How much tax will I pay in 2026?

It depends on your income, your state, your family situation and your tax breaks. Most working people pay 15% to 30% of their income in total — federal income tax, state tax, Social Security and Medicare combined. This calculator shows your own number in seconds.

What is a tax bracket?

The US taxes income in slices. In 2026 the first $12,400 of taxable income for a single person is taxed at 10%, the next slice at 12%, and so on up to 37%. Only the money inside each slice is taxed at that slice's rate — moving into a higher bracket never lowers your take-home pay.

Are tips and overtime tax-free now?

Partly, for 2025 through 2028. You can deduct up to $25,000 of reported tips and up to $12,500 of the extra half of time-and-a-half overtime pay ($25,000 for married couples) from your federal taxable income. The break shrinks above $150,000 of income ($300,000 for couples). Social Security and Medicare taxes still apply.

Free Income Tax Calculator 2026 — Federal & State

Where your money goes

The money, line by line

Your federal tax brackets, filled like boxes

Each box of income is taxed at its own rate. Earning more never makes your take-home pay smaller. Hover a box for details.

If your income grows

The share of income you keep, from low pay to double yours. The dot is you. Hover to explore.

What lowered your tax

Comparison

Income

$

Family status

State

Income type

Other details (children, tips, savings…) are copied from your main setup.

Take-home

Total tax

Federal

State + local

Payroll tax

Tax rate

Federal brackets in this scenario

Line by line

How we calculate

What is included

Official 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32). Social Security tax (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages) and Medicare tax (1.45%, plus 0.9% on high incomes). Self-employment tax and the 20% qualified business income deduction for self-employed people. The Child Tax Credit ($2,200 per child) and the $500 credit for other dependents. The Earned Income Credit for working people with modest incomes (estimated). The new 2025–2028 deductions for tips and overtime pay. The new $6,000 bonus deduction for people 65 and older. The new charity deduction for people who do not itemize. Student loan interest. State income tax for all 50 states and D.C. using published 2026 rates, plus an optional local rate.

What is estimated or left out

This tool is a careful estimate for planning — not official tax advice, and your real return can differ. It is built for regular working income: it does not handle capital gains rates, the alternative minimum tax, rental property, or unusual situations. State numbers use each state’s published 2026 rates and standard deductions but skip small state-specific credits, so treat the state line as a close estimate. The Earned Income Credit has extra rules (age, investment income) we simplify. Local taxes are included only where you set a rate (Maryland’s average county rate is applied automatically).

The formula, in plain words

taxable income = income − pre-tax savings − deductions (standard or itemized)
                − tip & overtime breaks − 65+ bonus − charity − student loan interest

federal tax   = each slice of taxable income × that bracket’s rate
              − child & dependent credits − earned income credit

total tax     = federal tax + Social Security & Medicare + state tax + local tax
take-home     = income − total tax − your own savings

Every number above updates live from the official 2026 figures listed in “What is included.”

Common questions

Will earning more push me into a higher bracket and leave me with less?: No. Only the money inside the higher bracket is taxed at the higher rate. A raise always leaves you with more after tax. The bracket chart above shows exactly how the slices work.
Why is my paycheck smaller than this take-home number?: Employers withhold an estimate of your yearly tax from each paycheck. If they withhold more than you owe, you get the difference back as a refund after you file. This page shows what you truly owe for the year.
Which state is best for me?: Press “+ Add a comparison”, pick another state, and the green and red numbers will show you the difference at your exact income. Nine states charge no income tax at all — but they often make it up with other taxes.
I get tips. What should I do?: Keep reporting them. Reported tips now come with a deduction of up to $25,000 a year (2025–2028), so reporting them costs less than it used to — and reported income counts toward Social Security, loans and the Earned Income Credit.