The U.S. uses marginal brackets: moving into a higher bracket only taxes the extra dollars at the higher rate. That’s why your effective rate is always lower than your top bracket.
How to use the Tax Bracket Calculator
- Filing status
- Total income (AGI)
- Itemized deductions (0 = standard)
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Choose your filing status and enter your total income and your itemized deductions (leave 0 to take the standard deduction).
Tips
- Tax figures here are estimates for planning – your actual tax depends on credits, deductions and local rules.
- Check the tax year and filing status before you rely on a result.
- Use gross (before-tax) figures unless a field asks for take-home pay.
- When in doubt, confirm with the tax authority’s own calculator or a tax professional.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing marginal and effective tax rates.
- Adding sales tax to a price that already includes it.
- Forgetting payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) on wages.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Filing status | Choose one: Single, Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, Head of household |
| Total income (AGI) | Amount in your currency |
| Itemized deductions (0 = standard) | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Taxable income = max([Total income (AGI)] – [Deduction used], 0)
- Effective tax rate (of total income) = [Federal income tax]÷[Total income (AGI)]×100
- Income after federal income tax = [Total income (AGI)] – [Federal income tax]
Example values
How the main result changes when Total income changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Total income (AGI) | Federal income tax |
|---|---|
| 47,500 | 3,520 |
| 71,250 | 6,845 |
| 95,000 | 12,070 |
| 118,750 | 17,295 |
| 142,500 | 22,934 |
| 190,000 | 34,334 |
Formula
Taxable income = income − max(standard deduction, itemized deductions)2026 standard deduction: $16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of householdTax = sum over brackets of (income in bracket × rate): 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%Worked example
Inputs — Filing status: Single; Total income (AGI): $95,000; Itemized deductions (0 = standard): $0.
Results — Deduction used = $16,100.00; Taxable income = $78,900.00; Federal income tax = $12,070.00; Marginal tax bracket = 22 %; Effective tax rate (of total income) = 12.71 %; Income after federal income tax = $82,930.00.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2026 tax brackets?
10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%; the 37% rate starts at $640,600 for single filers.
Does a raise ever reduce take-home pay because of brackets?
No – only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
$16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household.
What formula does the Tax Bracket Calculator use?
Taxable income = income − max(standard deduction, itemized deductions).