Tax Bracket Comparison Calculator

The U.S. uses a progressive tax system. Your income is divided into brackets, and each bracket is taxed at a different rate. Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate — not your entire income. For example, if you earn $50,000 as a single filer in 2025, the first $11,925 is taxed at 10%, the next portion at 12%, and so on.

The IRS adjusts tax brackets annually for inflation using the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U). This prevents "bracket creep" where inflation pushes taxpayers into higher brackets without any real increase in purchasing power.

The standard deduction is an amount subtracted from your gross income before tax is calculated. Most taxpayers use the standard deduction rather than itemizing. For 2025, single filers get $15,000, married filing jointly gets $30,000, and head of household gets $22,500. Use the "I itemize deductions" toggle if you have a different deduction amount.

No. This calculator only computes federal income tax. State and local taxes vary widely. Some states (like Texas, Florida, Nevada) have no state income tax, while others (like California, New York) have rates up to 13%+.

No. FICA taxes (6.2% Social Security on income up to $168,600 in 2024 / $176,100 in 2025 + 1.45% Medicare on all earnings) are separate from income tax. This calculator focuses on federal income tax brackets only.

The 2026 brackets are based on IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-11, which provides inflation-adjusted amounts for tax year 2026. These are official IRS figures. Note: if Congress passes new tax legislation, the actual 2026 brackets could change. Last updated: April 2026.