This income tax calculator estimates what you owe for tax year 2026 or 2027 across every layer of the system: federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, your state’s income tax, and any city or county tax where you live. Enter your salary, filing status and location, pick a tax year, and it returns your take-home pay per paycheck, your effective and marginal rates, and a line-by-line breakdown.

The 2027 figures come from the inflation adjustments the IRS released on November 5, 2026, which we cover in our story on the 2027 tax brackets and standard deduction. State figures reflect every 2027 rate change enacted so far, and the calculator marks the states that have not published their 2027 amounts yet.

How Does This Income Tax Calculator Work?

The calculator applies the published federal brackets, your state’s own rules and any local tax to the income you enter, then shows what is left. Start with your annual wages, filing status and state. If your state has local income taxes, a second menu appears for your county or city.

Add children and other dependents to apply the child tax credit, and enter your age so the larger standard deduction and the $6,000 senior deduction apply at 65. The section labeled “Retirement, HSA and deductions” is where planning happens. Enter a 401(k) percentage, a traditional IRA contribution, an HSA contribution or other pre-tax payroll deductions, and the take-home figure updates on the spot. If your itemized deductions beat the standard deduction, enter the total and the calculator uses the larger figure.

Results show annually by default. Switch the view to monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, weekly or hourly to see what lands in each paycheck. The comparison table at the bottom runs your exact inputs through every state, which shows what a move would change.

Should You Use The 2026 Or 2027 Tax Year?

Use 2026 for the tax return you file between January and April 2027, and use 2027 to plan the year ahead. The toggle at the top of the calculator switches between the two years and keeps everything you entered, so one click shows the difference.

The 2027 view matters most for decisions you make before January: a new Form W-4, a 401(k) election during open enrollment, or a job offer in another state. Employers apply the 2027 brackets to withholding starting with the first paycheck of the year. The calculator opens on 2026 through December 31, 2026, and on 2027 after that.

What Are The 2027 Federal Income Tax Brackets?

The 2027 federal income tax brackets keep the same seven rates, from 10% to 37%, with each income range about 3.2% higher than in 2026. They apply to income earned from January 1 through December 31, 2027, on the return filed in early 2028. The figures come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-35.

Each rate applies only to the income inside its tax bracket, so moving into a higher bracket never lowers your after-tax pay. A single filer reaches the 22% rate at $52,025 of taxable income in 2027, up from $50,400 in 2026.

What Are The 2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets?

The 2026 federal income tax brackets apply to income earned from January 1 through December 31, 2026, which goes on the return due April 15, 2027. The seven rates are the same as in 2027, and the income ranges come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.

Married couples filing jointly get brackets twice as wide as single filers through the 32% rate. The 37% rate is the exception, starting at $768,700 for a couple and $640,600 for a single filer in 2026. Our federal income tax brackets page keeps the IRS tables for every year back to 2018.

What Is The Standard Deduction For 2026 And 2027?

The 2027 standard deduction is $16,600 for single filers and married couples filing separately, $33,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,925 for heads of household. For 2026 the amounts are $16,100, $32,200 and $24,150. Most filers subtract the standard deduction before the brackets apply.

Filers 65 and older also get a separate $6,000 deduction for tax years 2025 through 2028, or $12,000 for a couple where both spouses qualify. That senior deduction shrinks by 6 cents for every dollar of income above $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. The calculator applies it when you enter an age of 65 or older.

Itemizing only helps when deductible expenses exceed the standard deduction. The cap on the state and local tax deduction is $40,400 for 2026 and $40,804 for 2027, which keeps itemizing in play for homeowners in high-tax states. Our comparison of the standard deduction and itemizing shows when each one wins.

How Is Federal Income Tax Calculated?

Federal income tax is figured in four steps. Wages minus pre-tax contributions gives adjusted gross income, subtracting the standard or itemized deduction gives taxable income, the brackets apply to that amount, and credits come off last. The calculator follows the same order as Form 1040.

A single filer earning $75,000 has $58,400 of taxable income in 2027 after the $16,600 standard deduction. The federal income tax is $7,389.50, which equals 9.9% of wages even though the top slice is taxed at 22%. The same pay produced $7,670 of tax under the 2026 brackets, so the 2027 adjustment saves $280.50.

