Income Tax Calculator
Estimate 2026 federal income tax from annual income, filing status, pre-tax deductions, standard or itemized deductions, and tax credits. Built for transparent planning, not tax filing.
Formulas, assumptions, and rounding are documented in our calculator methodology.
Estimated 2026 federal income tax
$8,550
Single with $62,900 taxable income
Federal Tax Summary
- Gross income
- $85,000
- Adjusted gross income
- $79,000
- Standard deduction (2026)
- $16,100
- Taxable income
- $62,900
- Tax before credits
- $8,550
- Credits entered
- $0
- Estimated federal tax
- $8,550
- Marginal tax bracket
- 22.0%
- Effective federal rate
- 10.1%
Tax Bracket Breakdown
| Bracket | Taxed amount | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0% | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12.0% | $38,000 | $4,560 |
| 22.0% | $12,500 | $2,750 |
Estimate limits
This uses 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions only. It does not model state income tax, self-employment tax, AMT, capital gains rates, phaseouts, itemized deduction limits, or refundable credits. It is an educational estimate, not tax advice.
Standard deduction reference for this status: $16,100.
Federal Income Tax Formula
Adjusted gross estimate = annual income minus entered pre-tax deductions. Taxable income = adjusted gross estimate minus the standard or itemized deduction. Federal income tax is then calculated across the marginal tax brackets for your filing status, and tax credits are subtracted from the tax before credits.
2026 Standard Deduction Reference
For tax year 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. This calculator uses those amounts when the standard deduction option is selected.
Example Income Tax Estimate
Example: a single filer with $85,000 gross income and $6,000 of pre-tax deductions has an adjusted gross estimate of $79,000. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $62,900. The calculator taxes each layer at the applicable 2026 marginal rate and reports the total estimated federal tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
- This calculator uses tax year 2026 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction amounts published by the IRS. Those rules generally apply to income earned in 2026 and tax returns filed in 2027.
- Taxable income = annual income minus entered pre-tax deductions minus the selected deduction amount. If you use the standard deduction, the calculator applies the 2026 IRS standard deduction for your filing status. If you choose itemized deductions, it uses the dollar amount you enter.
- No. Federal income tax is marginal. Only the dollars within each bracket are taxed at that bracket's rate. For example, moving into the 22% bracket does not make all income taxed at 22%; only income above the lower threshold for that bracket is taxed at 22%.
- No. This calculator estimates federal income tax only. It does not include Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, local tax, self-employment tax, capital gains tax, AMT, or penalties. Use the Paycheck Calculator for a simplified payroll-style estimate.
- No. This is a planning calculator, not tax preparation software. It omits many tax rules, credits, phaseouts, and special income types. Use IRS forms, tax software, or a qualified tax professional to prepare an actual return.