Free Tax Calculator Online
Estimate your federal income tax, state tax, FICA, and take-home pay for 2026. Covers all 50 US states, self-employment tax, and side-by-side state comparison — updated with the latest IRS brackets.
Four Tax Calculators in One
Whether you're W-2, 1099, comparing states, or checking a paycheck — get your 2026 tax estimate in seconds.
Income Tax Calculator
Enter annual income, filing status, and state. See federal + state + FICA breakdown with bracket-by-bracket detail and take-home pay.
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate per-paycheck take-home. Choose weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly — see gross-to-net for each pay period.
Self-Employment Tax
Freelancers and 1099 workers: calculate your 15.3% SE tax (12.4% SS + 2.9% Medicare) plus income tax on net earnings.
State Comparison
Compare take-home pay between two states side-by-side. See exactly how much you'd save by relocating to a lower-tax state.
Estimate Your 2026 Tax in 3 Steps
Enter Income & Filing Status
Input your annual gross income and select Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household. Add any pre-tax 401(k)/HSA contributions to reduce taxable income.
Select Your State
Choose from all 50 states + DC. The calculator applies 2026 state income tax rates automatically — including the 9 states with no income tax.
View Full Tax Breakdown
See federal tax (bracket-by-bracket), state tax, Social Security, Medicare, effective rate, marginal bracket, and net take-home pay — visualized with a donut chart.
What Makes This Tax Calculator Stand Out
2026 Federal Brackets
All 7 IRS brackets for 2026 — Single, MFJ, and HoH. Updated standard deductions ($16,100 single / $32,200 joint / $24,150 HoH).
All 50 States + DC
State income tax rates for every US state, from 0% (FL, TX, WA) to 13.3% (CA). Flat and graduated states handled correctly.
FICA Breakdown
Social Security (6.2%, $184,500 cap) + Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200k) calculated separately.
Self-Employment Mode
1099 and freelancer support — computes 15.3% SE tax, deductible employer half, and net income tax together.
State vs State Comparison
Compare take-home pay between any two states side-by-side. See exactly how much you'd save relocating to a no-tax state.
100% Browser-Based
No data leaves your device. All tax calculations happen locally in JavaScript — no server calls, no tracking, no signup required.
How This Tax Calculator Compares
| Feature | WebToolTrix | SmartAsset | PaycheckCity | Calculator.net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Federal Brackets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| All 50 States + DC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3 Filing Statuses | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-Employment Tax Mode | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| State vs State Comparison | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bracket-by-Bracket Table | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 401(k)/HSA Pre-Tax Input | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Donut Chart Visualization | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Additional Medicare Tax | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| 100% Browser-Only | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Requires Sign-Up | No | No | No | No |
| Ad-Free Experience | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets — All Filing Statuses
The US federal income tax system uses 7 progressive brackets. Your marginal tax rate applies only to income within each bracket — not your entire income. Here are the 2026 brackets:
Single Filer — 2026 Brackets
| Tax Rate | Taxable Income Range |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 |
Married Filing Jointly — 2026 Brackets
| Tax Rate | Taxable Income Range |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $24,800 |
| 12% | $24,801 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $100,801 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $211,401 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $403,551 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $512,451 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $768,700 |
Source: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Revenue Procedure 2025-XX
2026 Standard Deduction
The standard deduction reduces your gross income before tax brackets are applied:
| Filing Status | 2026 Standard Deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Additional (65+ or blind) | +$2,050 (single) / +$1,650 (married, per spouse) |
FICA Taxes — Social Security & Medicare (2026)
FICA taxes are separate from income tax and are withheld from every paycheck:
- Social Security: 6.2% on income up to $184,500 (2026 wage base). Maximum SS tax: $11,439/year
- Medicare: 1.45% on all income — no cap
- Additional Medicare Tax: Extra 0.9% on income over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ). No employer match on this portion.
- Total FICA: 7.65% for most employees (employer pays matching 7.65%)
Self-Employment Tax — How It Works for 1099 Workers
If you're a freelancer, independent contractor, or sole proprietor, you pay self-employment (SE) tax in addition to income tax:
- SE tax rate: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare)
- Calculated on: 92.35% of net self-employment earnings (you get a small reduction)
- Deductible half: You can deduct the employer-equivalent half (7.65%) from your adjusted gross income
- SS wage cap still applies: The 12.4% Social Security portion applies only up to $184,500
- Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% on SE income exceeding $200,000
States With No Income Tax
Nine US states do not levy a state income tax on wages:
| State | Income Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 0% | Plus Permanent Fund Dividend |
| Florida | 0% | Popular relocation destination |
| Nevada | 0% | No corporate income tax either |
| New Hampshire | 0% | Repealed interest/dividend tax in 2025 |
| South Dakota | 0% | No corporate income tax |
| Tennessee | 0% | Repealed Hall Tax in 2021 |
| Texas | 0% | Largest no-tax state by population |
| Washington | 0% | 7% capital gains tax on high earners |
| Wyoming | 0% | No corporate income tax |
Note: No-income-tax states often compensate with higher property taxes, sales taxes, or other fees. Compare the total tax burden, not just income tax.
