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Estimate US federal income tax and take-home pay.
📊 US 2026 federal brackets with standard deduction applied ($16,100 single / $24,150 head of household / $32,200 joint). FICA estimated at 7.65% up to the $184,500 Social Security wage base (1.45% Medicare above; additional Medicare surtax ignored). Excludes state tax and credits. Estimate only.
This estimator calculates your US federal income tax using 2026 tax brackets. It applies the standard deduction automatically and shows your estimated tax, effective rate, and take-home pay. This is an estimate only — your actual tax depends on deductions, credits, and state taxes.
Many people think moving into a higher bracket means all their income is taxed at the higher rate. That's a myth. Only the income above each bracket threshold is taxed at that rate. Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar earned; your effective rate is your total tax divided by total income.
Tax is calculated by summing each bracket's contribution:
Tax = Σ (income in bracket × bracket rate)
Effective Rate = Total Tax ÷ Total Income
Only the portion of income falling inside each bracket is multiplied by that bracket's rate, then the pieces are added together. The pie chart above shows the result: the red slice is your total federal tax, the green slice is your take-home.
A single person earning $75,000 has a marginal rate of 22% (their top bracket), but their effective rateis only about 10% because most of their income is taxed at lower rates. Always know your effective rate — that's what you actually pay.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Calculated results are estimates based on the inputs you provide; actual figures may vary. Always consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
The Income Tax Estimator lets you figure out income tax estimatorinstantly, without reaching for a spreadsheet or doing the math by hand. Whether you're planning a budget, checking a loan, or working through homework, the tool applies the correct formula behind the scenes and shows the result the moment you enter your numbers.
Unlike a static chart or table, this calculator adapts to your exact inputs. You can adjust any value and see the outcome update in real time, which makes it easy to compare scenarios — for example, "what if the rate were 1% lower?" or "what if I paid an extra $50 a month?"
Common uses: people reach for this tool when they need to find a income tax estimator by bracket, federal income tax take home pay, tax bracket calculator 2024, or marginal vs effective tax rate.
Browser-based tools like this one have a few real advantages over installed software or manual methods:
The Income Tax Estimator is based on the following formula:
Tax = Σ ( income in bracket × bracket rate )
Variables: Tax = Total estimated tax ($) income in bracket = Portion of income falling inside that bracket ($) bracket rate = Tax rate applied to that bracket (decimal, e.g. 0.22) Σ = Sum across all brackets Effective rate = Tax ÷ total income (%)
Progressive (bracketed) tax: each portion of income is taxed at its own bracket rate, then summed. Your marginal rate is the top bracket you touch; your effective rate is tax ÷ income.
Worked example: Step 1: Single filer with $80,000 taxable income (2025 brackets: 10% up to $11,925, 12% to $48,475, 22% to $103,350). Step 2: First bracket: 11,925 × 0.10 = $1,192.50. Step 3: Second bracket: (48,475 − 11,925) × 0.12 = 36,550 × 0.12 = $4,386.00. Step 4: Third bracket: (80,000 − 48,475) × 0.22 = 31,525 × 0.22 = $6,935.50. Result: Tax = 1,192.50 + 4,386.00 + 6,935.50 = $12,514.00, an effective rate of about 15.6% with a 22% marginal rate.
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