Social Security wage base
$184,500
Used in the 2026 self-employment tax estimate.
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Free 2025 + 2026 Tax Estimator
2025 and 2026 Federal Tax Calculator & Refund Estimator
Estimate your federal tax picture for 2025 filing or 2026 planning, then see how filing status, deductions, credits, and other income can change the result.
IRS-sourced tables
No account required
Tax Year
2026 planning estimates for income earned in 2026
2026 IRS inflation-adjusted tables; returns generally filed in 2027. Last reviewed June 16, 2026.
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Child tax credit estimates use $2,200 per qualifying child before income phaseouts. They do not determine eligibility, refundable limits, SSN rules, or Schedule 8812 details.
Start your federal estimate
Enter your details to view an estimated refund or balance due, taxable income, marginal rate, and effective rate.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on selected-year federal brackets, standard deductions, Social Security wage bases, and long-term capital-gain thresholds. It does not account for state taxes, AMT, NIIT, QBI, most phase-outs, refundable-credit limits, local taxes, or every deduction and credit. Results are for informational purposes only. For personalized tax advice, consult our tax professionals.
IRS-source-backed estimate
Tax data used by this calculator
The estimator uses selected-year federal brackets, standard deduction amounts, long-term capital-gain thresholds, Child Tax Credit amounts, and Social Security wage bases from official IRS and SSA sources. For a deeper walkthrough, read the 2025 and 2026 federal tax calculator guide.
IRS federal income tax rates and bracketsIRS 2026 inflation adjustmentsIRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 OBBBA adjusted itemsIRS Child Tax CreditSSA Social Security contribution and benefit baseIRS Topic 409: Capital Gains and LossesIRS self-employment tax guidanceIRS Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
IRS data tables
2025 vs 2026 federal tax calculator data
These selected-year figures support the standard deduction, federal bracket, self-employment, Child Tax Credit, and long-term capital gains estimates.
Last reviewed
June 16, 2026
Reviewed by: IntegraFin tax team
| Filing status | 2025 standard deduction | 2026 standard deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $15,750 | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $31,500 | $32,200 |
| Married Filing Separately | $15,750 | $16,100 |
| Head of Household | $23,625 | $24,150 |
Child Tax Credit
$2,200
Estimated per qualifying child before phaseout and eligibility limits.
Calculator scope
Federal only
State, local, AMT, NIIT, and many phaseouts are excluded.
2026 federal income tax brackets used
Federal income tax is marginal. A higher bracket applies only to the next layer of taxable income, not the full income amount.
Single
| Rate | Taxable income |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 - $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,400 - $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,400 - $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 - $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 - $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,225 - $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,600 - and up |
Married Filing Jointly
| Rate | Taxable income |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 - $24,800 |
| 12% | $24,800 - $100,800 |
| 22% | $100,800 - $211,400 |
| 24% | $211,400 - $403,550 |
| 32% | $403,550 - $512,450 |
| 35% | $512,450 - $768,700 |
| 37% | $768,700 - and up |
Married Filing Separately
| Rate | Taxable income |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 - $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,400 - $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,400 - $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 - $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 - $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,225 - $384,350 |
| 37% | $384,350 - and up |
Head of Household
| Rate | Taxable income |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 - $17,700 |
| 12% | $17,700 - $67,450 |
| 22% | $67,450 - $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 - $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,750 - $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,200 - $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,600 - and up |
2026 long-term capital gains thresholds
Long-term gains are stacked on top of ordinary taxable income. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income.
| Filing status | 0% threshold | 15% threshold | 20% applies above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Up to $49,450 | Up to $545,500 | Over $545,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly | Up to $98,900 | Up to $613,700 | Over $613,700 |
| Married Filing Separately | Up to $49,450 | Up to $306,850 | Over $306,850 |
| Head of Household | Up to $66,200 | Up to $579,600 | Over $579,600 |
Calculator limitations
What this federal estimate does not cover
The calculator is built for planning and search transparency. It is intentionally conservative about exclusions so taxpayers know when to request a reviewed estimate.
State and local income taxes are not included.
AMT, NIIT, QBI, EITC, refundable-credit limits, education credits, and most phaseouts are not calculated.
Age 65 or older, blind taxpayer, retirement-plan deductions, HSA deductions, student loan interest, and detailed itemized-deduction limits are not yet modeled.
Self-employment estimates use the selected-year Social Security wage base and Medicare rates, but final Schedule SE results can differ.
Capital gains estimates exclude NIIT, collectibles, Section 1202 stock, unrecaptured Section 1250 gains, wash sales, and carryover-loss details.
The result is not a filed return, IRS software, or a guarantee of refund or tax due.
Federal tax calculator FAQ
How accurate is this tax calculator?
It provides a planning estimate using selected-year federal brackets, standard deductions, Child Tax Credit amounts, Social Security wage bases, and capital-gain thresholds. Final tax can change after full Form 1040 details, phaseouts, state taxes, penalties, and refundable-credit rules are reviewed.
Does this calculator estimate my 2025 tax refund?
Yes. Choose 2025 filing, enter income, withholding, deductions, credits, and qualifying children, and the calculator estimates a federal refund or balance due.
Can I use this for 2026 tax planning?
Yes. Choose 2026 planning to estimate federal income tax, self-employment tax, long-term capital gains, and quarterly planning amounts using 2026 IRS and SSA figures.
Does this include self-employment tax?
Yes. The self-employment tab estimates Social Security and Medicare tax on 92.35% of net self-employment earnings and coordinates with optional W-2 wages.
Does this include state income tax?
No. This calculator currently focuses on federal estimates. State income tax, local tax, franchise tax, and sales tax are outside the calculator scope.
Does this include capital gains tax?
Yes. The capital gains tab estimates short-term gains as ordinary income and long-term gains using selected-year 0%, 15%, and 20% thresholds. It does not include NIIT or special capital-gain rates.
What tax brackets does this calculator use?
It uses IRS-published 2025 federal income tax brackets and 2026 inflation-adjusted federal tax brackets, plus selected-year standard deduction and long-term capital-gain thresholds.
Why is my refund different from my tax liability?
Tax liability is the estimated tax after deductions and credits. Refund or balance due compares that liability with withholding and estimated payments already paid.
Should I use standard or itemized deductions?
Use the larger deduction only after reviewing your actual deductible expenses. The calculator lets you compare the standard deduction with an itemized deduction estimate.
When are 2026 estimated tax payments due?
For 2026 planning, the calculator displays estimated payment dates of April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.
Related resources
More help after the tax estimate
Use these pages for tax preparation, bookkeeping, IRS notices, and deeper planning context.
How We Calculate
Our engine uses selected-year IRS-published federal tax tables, standard deductions, and capital-gain thresholds. It aggregates income, subtracts deductions, and applies marginal brackets to estimate the taxable base.
When to Update
Recalculate your estimate whenever you experience a major life event: marriage, a new child, a significant raise, or the purchase of a new home to ensure withholding accuracy.
Pro Tip
Plan ahead by reviewing tax-advantaged contributions, withholding, and estimated payments before key filing-year deadlines.
Need a reviewed estimate?
Calculators are helpful for planning, but complete tax documents can change the final number. Book a review with an IntegraFin tax professional.
Ready for a reviewed estimate?
Send your details through the contact form for team follow-up and next-step information.
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