The seven 2026 federal tax brackets
For tax year 2026 (the return you'll file in early 2027), the IRS adjusted every bracket threshold upward for inflation — about 4% for the bottom two brackets and 2.3% for the rest, under the formula made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The rates themselves are unchanged: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Married filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 | $12,400 – $50,400 | $17,700 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 | $50,400 – $105,700 | $67,450 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 | $105,700 – $201,775 | $105,700 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 | $201,775 – $256,225 | $201,775 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 | $256,225 – $384,350 | $256,200 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 | Over $384,350 | Over $640,600 |
Remember these are marginal brackets applied to taxable income — income after deductions, with each slice taxed at its own rate. If that sentence isn't second nature yet, our guide on how tax brackets work will make it click in five minutes, and the income tax calculator shows your personal bracket-by-bracket breakdown.
2026 standard deduction
| Filing status | 2026 | 2025 (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 | $15,750 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 | $31,500 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100 | $15,750 |
| Head of household | $24,150 | $23,625 |
Taxpayers 65 or older (or blind) add $2,050 (single/HoH) or $1,650 per qualifying spouse (joint). Through 2028, seniors may also claim the separate $6,000 OBBBA bonus deduction, which phases out at 6% of modified AGI above $75,000 (single) / $150,000 (joint) — covered in detail in our new deductions guide.
2026 long-term capital gains thresholds
Long-term gains and qualified dividends use their own brackets keyed to taxable income: the 0% rate applies up to $49,450 (single), $98,900 (joint), and $66,200 (head of household); the 15% rate runs up to $545,500 / $613,700 / $579,600; and 20% applies above. Model a sale with the capital gains calculator.
Other key 2026 figures
- Child tax credit: $2,200 per child under 17; up to $1,700 refundable; phases out above $200,000/$400,000 AGI.
- EITC maximum: $8,231 with three or more children ($664 with none).
- AMT exemption: $90,100 single / $140,200 joint, phasing out from $500,000 / $1,000,000.
- 401(k) limit: $24,500 (+$8,000 catch-up 50+; $11,250 ages 60–63). IRA: $7,500 (+$1,100).
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 (6.2% tax stops above this).
- Annual gift exclusion: $19,000 per recipient. Estate exemption: $15 million.
- QBI deduction: 20% of qualified business income; limits phase in above $201,775 / $403,500 of taxable income.
What changed because of the OBBBA
The July 2025 law made the TCJA-era bracket structure, larger standard deduction, and $0 personal exemption permanent — removing the "2026 tax cliff" that would otherwise have raised rates on nearly everyone. It also added the temporary (2025–2028) deductions for tips, overtime premium pay, car-loan interest on U.S.-assembled vehicles, and the $6,000 senior deduction, and set the child tax credit at $2,200 with inflation indexing.