Federal Income Tax Estimator

Start with taxable income, not your paycheck

This tool asks for taxable income: income after the deductions and adjustments used on your federal return. It does not subtract the standard deduction a second time. If you only know gross annual pay, calculate a rough starting point by subtracting your applicable 2026 standard deduction, then account for any other adjustments before entering the amount. This is an estimate of federal income tax, not the amount withheld from one paycheck.

For 2026, the basic 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. Additional standard deduction amounts may apply for age or blindness. Some taxpayers itemize instead. Neither choice is made inside this calculator because taxable income is already its input.

Why the marginal rate is not your overall rate

The United States uses progressive federal income tax brackets. Entering a higher bracket does not cause all your income to be taxed at the new rate. Only the dollars above that bracket's threshold face its rate. A marginal rate tells you the rate applied to the last taxable dollar, while an effective rate divides total estimated tax by all taxable income entered here.

Consider the worked example: even though the last dollars of $60,000 in taxable income face 22%, most of the income falls into the 10% and 12% brackets. The resulting effective rate is 13.19%, not 22%. If you earn one more taxable dollar at this point, its federal income tax is roughly 22 cents before credits or special rules. That distinction is useful when comparing raises or extra work.

The bracket thresholds depend on filing status. For example, the 2026 single bracket changes from 10% to 12% above $12,400 of taxable income, while the married-filing-jointly threshold is $24,800. Select the status you expect to use on your return. An incorrect filing status can change both the calculated tax and the marginal rate.

What this estimate leaves out

The result does not include federal tax credits, alternative minimum tax, capital gains rates, self-employment tax, the net investment income tax, state tax, or payroll taxes. Certain types of income have different federal treatment. A tax credit can reduce the tax you actually owe even when taxable income and the brackets stay the same. Likewise, paycheck withholding may be higher or lower than final annual tax.

Use this estimate to understand the shape of a tax bill rather than to prepare a return. For budgeting, compare the annual tax estimate with projected annual income and remember that Social Security and Medicare are separate deductions. Check current IRS instructions or consult a qualified professional for decisions involving dependents, multiple jobs, itemized deductions, or nonwage income.