Highest & Lowest State Tax Rates (2026)
| State | Top Rate | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| California | 13.3% | Graduated (10 brackets) |
| Hawaii | 11.0% | Graduated (12 brackets) |
| New York | 10.9% | Graduated (9 brackets) |
| New Jersey | 10.75% | Graduated (7 brackets) |
| North Dakota | 2.5% | Low graduated |
| Arizona | 2.5% | Flat |
| Indiana | 2.95% | Flat (reduced Jan 2026) |
| North Carolina | 3.99% | Flat (reduced Jan 2026) |
How Pre-Tax Deductions Reduce Your Tax
Certain deductions come before federal tax brackets are applied, reducing your taxable income dollar-for-dollar:
- 401(k) / 403(b): $23,500 limit (2026), or $31,000 if age 50+
- HSA: $4,300 individual / $8,550 family (2026)
- Health insurance premiums: Employer-sponsored plans are typically pre-tax
- FSA: Flexible Spending Accounts for medical/dependent care
For example, a $75,000 salary with $10,000 in 401(k) contributions has a taxable income of $48,900 (after standard deduction of $16,100), saving approximately $2,200 in federal tax.
Form W-4 — How Withholding Affects Your Paycheck
Your Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal tax to withhold each paycheck. The current W-4 (redesigned 2020) uses a 5-step process:
- Filing status (Single, MFJ, HoH)
- Multiple jobs adjustment
- Dependent credits
- Other adjustments (non-wage income, extra withholding)
- Signature
More withholding = smaller paychecks + likely refund. Less withholding = bigger paychecks + possible tax bill in April. You can update your W-4 at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions About US Tax Calculation
The US uses a progressive tax system with 7 brackets (10% to 37%). Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate — not your entire income. For example, a single filer earning $75,000 in 2026 doesn't pay 22% on all $75,000; they pay 10% on the first $12,400, 12% on the next $38,000, and 22% on the remainder above $50,400.
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. Taxpayers 65+ or blind get an additional $2,050 (single) or $1,650 (married, per person). Most taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It includes Social Security tax (6.2% on earnings up to $184,500) and Medicare tax (1.45% on all earnings). Combined: 7.65%. Earnings above $200,000 (single) are also subject to an additional 0.9% Medicare tax. Your employer pays a matching 7.65%.
Self-employed individuals pay 15.3% SE tax (12.4% SS + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings. The employer-equivalent half (7.65%) is deductible from your adjusted gross income. The SS portion applies only up to $184,500 (2026). Additional 0.9% Medicare on SE income over $200,000.
Nine states have no income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. However, some compensate with higher property or sales taxes. Washington also imposes a 7% capital gains tax on high earners.
Marginal rate is the tax rate on your last dollar of income (your highest bracket). Effective rate is your total tax divided by total income — it's always lower than your marginal rate because of progressive brackets. Example: $75,000 income with marginal rate of 22% might have an effective rate of ~14%.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax — they reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. Contributing $10,000 to a 401(k) on a $75,000 salary drops your taxable income to $65,000 (before standard deduction). 2026 contribution limit: $23,500 (under 50) / $31,000 (50+). Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax and do not reduce current-year taxes.
This tool provides estimates based on 2026 IRS brackets, standard deduction, and published state rates. It does not account for local/city taxes, tax credits (EITC, Child Tax Credit), AMT, itemized deductions, or capital gains. For complex situations, consult a CPA or use IRS-approved tax software.
Use our State Comparison mode to see exact savings. As a rough guide: a $100,000 salary saves $5,000–$8,000/year moving from California (13.3%) or New York (10.9%) to Texas or Florida (0%). But factor in property taxes, cost of living, and sales tax before relocating.
100% of calculations run locally in your browser. No income, salary, or financial data is sent to any server. Nothing is stored, tracked, or logged. You can verify by using the tool offline or checking your browser's Network tab in DevTools.
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