Taxable income
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Federal tax owed
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Effective rate
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Marginal bracket
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Tax breakdown by bracket — 2025
| Rate | Income range | Amount in bracket | Tax at this rate |
|---|
For estimation purposes only. Does not include state taxes, FICA/Social Security, AMT, or tax credits. 2026 brackets are projected using the IRS inflation-adjustment methodology and are not yet official. Consult a qualified tax professional before filing.
How the US progressive tax system works
Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate — not your full income. So if you're in the 22% bracket, only the dollars above the 12% threshold are taxed at 22%. Your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard deduction for 2025?
For 2025, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, and $22,500 for head of household — up from 2024 due to annual IRS inflation adjustments.
What is the difference between effective and marginal tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income — your highest bracket. Your effective rate is the actual average percentage of your total income you pay in taxes. The effective rate is almost always lower because income in lower brackets is taxed at lower rates first.
Does this include self-employment tax?
No — this covers federal income tax only. Self-employed and freelance workers also owe self-employment tax (15.3% on net earnings up to the Social Security wage base). Visit our self-employment tax calculator for the complete picture.
Are the 2026 tax brackets official?
Not yet. The IRS typically announces official brackets in October or November of the prior year. The 2026 figures shown here are projections based on current CPI data and the IRS inflation-adjustment methodology. They are close estimates but subject to change when officially published.
Should I take the standard deduction or itemize?
Take whichever is larger. Most people benefit from the standard deduction since it was nearly doubled by the 2017 tax law. Itemizing typically makes sense only if you have large mortgage interest, significant charitable donations, or state and local taxes that together exceed the standard deduction for your filing status.