Income Tax Calculator

Who this calculator is for

This calculator is for US federal income tax: US citizens and resident aliens filing Form 1040 for tax year 2026, the return due in April 2027. It uses the IRS's 2026 tax brackets, standard deductions and credit amounts.

It isn't for other countries. Income tax in the UK, Canada, India, Australia and elsewhere uses different rates, allowances and tax years. It also isn't for US state or local income tax, which most states charge separately, or for nonresident aliens filing Form 1040-NR.

How federal income tax is calculated

1. Total income: wages plus other taxable income such as interest and pensions.
2. Adjusted gross income (AGI): total income minus adjustments like traditional 401(k), IRA and HSA contributions.
3. Taxable income: AGI minus the standard or itemized deduction, and any senior, tips or overtime deductions.
4. Tax: each slice of taxable income is taxed at its bracket's rate, and the slices are added up.
5. Credits: the child tax credit comes off the tax dollar for dollar.

For a single filer with $75,000 in wages: $75,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $58,900 taxable. Tax is 10% of the first $12,400 ($1,240), plus 12% of the next $38,000 ($4,560), plus 22% of the last $8,500 ($1,870), for $7,670 in total.

2026 tax brackets

Taxable income ranges for each rate, from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32:

Standard deduction and 65+

The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. People 65 or older add $2,050 each if unmarried or $1,650 each if married. The same additional amount applies for blindness; if that applies to you, add it to the itemized field as a rough adjustment or check the official worksheet.

You itemize instead when your deductible expenses (state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable gifts and large medical bills) add up to more than the standard deduction. Enter your itemized total and the calculator uses whichever is larger.

Senior, tips and overtime deductions

The 2025 tax law (the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act) added three deductions for tax years 2025 through 2028. You can take them whether you itemize or not, and married couples must file jointly to claim them:

• Seniors: $6,000 for each person 65 or older, reduced by 6% of modified AGI over $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).
• Qualified tips: up to $25,000 of tips received in an occupation that customarily gets tips.
• Qualified overtime: up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint) of the premium part of FLSA overtime, the extra half in time-and-a-half.

The tips and overtime deductions shrink by $100 for every $1,000 of modified AGI over $150,000 ($300,000 joint). They reduce income tax only; Social Security and Medicare are still charged on tips and overtime.

Child tax credit

For 2026 the child tax credit is $2,200 for each qualifying child under 17 with a Social Security number. It reduces your tax dollar for dollar. If the credit is more than your tax, up to $1,700 per child can be paid to you as the additional child tax credit, limited to 15% of earned income above $2,500. The total credit falls by $50 for every $1,000 of modified AGI over $200,000 ($400,000 for joint filers). Other dependents may qualify for a separate $500 credit, which this calculator doesn't include.

Marginal vs. effective rate

Your marginal rate, or tax bracket, is the rate on your next dollar of taxable income. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by your total income. In the $75,000 example, the bracket is 22% but the effective rate is 10.2%, because most of the income is taxed at 10% and 12%, and the standard deduction isn't taxed at all. Use the marginal rate to judge how much a pre-tax 401(k) contribution saves: each $1,000 contributed cuts tax by $220 at 22%.

Refund or amount owed

Employers withhold income tax from each paycheck based on your W-4. At filing time, the tax you actually owe is compared with what was withheld: overpay and you get a refund, underpay and you owe the difference. A big refund means you lent the government money interest-free during the year; a big bill can come with an underpayment penalty. The paycheck calculator shows withholding per paycheck if you want to adjust your W-4.

What isn't included

• Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, which have their own 0%, 15% and 20% rates. Entering them as other income overstates the tax.
• Self-employment tax (15.3% Social Security and Medicare on business profit) and business deductions.
• The alternative minimum tax, the 3.8% net investment income tax and the Additional Medicare Tax.
• Credits other than the child tax credit, such as the earned income credit, education credits and the child and dependent care credit.
• State and local income tax, and taxes in countries other than the US.

Sources

The formulas on this page come from the published research below. Last updated October 11, 2026. This calculator gives estimates for general information. It isn't medical advice, so check anything important with a qualified professional.

1. Internal Revenue Service. Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-45).Used for: 2026 tax brackets for all four filing statuses, standard deductions, the 65+ additional standard deduction, and the $2,200 child tax credit ($1,700 refundable)
2. Internal Revenue Service. One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act: Tax deductions for working Americans and seniors.Used for: Senior ($6,000), qualified tips ($25,000) and overtime ($12,500 / $25,000 joint) deductions, their phaseout thresholds, and the joint-filing requirement
3. Internal Revenue Service. Child Tax Credit.Used for: Qualifying child under 17, $200,000 / $400,000 phaseout thresholds, and the $2,500 earned-income floor for the refundable portion