What is my marginal tax rate?

Your marginal tax rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of income. It's the highest bracket your income reaches, not the rate applied to all your income.

What is an effective tax rate?

Your effective tax rate is your total tax divided by your total income. It's lower than your marginal rate because only portions of income are taxed at each bracket rate.

How do tax brackets work?

Tax brackets are progressive, meaning only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate. Moving into a higher bracket doesn't mean all your income is taxed at the higher rate.

CalculatorsTax Bracket Calculator

2026 Tax Bracket Calculator

2026 federal marginal tax brackets run from 10% to 37%, and only the income inside each band is taxed at that rate. This calculator estimates taxable income, marginal rate, effective rate, and tax by bracket after the selected standard deduction; it does not model the full return's credits, alternative minimum tax, or income adjustments outside its inputs.

Updated August 24, 2026Reviewed for 2025 & 2026 tax yearsIRS-sourcedReviewed by Adam Khale

"I'm in the 22% bracket" sounds scary, but here's the thing: you don't pay 22% on everything. The US uses a progressive system — only the dollars within each bracket get taxed at that rate. This calculator shows you exactly how your income is taxed, piece by piece.

What are the 2025 federal tax brackets?

The 2025 federal tax brackets are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. For single filers: 10% on income up to $11,925, 12% on $11,926-$48,475, 22% on $48,476-$103,350, 24% on $103,351-$197,300, 32% on $197,301-$250,525, 35% on $250,526-$626,350, and 37% on income over $626,350.

The US uses 7 progressive tax brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%)
Your marginal tax rate is only applied to income WITHIN that bracket
Your effective tax rate is always lower than your marginal rate
Tax bracket thresholds are adjusted annually for inflation

Source:IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40

Bracket creep is the most misunderstood concept in personal tax. A 'jump to the next bracket' doesn't tax all your income at the higher rate — only the dollars above the bracket threshold. The fear of getting a raise that 'pushes me into a higher bracket' is almost always misplaced.

Real-world scenario

Single filer with $48,475 taxable income (2025) gets a $5K raise

Old taxable income: $48,475, the top of the 12% bracket. New: $53,475, so the whole $5,000 raise is taxed at 22%, and nothing below $48,475 is. Federal income tax on the raise: $1,100. You keep $3,900 of it before payroll tax. The 'I'll lose money to taxes' instinct is wrong about brackets: bracket math alone never makes a raise cost you money.

The part most people miss

Where bracket creep actually bites: phaseouts of credits (CTC, EITC, education credits), IRMAA Medicare surcharges, Roth IRA contribution limits, and the 0%/15%/20% capital gains brackets. The sharpest are hard income cutoffs: for 2026 the ACA premium tax credit ends entirely above 400% of the federal poverty line, and the Saver's Credit drops from 50% to 20% of your contribution one dollar past its limit. Phaseouts are gentler: the Child Tax Credit shrinks $50 per $1,000 over its threshold, so a $5K raise costs at most $250 of it. Model the cliffs, not just the brackets.

"Good news: moving into a higher bracket doesn't mean all your income gets taxed more. We've seen people turn down raises because they thought they'd 'lose money' to taxes. That's not how it works — and this calculator proves it."

Your Information

Tax Year

Inflation-adjusted

Planning year — Rev. Proc. 2025-32 inflation-adjusted brackets.

Filing Status

Total Annual Income

2026 Federal Tax Brackets - Single

Tax Rate	Taxable Income Range	Your Tax
10%	$0 – $12,400	$1,240
12%	$12,400 – $50,400	$4,560
22% Your Bracket	$50,400 – $105,700	$1,870
24%	$105,700 – $201,775	—
32%	$201,775 – $256,225	—
35%	$256,225 – $640,600	—
37%	Over $640,600	—

Each rate applies to taxable income over the lower figure, up to and including the upper figure (Rev. Proc. 2025-32: "Over $12,400 but not over $50,400").

Tax Breakdown by Bracket

10.0% bracket$0 - $12,400

$1,240

12.0% bracket$12,400 - $50,400

$4,560

22.0% bracket$50,400 - $105,700

$1,870

Total Tax$7,670

Your Tax Bracket

22.0%

Marginal Rate

Gross Income$75,000

Standard Deduction-$16,100

Taxable Income$58,900

Estimated Tax$7,670

Effective Tax Rate10.2%

Where Your Next Dollar Goes

You're in the 22.0% bracket. You have $46,800 of room before moving into the 24.0% bracket.

💡 Tax-Saving Tips

• Contribute to a 401(k) to reduce taxable income
• Max out HSA contributions if eligible
• Consider tax-loss harvesting on investments
• Bunch deductions in high-income years

Need a detailed tax calculation with credits and deductions?

This is a simplified estimate. Your actual tax may vary based on deductions, credits, and other factors. Use our full calculator for a detailed breakdown.