Federal/IRS Tax Guide for 2026
Overview
The federal income tax system uses a progressive tax structure with 7 tax brackets, ranging from 10% to 37%. This means higher portions of your income are taxed at higher rates as your income increases. Long-term capital gains (assets held for more than one year) are taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income level. Short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
The standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, which reduces your taxable income.
In addition to income tax, employees pay 6.2% in Social Security tax (on wages up to $184,500) and 1.45% in Medicare tax on all wages. High earners pay an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,001 for single filers and $250,001 for married filers.
Various tax credits are available to reduce your tax liability, including the Child Tax Credit (up to $2,200 per child), Earned Income Tax Credit, and education credits.
Income Tax Rates
Single Filers
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,401 - $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,401 - $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,701 - $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,776 - $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,226 - $640,600 | 35% |
| $640,601+ | 37% |
Married Filing Jointly
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $24,800 | 10% |
| $24,801 - $100,800 | 12% |
| $100,801 - $211,400 | 22% |
| $211,401 - $403,550 | 24% |
| $403,551 - $512,450 | 32% |
| $512,451 - $768,700 | 35% |
| $768,701+ | 37% |
Married Filing Separately
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,401 - $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,401 - $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,701 - $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,776 - $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,226 - $384,350 | 35% |
| $384,351+ | 37% |
Head of Household
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $17,700 | 10% |
| $17,701 - $67,450 | 12% |
| $67,451 - $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,701 - $201,750 | 24% |
| $201,751 - $256,200 | 32% |
| $256,201 - $640,600 | 35% |
| $640,601+ | 37% |
Capital Gains Tax
Single Filers
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $49,450 | 0% |
| $49,451 - $545,500 | 15% |
| $545,501+ | 20% |
Married Filing Jointly
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $98,900 | 0% |
| $98,901 - $613,700 | 15% |
| $613,701+ | 20% |
Married Filing Separately
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $49,450 | 0% |
| $49,451 - $306,850 | 15% |
| $306,851+ | 20% |
Head of Household
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $66,200 | 0% |
| $66,201 - $579,600 | 15% |
| $579,601+ | 20% |
Medicare
Employee
Single Filers
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $200,000 | 1.45% |
| $200,001+ | 2.35% |
Married Filing Jointly
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $250,000 | 1.45% |
| $250,001+ | 2.35% |
Married Filing Separately
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $125,000 | 1.45% |
| $125,001+ | 2.35% |
Head of Household
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $200,000 | 1.45% |
| $200,001+ | 2.35% |
Self-Employed
Single Filers
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $200,000 | 2.9% |
| $200,001+ | 3.8% |
Married Filing Jointly
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $250,000 | 2.9% |
| $250,001+ | 3.8% |
Married Filing Separately
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $125,000 | 2.9% |
| $125,001+ | 3.8% |
Head of Household
| Income Range | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $200,000 | 2.9% |
| $200,001+ | 3.8% |
Deductions & Exemptions
Standard Deduction
| Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single: | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly: | $32,200 |
| Married Filing Separately: | $16,100 |
| Head of Household: | $24,150 |
Additional Information
- Additional deduction for seniors (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Pub. L. 119-21): individuals age 65 or older may deduct an extra $6,000 ($12,000 if married filing jointly and both qualify) for 2025 through 2028, phasing out above modified AGI of $75,000 ($150,000 married filing jointly). This is separate from the additional standard deduction for age or blindness shown above.
- Deduction for qualified tips (One Big Beautiful Bill Act): up to $25,000 of qualified tip income for 2025 through 2028, phasing out above modified AGI of $150,000 ($300,000 married filing jointly).
- Deduction for qualified overtime pay (One Big Beautiful Bill Act): up to $12,500 ($25,000 married filing jointly) for 2025 through 2028, phasing out above modified AGI of $150,000 ($300,000 married filing jointly).
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reset the alternative minimum tax exemption phase-out thresholds for 2026 to $500,000 ($1,000,000 married filing jointly) and raised the phase-out rate to 50%, so the exemption is reduced by $1 for every $2 of alternative minimum taxable income above the threshold.
- Earned income tax credit figures shown for married filing separately are the "all other filing statuses" amounts, which apply only to separated spouses who meet the special rules of Internal Revenue Code section 32(d). Other married filing separately filers cannot claim the credit.
Sources
The 2026 figures for the federal government on this page were compiled from the following official government publications:
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments, as amended by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026, including amendments from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill
- IRS Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
- IRS Questions and answers for the Additional Medicare Tax
- IRS Topic no. 559, Net Investment Income Tax
- IRS Child Tax Credit
- IRS Education credits - AOTC and LLC
- IRS Working Families Tax Cuts - Individuals and workers (One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions)
Last updated: September 15, 2026
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