2026 Tax Brackets: Here’s How Much You’ll Owe the IRS Next Year
Each fall, the Internal Revenue Service analyzes how inflation has impacted the cost of living and, in response, makes changes to how we’re taxed and how much we receive in government benefits. The IRS has released the latest inflation-adjusted federal income tax brackets that will go into effect for tax year 2026.
This won’t affect what tax bracket you’re in when you file your 2025 taxes in April 2026. Instead, it’ll affect any income you earn in 2026 for filing in 2027.
So what are the new tax brackets for the 2026 tax year, what other changes has the IRS announced and will any of it make a difference in your finances? We have the details.
Tax Bracket Changes for 2026
For the 2026 tax year, there are seven federal tax rates:
- 10%
- 12%
- 22%
- 24%
- 32%
- 35%
- 37%
These are unchanged from the 2025 tax year. However, how the IRS sorts taxpayers into these rates has changed for the 2026 tax year, and it all comes down to your filing status and how much money you make.
Make Easy Money to Pay Your Tax Bill
Are you looking ahead toward tax day and not sure you’ll have the money you’ll need? Check out some of our favorite ways to make quick cash below that could help you pay your tax bill.
| Offer | What You Can Earn | What You Have to Do | Take Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| InboxDollars | $225/month | Complete short surveys | |
| FreeCash | $1,000/month | Simple online tasks | |
| GoBranded | Up to $140/month | Share your honest opinion | |
| Kashkick | $1,000/month | Try out apps | |
| Solitaire Cash | Up to $83 per win | Compete against other players | |
| Bingo Cash | Up to $83 per win | Compete against other players |
Single Filer Tax Brackets
This table shows tax brackets for single filers for the 2025 tax season compared to the new tax brackets for single filers in 2026. Note that these tax brackets also apply to married couples filing separately.
Single Filer Tax Brackets
| Tax Bracket | 2025 Taxable Income (use when you file in 2026) | 2026 Taxable Income (use when you file in 2027) |
|---|---|---|
10% |
Up to $11,925 |
Up to $12,400 |
12% |
$11,926 to $48,475 |
$12,401 to $50,400 |
22% |
$48,476 to $103,350 |
$50,401 to $105,700 |
24% |
$103,351 to $197,300 |
$105,701 to $201,775 |
32% |
$197,301 to $250,525 |
$201,776 to $256,225 |
35% |
$250,526 to $626,350 |
$256,226 to $640,600 |
37% |
Over $626,350 |
Over $640,601 |
Married, Filing Jointly Tax Brackets
This table shows tax brackets for married couples filing jointly for the 2025 tax season compared to the new tax brackets for joint filers in 2026.
Married, Filing Jointly Tax Brackets
| Tax Bracket | 2025 Taxable Income (use when you file in 2026) | 2026 Taxable Income (use when you file in 2027) |
|---|---|---|
10% |
Up to $23,851 |
Up to $24,800 |
12% |
$23,851 to $96,950 |
$24,801 to $100,800 |
22% |
$96,951 to $206,700 |
$100,801 to $211,400 |
24% |
$206,701 to $394,600 |
$211,401 to $403,550 |
32% |
$394,601 to $501,050 |
$403,551 to $512,450 |
35% |
$501,051 to $751,600 |
$512,451 to $768,700 |
37% |
Over $751,600 |
Over $768,700 |
Head of Household Tax Brackets
This table shows tax brackets for head of household filers for the 2025 tax season compared to the new tax brackets for heads of household in 2026.
Head of Household Tax Brackets
| Tax Bracket | 2025 Taxable Income (use when you file in 2026) | 2026 Taxable Income (use when you file in 2027) |
|---|---|---|
10% |
Up to $17,000 |
Up to $17,700 |
12% |
$17,001 to $64,850 |
$17,701 to $67,450 |
22% |
$64,851 to $103,350 |
$67,451 to $105,700 |
24% |
$103,351 to $197,300 |
$105,701 to $201,775 |
32% |
$197,301 to $250,500 |
$201,776 to $256,200 |
35% |
$250,501 to $626,350 |
$256,201 to $640,600 |
37% |
Over $626,350 |
Over $640,600 |
Why Tax Brackets Changed
The IRS reviews tax brackets and dozens of other tax provisions each year to ensure inflation doesn’t cause “bracket creep.”