Credits beat deductions because they reduce the bill itself. A $1,000 deduction saves a 22% bracket filer $220, while a $1,000 credit saves the full $1,000, as our comparison of tax credits versus tax deductions shows.

The child tax credit is $2,200 per child under 17 for 2026 and $2,300 for 2027, with up to $1,700 and $1,800 of it refundable. Each other dependent adds $500. The credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 of income above $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for joint filers.

The calculator does not model the earned income tax credit. Filers under that credit’s income limits should add it to the estimate separately.

What Changed Between 2026 And 2027?

The 2027 changes are inflation adjustments. Brackets and the standard deduction rose about 3.2%, the Social Security wage base rose to $192,300, and the child tax credit rose to $2,300. The seven federal tax rates did not change.

The IRS had not announced the 2027 401(k) and IRA contribution limits as of November 5, 2026. Until it does, the calculator applies the 2026 limits of $24,500 and $7,500 to the 2027 tax year and says so next to the field. Our 401(k) contribution limits page tracks the announcement.

How Much Are Social Security And Medicare Taxes?

Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026 and $192,300 in 2027, and Medicare tax is 1.45% of all wages with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages above $200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for joint filers and $125,000 for married filers who file separately. Our page on FICA taxes breaks down who pays each piece.

The most Social Security tax one worker pays is $11,439 in 2026 and $11,922.60 in 2027, based on the wage base the Social Security Administration sets each October. Employers match the 6.2% and the 1.45% but not the 0.9% surtax.

Two planning details are easy to miss. Traditional 401(k) contributions lower income tax but not FICA tax, because payroll taxes are assessed before the deferral. HSA contributions made through payroll and Section 125 health premiums do reduce FICA wages, which is why an HSA saves a few hundred dollars more than the same money put in a 401(k).

Freelancers pay both halves through the self-employment tax, 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings, with half of it deductible. This calculator is built for W-2 wages, so estimate self-employment tax separately and add it to the total.

Which States Have No Income Tax Or A Flat Tax?

Nine states tax no wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Another 15 states charge one flat rate. Every other state uses graduated brackets, and our ranking of how much you really pay in state income tax compares all of them.

Among graduated states, California’s 13.3% top rate is the highest in the country in both years. Hawaii’s top rate rises from 11% to 13% in 2027 on income above $500,000 for single filers. New York follows at 10.9%, then New Jersey and Washington, D.C. at 10.75%.

Rates are only part of a state income tax bill. States set their own standard deductions and exemptions, and some start from federal taxable income while others start from adjusted gross income. Alabama, Missouri and Oregon also let you deduct some or all of your federal income tax. The calculator applies each state’s actual rules and lists the steps under “State details.”

Which States Changed Income Tax Rates For 2027?

North Carolina, Mississippi, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska and New York all lowered income tax rates for 2027, while Hawaii and Rhode Island added higher rates on top incomes. North Carolina’s cut is the largest, from 3.99% to 3.49%.

Three states were unsettled when this page was updated on November 5, 2026. Georgia’s scheduled cut to 4.865% depends on a state determination due December 1, 2026. South Carolina’s top rate falls in 2027 only if a February 2027 revenue forecast meets the test in state law.

Colorado voters decided a ballot measure on November 3, 2026 that would replace the flat 4.4% tax with six brackets starting in 2027, and the result was too close to call two days later. The calculator uses current law for Colorado, Georgia and South Carolina until each question is settled.

23 states, including those three, do not have final 2027 amounts yet, mostly because they index their brackets for inflation and publish the new figures in December or January. For those states the 2027 view uses 2026 amounts and shows a “2027 figures pending” tag. Workers who live in one state and work in another should also read our article on filing taxes in multiple states, because the calculator assumes you live and work in the state you select.

Which Cities And Counties Charge A Local Income Tax?

Local income taxes apply in parts of 14 states, and the calculator includes more than 200 of them. Every Maryland county and Baltimore City charge between 2.25% and 3.30% of state taxable income, and all 92 Indiana counties levy between 0.5% and 3.0%. New York City residents pay a city tax that tops out at 3.876%, and Yonkers adds a 16.75% surcharge on the state tax.

Ohio has more than 600 municipal income taxes, with Columbus and Cleveland at 2.5% and Cincinnati at 1.8% of wages. Pennsylvania’s earned income tax runs 1% in most towns. Philadelphia charges residents 3.735% through June 30, 2027, and 3.73% after that.

