Taxable Income Estimator: Free 2026 Federal Tax Calculator
Taxable Income Estimator shows you the number the IRS actually taxes. Enter your gross income, pre-tax 401(k) or IRA contributions, and filing status, and the estimator applies the official 2026 standard deduction and brackets to estimate your federal income tax, bracket by bracket.
2026 federal taxable income and tax estimator
Enter your numbers. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Tax year 2026 (returns filed in 2027), federal only, ordinary income only.
Estimated federal income tax: -
- Taxable income
- -
- Deduction used
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- Effective rate (on taxable income)
- -
- Marginal bracket
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Bracket-by-bracket breakdown
| Rate | Amount taxed | Tax |
|---|
Educational estimate only, not tax advice. This tool ignores tax credits, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), state and local tax, capital gains rates, the Alternative Minimum Tax, the qualified business income deduction, and all phaseouts. For your actual return, use IRS forms, tax software, or a qualified tax professional.
How the estimator works
The calculation has three steps. First, pre-tax contributions to a traditional 401(k) or traditional IRA are subtracted from your gross income, because that money is not taxed this year. Second, the estimator subtracts your deduction: the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) or an itemized amount you enter yourself. The result is your taxable income.
Third, the official 2026 federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 are applied progressively. The first slice of taxable income is taxed at 10%, the next slice at 12%, and so on up the brackets. Only the income inside each bracket pays that bracket's rate. The estimator shows every slice in a bracket-by-bracket breakdown, plus your effective rate (total tax divided by taxable income) and your marginal bracket (the rate on your last dollar).
Everything runs in your browser with plain JavaScript. No account, no upload, and your numbers never leave your device. All figures come from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and are listed openly on our 2026 tax brackets page.
Keep reading
- 2026 federal tax brackets, every rate and threshold from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
- Effective vs marginal tax rate, with a full worked example
- What counts as taxable income and what does not
- Standard vs itemized deduction, how to choose
- All guides on taxable income, deductions, and brackets
Frequently asked questions
What is taxable income?
Taxable income is the portion of your income the federal government actually taxes. You start with gross income (wages, salary, interest, and other ordinary income), subtract pre-tax contributions like a traditional 401(k) or IRA, then subtract either the standard deduction or your itemized deductions. What remains is your taxable income, and the bracket rates apply to that number, not to your full salary.
Is the standard deduction automatic?
Effectively, yes. For tax year 2026 the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. You claim it simply by not itemizing. Most filers take the standard deduction because their itemized expenses (mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable gifts) do not add up to more. You would only itemize when your total exceeds the standard amount.
Does contributing to a 401(k) lower my taxable income?
Yes. Contributions to a traditional 401(k) or traditional IRA come out of your income before federal income tax is calculated. For example, a single filer with $100,000 of gross income who contributes $10,000 pre-tax is taxed as if they earned $90,000 before the deduction. Roth contributions do not reduce taxable income now; their benefit is tax-free withdrawal later.
What is the difference between effective and marginal tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income, the highest bracket you touch. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by your taxable income, which is always lower because earlier dollars were taxed at 10%, 12%, and so on. Our effective vs marginal tax rate page walks through a full worked example.
Does this estimator include state income tax?
No. This tool estimates federal income tax only. State income tax varies widely, from zero in states like Texas and Florida to over 13% at the top in California, so a single national estimate would be misleading. It also excludes FICA payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), which are calculated separately from income tax.
Does a raise push all of my income into a higher bracket?
No. US federal tax brackets are progressive, which means only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate. If a raise moves you from the 22% bracket into the 24% bracket, only the dollars above the 24% threshold are taxed at 24%. Your total tax goes up, but your take-home pay never goes down because of a raise. There is no bracket where earning more leaves you with less.
What about tax credits?
This estimator does not include credits such as the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, or education credits. Credits reduce your tax bill dollar for dollar after the bracket math is done, so your actual tax may be lower than the estimate here, sometimes much lower if you have qualifying children. Deductions shrink taxable income; credits shrink the tax itself.
Is this tax advice?
No. This is an educational estimate, not tax advice. It ignores credits, FICA, state tax, capital gains rates, the Alternative Minimum Tax, the qualified business income deduction, and all phaseouts. For decisions about your actual return, use IRS forms and publications, reputable tax software, or a qualified tax professional.