Interactive infographic
How Tax Brackets Work: 2026 Federal Income Tax
Move the income slider to see how 2026 U.S. federal tax brackets apply. Each rate only taxes the slice of income inside its bracket.
What this infographic shows
A tax bracket taxes a slice of your income, not all of it. The U.S. federal income tax works like a set of buckets. Your taxable income fills the 10% bucket first, then the 12% bucket, and so on. Each bucket is taxed only at its own rate.
The table shows each 2026 bracket, how full your income makes it and the tax that slice adds. The amber row is your top, or marginal, bracket.
How to use it
- Choose single or married filing jointly.
- Move the income slider. The infographic subtracts the 2026 standard deduction first.
- Compare your top bracket with your effective rate. The effective rate is almost always far lower.
Why it matters
The myth that a raise can cost you money is one of the most common tax misunderstandings. Because only the dollars above each line pay the higher rate, earning more always leaves you with more after federal income tax. These brackets apply to income earned in 2026, which you report on the return you file in 2027.
This is an educational illustration of federal income tax only. It leaves out state tax, payroll taxes, credits and other deductions. It is not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do tax brackets work in simple words?
Your taxable income is split into slices. The first slice is taxed at 10%, the next at 12%, and so on. Only the money inside each slice pays that slice's rate.
Will a raise push me into a higher tax bracket and lower my pay?
No. Only the extra dollars above the bracket line are taxed at the higher rate. Everything below it is taxed exactly as before, so your take-home pay still goes up.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
The marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income. The effective rate is your total tax divided by your income, which is always lower.
What are the 2026 tax brackets for single filers?
10% up to $12,400; 12% to $50,400; 22% to $105,700; 24% to $201,775; 32% to $256,225; 35% to $640,600; and 37% above that, according to the IRS.
Sources
Text version of this infographic
How tax brackets work
Move the income slider. Each rate only taxes the slice of income inside its bracket, so a raise never lowers your take-home pay.
Filing status
Single
Married, joint
Yearly income
We subtract the 2026 standard deduction ( ) to get taxable income.
Taxable income
Federal tax
Effective rate
Rate
Bracket (taxable income)
Filled
Tax