Estimate your 2026 federal income tax liability, effective tax rate, and marginal bracket — including your full bracket breakdown and income waterfall.
Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar earned — it does NOT mean all your income is taxed at that rate. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by gross income, which is always lower than your marginal rate.
Take the standard deduction unless your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, SALT up to $10,000, charitable contributions) exceed it. Most taxpayers benefit from the standard deduction since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled it.
401k, IRA, and HSA contributions reduce your AGI — your gross income before the standard or itemized deduction. These are especially powerful because they reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar regardless of whether you itemize.
Assets held over 12 months are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% — significantly lower than ordinary income rates. For 2026, single filers pay 0% on LTCG up to $48,350, and married filing jointly up to $96,700.
Self-employed individuals pay 15.3% SE tax on net earnings (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) in addition to income tax. You can deduct half of SE tax as an above-the-line deduction, which reduces your income tax.
This tool estimates federal income tax only. It does not calculate state income tax, AMT, net investment income tax, or other federal taxes. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA for your actual tax situation.