Income: We take your Gross Salary and subtract your Standard Deduction.
Apply Brackets: We push your taxable income through the progressive tiers above.
Add FICA: Finally, we add Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) deductions.
How Are Federal Taxes Calculated?
Before state and local taxes are applied, every US worker is subject to federal withholdings. Our tool automates this by taking your gross annual salary and subtracting the standard deduction specific to your filing status (e.g., Single, Married Filing Jointly).
The remaining amount is your taxable income. This figure is then processed through the IRS progressive tax brackets, ranging from 10% up to 37%. By calculating the exact amount owed in each tier, we determine your total federal income tax liability.
Additionally, the tool factors in pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and HSA allocations, which lower your taxable income legally and efficiently.
What's Included in Your Estimate?
- IRS Income Tax: Progressive rates based on 2026 guidelines.
- Standard Deductions: Automatically applied to shield baseline income.
- Social Security (FICA): 6.2% withholding up to the annual wage cap.
- Medicare (FICA): 1.45% plus the 0.9% additional tax for high earners.
Understanding Marginal vs. Effective Rates
A common misconception is looking at the top tax bracket (e.g., 24%) and assuming your entire salary is taxed at that rate. That is your Marginal Tax Rate—the rate applied only to your last dollar earned.
Your Effective Tax Rate is much more important for budgeting. It represents the actual percentage of your total gross income that goes to the IRS. Because the first chunks of your income are taxed at lower rates (10% and 12%), your effective rate is always lower than your marginal bracket.
The State Tax Missing Link
This page calculates your nationwide baseline. However, unless you live in one of the nine states with no income tax (like Texas or Florida), you will also owe state taxes.
To see your absolute final take-home pay, use the state-specific calculators at the bottom of this page to add state and local withholdings to this federal calculation.
Federal Tax FAQs
Select Your State for Exact Net Pay
This federal calculator shows your baseline. Now, apply state and local taxes to see your final paycheck.