2026 Federal Tax Brackets and Standard Deduction, Explained
The IRS adjusts income tax brackets and the standard deduction every year. These are the figures for tax year 2026, the return most people file in early 2027.
The 2026 standard deduction
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of household | $24,150 |
The standard deduction is subtracted from your income before any tax is calculated. If you earn $75,000 as a single filer, only $58,900 is taxable.
The 2026 brackets
There are seven rates. The table shows the top of each band of taxable income; the 37% rate applies to everything above the last figure.
| Rate | Single, up to | Married filing jointly, up to | Head of household, up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $12,400 | $24,800 | $17,700 |
| 12% | $50,400 | $100,800 | $67,450 |
| 22% | $105,700 | $211,400 | $105,700 |
| 24% | $201,775 | $403,550 | $201,775 |
| 32% | $256,225 | $512,450 | $256,200 |
| 35% | $640,600 | $768,700 | $640,600 |
| 37% | no limit | no limit | no limit |
A higher bracket does not tax all your income at the higher rate
This is the most common misunderstanding about income tax. Rates are marginal: each one applies only to the slice of income inside its band.
Take the single filer with $58,900 of taxable income:
- The first $12,400 is taxed at 10%: $1,240
- The next $38,000 is taxed at 12%: $4,560
- The remaining $8,500 is taxed at 22%: $1,870
Total federal income tax: $7,670. That is 10.2% of the $75,000 salary, even though the top rate reached is 22%. A raise that moves you into a higher bracket only changes the tax on the extra dollars.
Payroll taxes are separate
Income tax is not the only federal deduction on a paycheck. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026, and Medicare is 1.45% of all wages. Neither is reduced by the standard deduction.
Sources
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- Social Security Administration: contribution and benefit base
This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. See our disclaimer.