liminfoTax Bracket Calculator
Free web tool: Tax Bracket Calculator
Taxable Income
$69,600
Std deduct. $15,400
Federal Tax
$10,090
Marginal Rate
22%
Effective Rate
11.9%
Effective Rate vs Marginal Rate
The 10.1pp gap between marginal (22%) and effective (11.9%) rates reflects the progressive bracket structure.
2026 Per-Bracket Breakdown
| Rate | Bracket Range | Income in Bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,250 | $12,250 | $1,225 |
| 12% | $12,250 – $49,775 | $37,525 | $4,503 |
| 22% | $49,775 – $106,150 | $19,825 | $4,362 |
| Total | $10,090 | ||
About Tax Bracket Calculator
The US Tax Bracket Calculator covers 2024, 2025, and projected 2026 federal income tax brackets. It supports Single, Married Filing Jointly, and Head of Household filing statuses, each with their own progressive bracket thresholds and standard deduction amounts. The 2026 brackets are projected using the IRS COLA inflation-adjustment methodology.
After subtracting the standard deduction (2026: $15,400 Single / $30,800 Married / $23,100 HoH), the calculator shows your taxable income, total federal tax, marginal rate (rate on your last dollar), and effective rate (total tax / gross income) — visualized with side-by-side bar charts. A color-coded per-bracket table then shows exactly how much income falls into each tier and the resulting tax.
The Year Comparison tab displays a side-by-side table of all three tax years for the same income, highlighting changed figures in orange. This lets you see at a glance how bracket thresholds have shifted due to inflation adjustments from 2024 through projected 2026. All calculations run instantly in your browser with no data sent to any server.
Key Features
- 2024, 2025, and projected 2026 federal tax brackets for Single, Married Filing Jointly, and Head of Household
- Year-over-year comparison table (2024 vs 2025 vs 2026) with highlighted changes and 2024→2026 delta column
- Automatic standard deduction applied per year: 2026 $15,400 / $30,800 / $23,100 (Single/Married/HoH)
- Effective vs marginal rate visualization with animated bar charts showing the progressive tax gap
- Color-coded rate badges (green through purple) for each of the seven progressive bracket tiers
- Per-bracket income breakdown with totals footer — see exactly how much tax each rate tier generates
- Real-time calculation updating instantly as you change income, filing status, or tax year
- Transparent 2026 projection disclaimer based on IRS COLA ~2.7% inflation adjustment methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the projected 2026 US federal tax brackets for Single filers?
The projected 2026 Single brackets (based on ~2.7% IRS COLA adjustment) are: 10% up to $12,250; 12% from $12,250 to $49,775; 22% from $49,775 to $106,150; 24% from $106,150 to $202,700; 32% from $202,700 to $257,350; 35% from $257,350 to $643,300; and 37% above $643,300. The standard deduction rises to $15,400.
What are the 2025 US federal tax brackets for Single filers?
For Single filers in 2025: 10% on income up to $11,925; 12% to $48,475; 22% to $103,350; 24% to $197,300; 32% to $250,525; 35% to $626,350; and 37% above $626,350. The standard deduction is $15,000.
How do 2026 brackets differ from 2024?
The 2026 brackets reflect roughly a 5.6% cumulative inflation adjustment over 2024 (approximately 2.7% per year compounded). For example, the Single 22% bracket upper limit rises from $100,525 (2024) to $103,350 (2025) to $106,150 (2026). The Year Comparison tab shows all changes side by side with a 24→26 change column.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
The marginal tax rate is the rate on your last dollar of income — the highest bracket you reach. The effective rate is total federal tax divided by gross income — your real overall tax burden. For $85,000 Single income in 2026, the marginal rate is 22% but the effective rate is roughly 11.5%, because the lower brackets are taxed at only 10% and 12%.
How does the standard deduction work in this calculator?
The standard deduction is automatically subtracted from your gross income before applying any bracket rates. For 2026 projections: $15,400 (Single), $30,800 (Married Filing Jointly), $23,100 (Head of Household). Only the remaining taxable income is subject to the progressive bracket rates.
Does this calculator include state taxes or FICA?
No. This calculator covers federal income tax only using the progressive bracket system for 2024, 2025, and projected 2026. It does not include state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), or Medicare (1.45%). For a net pay estimate that includes all those, use the Take-Home Pay Calculator on liminfo.com.
Can I compare tax liability across different filing statuses?
Yes. Use the filing status buttons (Single, Married, Head) to switch between statuses and instantly see how your tax changes across all three years. This is useful for couples deciding between joint and separate filing, or taxpayers evaluating Head of Household eligibility.
Is my income information stored or shared?
No. All calculations happen entirely within your web browser using JavaScript. Your income amount and filing status are never sent to any server, logged, stored, or shared with any third party. The tool requires no account and collects no personal data.