2026 Income Tax Calculator: Federal + State, Paycheck Breakdown
Estimate what you'll actually keep from your paycheck in 2026. Enter your income, filing status, and state — the calculator applies the official IRS 2026 federal brackets, your state's 2026 brackets, and FICA payroll tax, then breaks down your take-home pay per paycheck. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded. This is an estimate for education, not tax preparation.
Where each dollar of gross pay goes. Federal tax uses 2026 IRS brackets; state tax uses 2026 state brackets (simplified — excludes local taxes, credits, and state-specific deductions); FICA uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.
How to use this calculator
- Filing status — pick Single, Married filing jointly, or Head of household. Your brackets and standard deduction depend on it.
- Gross annual income — your total pay before any deductions, the number at the top of your offer letter.
- State — nine states tax no wage income at all; the rest use their own 2026 brackets (see assumptions below).
- Pre-tax deductions — 401(k) contributions and similar reduce income tax (but 401(k) is still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax).
- Pre-tax health premiums — premiums paid through your employer's plan reduce both income tax and FICA.
- Deduction method — most people take the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 joint / $24,150 head of household for 2026). Choose "Itemized" if your deductible expenses exceed it, or "None" to see tax on the full amount.
- Pay frequency — converts your annual take-home into a per-paycheck figure. Note this is an even split of the annual estimate, not your employer's withholding calculation.
The 2026 figures behind this calculator
All federal figures are the official 2026 inflation adjustments the IRS published in Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (October 2025), for income earned in calendar year 2026.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 | $17,701 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 | $67,451 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 | $105,701 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 | $201,751 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 | $256,201 – $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,601+ | $768,701+ | $640,601+ |
- 2026 standard deduction: $16,100 single · $32,200 married filing jointly · $24,150 head of household.
- 2026 FICA: Social Security 6.2% on the first $184,500 of wages · Medicare 1.45% on all wages · additional 0.9% Medicare on wages over $200,000 (single/head of household) or $250,000 (joint).
- State tax (simplified estimate): computed with each state's 2026 brackets (Tax Foundation 50-state table, as of January 1, 2026), applied to the same taxable income as the federal calculation. Head of household uses single-filer state brackets. Excludes local/city income taxes, state credits, and state-specific deductions — actual state liability will differ.
- Sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 brackets and standard deductions) · Social Security Administration 2026 contribution and benefit base announcement ($184,500 wage base) · Tax Foundation, "2026 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets" (taxfoundation.org).
Want the full story? Read our guides: 2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets Explained and Paycheck Calculator: How Much Tax Is Taken Out in Each State?
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
For 2026, the seven federal rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. For single filers the brackets start at $12,400 (10%) and the top 37% rate applies above $640,600; for married couples filing jointly they start at $24,800 with the top rate above $768,700; for heads of household they start at $17,700 with the top rate above $640,600. These are the inflation-adjusted figures from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar of taxable income — for example 22% if your taxable income falls in the 22% bracket. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income, and it is always lower because the lower brackets tax your first dollars at 10% and 12%. Confusing the two is the most common tax mistake.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states levy no tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. (Washington taxes certain capital gains, which this calculator does not model.) Everywhere else, state tax is estimated with that state's 2026 brackets.
How much tax is taken out of each paycheck?
Your employer withholds federal income tax using IRS Publication 15-T tables, plus Social Security and Medicare. Withholding is only an estimate — your actual bill is settled when you file. This calculator's per-paycheck figure divides your estimated annual take-home pay by your pay frequency; it is not a withholding prediction.
Should I take the standard deduction or itemize?
Take whichever is larger. For 2026 the standard deduction is $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly), or $24,150 (head of household). Itemizing makes sense if your mortgage interest, state and local taxes (subject to the SALT cap), charitable gifts, and other deductible expenses add up to more.