Income Tax Calculator

How to use this calculator

Enter your gross annual income, choose your filing status (single, married filing jointly, or head of household), and add any pre-tax adjustments or deductions you expect — such as traditional 401(k) or HSA contributions. The calculator subtracts your adjustments and the standard deduction, applies the federal tax brackets for your status, and shows your estimated federal tax, your effective and marginal rates, and what you keep after federal tax.

Federal only. This is a simplified estimate that covers federal income tax only. It excludes FICA (Social Security and Medicare), state and local taxes, and any tax credits. It is not tax advice — see our disclaimer. For paycheck withholding including FICA, try the paycheck calculator.

How this is calculated

US federal income tax is progressive, meaning income is taxed in slices called brackets. The first slice of taxable income is taxed at the lowest rate (10%), the next slice at a higher rate, and so on up to 37%. Only the income that falls inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate — moving into a higher bracket never raises the tax on the dollars below it.

Before the brackets apply, most people subtract the standard deduction, a flat amount that reduces the income you are taxed on. This calculator uses current published standard deductions of $15,000 (single), $30,000 (married filing jointly), and $22,500 (head of household). Your taxable income is your gross income minus your adjustments minus the standard deduction (never below zero). The brackets are then applied to that taxable income.

This is a simplified estimate using current published brackets and standard deductions. It does not include FICA, state or local tax, itemized deductions, or credits. It is not tax advice; confirm your specifics with a qualified tax professional.

Effective rate vs marginal rate

These two numbers describe very different things, and confusing them is a common mistake. Your marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar of income — the top bracket your taxable income reaches. Your effective rate is your total federal tax divided by your gross income — the average rate you actually pay. Because the lower slices of your income are taxed at lower rates, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate. For example, a single filer in the 22% bracket usually has an effective federal rate well under 15%.

A worked example

Suppose you are single, earn $75,000, and have $0 in extra adjustments. Subtract the $15,000 standard deduction and your taxable income is $60,000. The brackets stack like this: the first $11,925 is taxed at 10%, the income from $11,925 to $48,475 at 12%, and the remaining income from $48,475 to $60,000 at 22%. That works out to roughly $8,000 of federal income tax. Your marginal rate is 22% (the top bracket you reached), but your effective rate is only about 11% of your $75,000 gross — leaving roughly $67,000 after federal tax. Add a $5,000 pre-tax 401(k) contribution and your taxable income drops to $55,000, trimming the tax further.

Lowering your taxable income

Pre-tax adjustments reduce the income the brackets apply to, which is why they can be worth more than they look. Common examples include traditional 401(k) and IRA contributions, HSA contributions, and certain other above-the-line deductions. Putting a dollar into a pre-tax account means that dollar is not taxed this year — at a 22% marginal rate, a $1,000 contribution saves around $220 in federal tax. Enter your expected contributions in the adjustments field to see the effect.

Remember this estimate stops at federal income tax. Self-employed? Your situation also involves self-employment tax — see the self-employment tax calculator for that piece.

An estimate, not a tax bill

Real returns involve details this tool intentionally skips: itemized deductions, the QBI deduction, capital-gains rates, credits like the Child Tax Credit, the Alternative Minimum Tax, and state and local rules. Use this number for planning and to understand how brackets work, not as the final figure you owe. When it counts, confirm with a qualified tax professional.