Two local changes take effect in 2027. Montgomery County, Maryland replaces its flat 3.20% with graduated rates of 2.70%, 3.00% and 3.30%, and the Portland Metro tax thresholds rise to $132,000 for single filers and $211,000 for joint filers. Choose the custom option and enter your own rate when your town is not on the list.

What Is The Difference Between Effective And Marginal Tax Rates?

Your marginal rate is the tax on your next dollar of income, and your effective rate is your total tax divided by your total income. The effective rate is always lower under a progressive system because the first dollars are taxed at the lowest rates or not at all. Our article on effective tax rates shows how far apart the two numbers are at different incomes.

Use the marginal rate for decisions at the edge: a raise, a bonus, overtime, or how much a 401(k) contribution saves. A single filer in the 22% federal bracket in a state with a 5% rate keeps 73 cents of each additional dollar before payroll taxes. The effective rate is the budgeting number, because it tells you what share of gross pay never reaches your account.

The gap between brackets is also an opportunity. A filer with room left in the 12% or 22% bracket can convert traditional retirement money to Roth at that rate, a strategy we cover in how to fill your tax brackets with Roth conversions. The calculator’s federal bracket table shows how much room you have.

How Can You Lower Your Tax Bill?

Pre-tax contributions are the fastest way to lower income tax, and the calculator shows the effect of each one as you enter it. The moves below work in both tax years.

• Max the 401(k), 403(b) or TSP. The 2026 limit is $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at age 50 and $11,250 for ages 60 through 63. A worker in the 22% bracket who contributes the full amount cuts federal income tax by $5,390. Borrowers on an income-driven repayment plan get a second benefit, covered in our list of pre-tax moves that lower your student loan payment.
• Fund an HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan. The limits are $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage in 2026, rising to $4,500 and $9,000 in 2027, with a $1,000 catch-up at 55. Contributions through payroll avoid income tax and FICA tax. See the HSA contribution limits for the eligibility rules.
• Consider a traditional IRA. The 2026 limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 at age 50. The deduction phases out at higher incomes when a workplace plan covers you, so check our Roth versus traditional IRA decision tree before choosing.
• Use a dependent care or health FSA. Both come out of pay before income and FICA taxes. Our HSA versus FSA comparison shows which one fits your health plan.
• Deduct student loan interest. Up to $2,500 of interest comes off your income even if you take the standard deduction, which is worth $550 at a 22% rate. Income limits apply, as our article on the student loan interest deduction lays out.
• Claim the tips and overtime deductions if they apply. Workers in 68 occupations eligible for the no-tax-on-tips deduction can deduct up to $25,000 of reported tips through 2028, and hourly workers can deduct the premium part of overtime pay. Both reduce federal taxable income but not FICA.
• Check whether itemizing beats the standard deduction. With the SALT deduction cap at $40,400 for 2026 and $40,804 for 2027, a homeowner in a high-tax state with mortgage interest and charitable gifts can clear the joint standard deduction.
• Fix your withholding. If the calculator’s federal tax is far from what your pay stubs project for the year, update your Form W-4. Our walkthrough on how to fill out your W-4 covers each step, and the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator checks the result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology And Sources

Federal figures come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-35 for tax year 2027 and Revenue Procedure 2025-32 for tax year 2026, with the Social Security wage base from the Social Security Administration. State figures come from each state’s department of revenue rate schedules, withholding formulas and enacted legislation. Local rates come from the published tables of the counties and cities listed.

Where an agency has not published a 2027 figure, the calculator carries the 2026 amount and marks it. That applies to the 401(k) and IRA limits and to the states that index their brackets late in the year. We update the tables as each figure is released.

This calculator is for education and planning. It is not tax advice, and your actual liability depends on your complete return. When you are ready to file, our walkthrough on how to do your own taxes covers the options.

Related Tax Resources

• Federal Income Tax Brackets 2026 And 2027
• Capital Gains Tax Brackets 2026 And 2027
• Capital Gains Tax Calculator
• Best Tax Software: Awards And Comparisons
• The Best Tax Breaks Available Today
• The Marriage Tax Penalty
• Form W-4
• Should You Pay Someone To Do Your Taxes?