What’s bracket creep? Because of salary increases, you might have earned more physical dollars than you did in the previous year. But due to an inflated cost of living, the increase in your income theoretically may not have made you better off. Even so, that higher income could catapult you into a more aggressive tax bracket meant for higher earners.
Thus, the IRS reviews how the cost of living shifts from year to year. With that data, pulled from the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI), the IRS increases the income thresholds for each tax bracket. This keeps taxpayers from moving up into higher tax brackets without a real substantial change in income.
How Tax Brackets and Tax Rates Work
Knowing your tax rate is helpful, but how do you actually use that to estimate what you owe?
Tax rates apply only to the income within each bracket. So if you’re a single filer with taxable income of $60,000, you won’t pay a flat 22% of that $60K to Uncle Sam. Instead, according to the 2026 tax brackets, you’d pay:
- $1,240 — 10% on the first $12,400 of income
- $4,559.88 — 12% on the next $37,999 of income ($50,400 – $12,401 = $37,999)
- $2,111.78 — 22% on the remaining $9,599 of income ($60,000 – $50,401 = $9,599)
- $7,911.66 — total tax bill
So even though your marginal tax rate is 22%, you’d only pay 13.19% of your taxable income to Uncle Sam ($7,911.66 / $60,000 = 13.19%).
Other Tax Changes for 2026
The IRS has changed more than tax brackets for the 2026 tax year. Here are some of the other changes you’ll need to be aware when filing in 2027:
Standard Deduction in 2026
The IRS has increased the standard deduction for 2026:
- Single filers and married, filing separately: $16,100, up from $15,750 in 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Married couples, filing jointly: $32,200, up from $31,500 in 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Heads of household: $24,150, up from $23,625 in 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, most Americans take the standard deduction. This is likely to remain true under the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. However, you can still itemize your deductions if you’d prefer.
Social Security Benefits in 2026
On Oct. 24, 2025, the IRS announced that the cost of living adjustment for Social Security benefits starting in January 2026 will be 2.8%, after a delay due to the government shutdown. Benefits increased by 2.5% in 2025, 3.2% in 2024 and 8.7% in 2023.
FSA and 401(k) Contributions in 2026
In addition, the IRS has announced that FSA participants can contribute $3,400 in the 2026 tax year (that’s up from $3,300 in 2025).
Employee contributions to various employer-sponsored retirement accounts, including 401(k)s, are also expected to grow in 2026, but this has not yet been finalized. In 2026, experts believe contribution limits will increase from $23,500 to $24,500, but nothing is set in stone yet.
No Taxes on Tips and Overtime
As part of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, tips and overtime are now exempt from taxes, to a point. This goes into effect for 2025 taxes.
For tips, the maximum annual deduction is $25,000, but the deduction phases out for single filers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for married couples filing jointly).
For overtime, the maximum annual deduction is $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers), with the same phase out thresholds as tips.
How Will the New Tax Brackets Affect Me?
The IRS updates tax brackets in response to inflation. If inflation outpaced your salary, you might find that you’re paying a little less to the IRS in 2026 than you did in 2025. But if your salary grew alongside inflation, what you owe to the IRS in 2026 could feel like deja vu.
And if your salary grew faster than inflation (hey, good for you!), there’s a small chance you could have graduated to a new tax bracket. You’ll wind up paying Uncle Sam a little more in taxes — unless you have enough tax credits and deductions to lower your overall tax liability.
Timothy Moore is a personal finance writer and Certified Financial Education Instructor. He covers banks, loans, insurance and taxes for The Penny Hoarder. Find his work on sites such as USA Today, Business Insider and Forbes.
