Tax Bracket Calculator
See exactly which 2026 federal tax brackets apply to your taxable income, your marginal rate, and your effective rate.
How the 2026 Tax Brackets Work
The US uses a progressive tax system — income is taxed in tiers, not all at one rate. Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. A single filer with $60,000 taxable income pays 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on the next $36,550, and 22% on the remaining $11,525. Their total tax is about $8,577 — an effective rate of 14.3%, not 22%.
Taxable Income vs Gross Income
Tax brackets apply to taxable income, not gross income. The 2026 standard deduction reduces taxable income by $15,000 (single) or $30,000 (MFJ) before brackets are applied. A single filer earning $80,000 gross has only $65,000 taxable income after the standard deduction — which changes which brackets apply significantly.
Strategies to Reduce Your Bracket
Traditional 401k contributions, HSA contributions, and IRA deductions all reduce taxable income. A $5,000 traditional IRA contribution by a single filer earning $52,000 can drop them from the 22% bracket to the 12% bracket — a meaningful tax savings. Tax-loss harvesting and charitable contributions can also lower taxable income.