The IRS released the official 2026 federal tax brackets on October 9, 2025, in Rev. Proc. 2025-32. If you're seeing these numbers pop up now, it's because they apply to income you earn during 2026 — the return you'll file in early 2027, not the one you're filing this year.
The good news first: the seven tax rates themselves didn't change. What moved is where each rate kicks in — the dollar thresholds shifted upward to account for inflation, and the standard deduction went up too.
2026 Tax Brackets — Single Filers
| Rate | Taxable Income From | Up To |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | $640,601 | And up |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
2026 Tax Brackets — Married Filing Jointly
| Rate | Taxable Income From | Up To |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | $768,701 | And up |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
2026 Standard Deduction
Your standard deduction reduces your taxable income before any bracket applies. Most filers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
The Bracket Myth That Costs People Real Decisions
The single most common misunderstanding about tax brackets: people think moving into a higher bracket means all their income gets taxed at the higher rate. It doesn't. Only the income that falls inside that bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate — everything below it keeps its lower rate.
A Real Example: $70,000 Taxable Income, Single Filer
| Bracket | Amount Taxed at This Rate | Tax From This Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% | $38,000 | $4,560 |
| 22% | $19,600 | $4,312 |
Total tax: $10,112 — an effective rate of 14.4%, even though this filer is "in" the 22% bracket.
Why Your Bracket Matters for Retirement Accounts
Knowing your bracket isn't just useful at tax time — it's the deciding factor in one of the biggest retirement decisions you'll make: Traditional or Roth?
- Traditional 401(k)/IRA — you skip taxes on that income now, at your current bracket, and pay taxes later in retirement, at whatever bracket you're in then.
- Roth 401(k)/IRA — you pay taxes now, at today's rate, and withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free.
The math favors Traditional if you expect to be in a lower bracket in retirement than you are now — common for high earners in their peak working years. It favors Roth if you expect to be in the same or higher bracket later — common for early-career savers with decades of growth ahead, or anyone who thinks tax rates in general will be higher by the time they retire.
See exactly how each account type grows over time based on your own numbers with the full Retirement Calculator — it projects 401(k), Traditional IRA, and Roth IRA balances side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did tax rates go up for 2026?
No. The seven tax rates themselves (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%) stayed the same as 2025. Only the income thresholds for each bracket moved, adjusted upward for inflation.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household.
Will moving into a higher tax bracket reduce all my income?
No — this is one of the most common tax misunderstandings. Only the income that falls inside a higher bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. Every dollar below it keeps being taxed at the lower rates that applied to it.
Are these brackets for income earned in 2026 or 2025?
These brackets apply to income earned during 2026, which you'll report on the tax return you file in early 2027 — not the return you're filing this year for 2025 income.
📋 Source: IRS.gov — IR-2025-103, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (October 9, 2025).