It’s never too early to start looking at your tax obligations for the year. With changing rates and inflation adjustments, the tax landscape can be difficult to navigate. We’ll break down what to expect for this upcoming tax season.
The information in this article is for the 2026 tax year, which most taxpayers will file in 2027.
While the seven tax rates themselves haven’t changed (they remain at 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%), the tax bracket ranges have been modified based on inflation. These changes are due to both the standard inflation adjustments and some legislative changes from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) which passed in 2025. Because of this, it’s possible you could find yourself in a different tax bracket for 2026 than in previous years, even if your income has not changed.
Reminder: Tax Brackets Are Marginal
The IRS divides income into different tax rates. Each subsequent portion of your income will have an increased tax rate. The following example showcases different tiers of taxation in 2026.
If you are a single filer who made $55,000 in 2026, you will not pay 22% taxes on the entire amount.
- Your first $12,400 is taxed at 10%.
- The next portion, up to $50,400, is taxed at 12%.
- Only the remaining income of $4,600 is taxed at 22%.
As your income increases, subsequent portions of it will fall into higher tax brackets and will have a higher tax rate.
Why Would My Tax Bracket Be Different?
The IRS regularly adjusts tax brackets to take inflation into consideration. With inflation, people will face higher prices as time goes on, meaning the purchasing power of their dollar decreases. Knowing this, the IRS adjusts brackets in order to avoid “bracket creep,” a circumstance that occurs when inflation pushes your income into a higher tax bracket, or credits and deductions are reduced. In this scenario, an individual may not actually have increased purchasing power or greater disposable income, even with an increase in wages and salaries.
The OBBBA legislation specifically widened the lower brackets (10% and 12%) more aggressively than usual to provide relief to working families.
2026 Tax Brackets
The following are the 2026 tax brackets according to your filing status and income.
10% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: from $0 to $12,400
Married Filing Jointly: from $0 to $24,800
Head of Household: from $0 to $17,700
Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $0 to $12,400
12% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: from $12,401 to $50,400
Married Filing Jointly: from $24,801 to $100,800
Head of Household: from $17,701 to $67,450
Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $12,401 to $50,400
22% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: from $50,401 to $105,700
Married Filing Jointly: from $100,801 to $211,400
Head of Household: from $67,451 to $105,700
Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $50,401 to $105,700
24% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: from $105,701 to $201,775
Married Filing Jointly: from $211,401 to $403,550
Head of Household: from $105,701 to $201,750
Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $105,701 to $201,775
32% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: from $201,776 to $256,225
Married Filing Jointly: from $403,551 to $512,450
Head of Household: from $201,751 to $256,200
Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $201,776 to $256,225
35% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: from $256,226 to $640,600
Married Filing Jointly: from $512,451 to $768,700
Head of Household: from $256,201 to $640,600
Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $256,226 to $384,350
37% Tax Rate
Single Individuals: over $640,600
Married Filing Jointly: over $768,700
Head of Household: over $640,600
Married Individuals Filing Separately: over $384,350
2026 Standard Deductions
In addition to tax bracket adjustments, the IRS has also altered standard deductions for 2026.
Single or Married Filing Separately: $16,100
Married Filing Jointly or Surviving Spouses: $32,200
Head of Household: $24,150
While the rates and brackets discussed in this blog are at the federal level, different states may have varying brackets and rates.
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