US Income Tax Calculator 2026

Monthly Take-Home

after all taxes

Total Tax

federal + FICA + state

Effective Tax Rate

of gross income

Your Income

Annual Gross Salary

Filing Status

Pre-Tax Deductions

401(k) Contribution / yr

2026 limit: $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+)

HSA Contribution / yr

2026 limit: $4,300 single / $8,550 family

State Tax

State Tax Rate (0% for TX, FL, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK)

Your state’s income tax rate 5.00%

0% (TX, FL)13% (CA top)

Annual Net Pay

—

Federal Income Tax

—

FICA (SS + Medicare)

—

State Tax (est.)

—

Effective Federal Rate

—

Monthly Take-Home

—

Paycheck BreakdownAnnual

Gross Salary—

Federal Income Tax—

Social Security (6.2%)—

Medicare (1.45%)—

State Tax (est.)—

Net Take-Home—

2026 Federal Tax Brackets — Your Marginal Rate Highlighted

Tax Rate	Taxable Income (Single)	Tax on Bracket	Cumulative

Based on 2026 federal tax brackets. State tax is an estimate — actual rates vary by state and filing situation. Does not include AMT, credits, or itemized deductions. Consult a CPA for a complete picture.

How US Federal Income Tax Works in 2026

The US uses a progressive tax system, meaning different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. You don’t pay 22% on your entire income when you’re in the 22% bracket — you pay 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on the next $36,550, and 22% only on income above $48,475. This is the most commonly misunderstood aspect of US taxes.

2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Single Filer)

10% — $0 to $11,925
12% — $11,926 to $48,475
22% — $48,476 to $103,350
24% — $103,351 to $197,300
32% — $197,301 to $250,525
35% — $250,526 to $626,350
37% — Over $626,350

How to Legally Reduce Your Tax Bill

Max out your 401(k) — $23,500 in 2026 is fully pre-tax, directly reducing your taxable income
HSA contributions — Triple tax advantage: pre-tax in, tax-free growth, tax-free out for medical
Itemize if it beats standard — Mortgage interest + state taxes + charitable giving may exceed $14,600 (single)
Roth IRA — After-tax now, tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement
Tax-loss harvesting — Offset capital gains with losses in your investment portfolio

What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?+

Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income — the highest bracket you fall into. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by total income — always lower than marginal. If you earn $100,000 and pay $18,000 in federal tax, your effective rate is 18% even though your marginal rate is 22%. The effective rate is the number that actually matters for financial planning.

Does this calculator include FICA taxes?+

Yes. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $176,100 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers). For a $100,000 salary, that’s approximately $7,650 in FICA taxes — a component most people underestimate.

How much does a 401(k) contribution actually save in taxes?+

Every dollar contributed to a traditional 401(k) reduces your taxable income by one dollar. In the 22% bracket, a $10,000 contribution saves $2,200 in federal taxes. The actual cost to you is $7,800, but your retirement account grows by $10,000. At the 24% bracket, the same $10,000 costs only $7,600 out-of-pocket.

📌 2026 Tax Quick Facts

Standard Deduction (Single)$14,600

Standard Deduction (MFJ)$29,200

401(k) Limit$23,500

SS Wage Base$176,100

Top bracket starts$626,350

FICA rate (employee)7.65%

💡 Tax Saving Tips

→Max 401(k) first — saves at your marginal rate, compounding untaxed

→HSA is triple tax-free — better than any other account for medical costs

→0 states: TX, FL, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK — moving saves thousands

→Effective rate matters more than bracket — they’re always different

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