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Tax

Federal tax

Estimate federal income tax by year and filing status.

Your details

Tax yearFederal return year. Brackets and standard deduction amounts change by tax year.
Filing statusDetermines which tax brackets and standard deduction amount apply to your return.
Wages, salary, and other ordinary income before taxes. Add interest and capital gains under Advanced.
$
Optional. W-2 withholdings or estimated payments. Enter only to estimate a refund or balance due — leave at $0 to see tax liability without withholding.
$
AdvancedOptional investment income, dependents, and credits. Credits may phase out at higher incomes. Long-term gains use preferential rates.
Taxable interest (for example bank, bonds, or 1099-INT). Taxed as ordinary income.
$
Gains on assets held one year or less. Taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate.
$
Gains on assets held more than one year. Taxed at preferential 0%, 15%, or 20% rates based on taxable income.
$
Qualifying children for the Child Tax Credit — must be under 17 at the end of the tax year.
Dependents who don't qualify for the Child Tax Credit — may qualify for the Credit for Other Dependents.
Qualified tuition and fees for higher education. May qualify for the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credit — applied against tax owed in the breakdown.
$

Federal tax owed

$7,670

Add taxes already paid to estimate a refund or balance due.

Breakdown
Federal tax liability$7,670
Effective rate10.2%
Marginal rate22.0%
Income split$67,330 take-home
Tax 10.2%Take-home 89.8%
Standard deduction
$16,100
Taxable income
$58,900
Tax before credits
$7,670
Tax by bracket

How your liability stacks across federal brackets (ordinary and long-term gains).

Frequently asked questions

Read the full bracket guide

How is federal income tax calculated?

Start with wages (and optional interest, short-term gains, and long-term gains under Advanced). Subtract the standard deduction for your filing status and year. Ordinary taxable income is taxed by progressive brackets. Long-term capital gains use preferential 0%/15%/20% rates stacked on top. Optional credits then reduce tax owed (nonrefundable in this model).

What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?

Marginal rate is the tax on your last dollar of income. Effective rate is total tax divided by total income (including investment income entered under Advanced). Effective rate is usually lower because lower brackets and preferential LTCG rates still apply to earlier dollars.

What can I enter under Advanced?

Interest income and short-term capital gains (taxed as ordinary income), long-term capital gains (preferential rates), children under 17 and other dependents for credit estimates, and education expenses for American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning style credits with MAGI phase-outs.

Does this include state or local taxes?

No. This tool estimates US federal income tax only, using the standard deduction. State taxes, FICA, AMT, and itemized deductions are not included.

Which tax years are supported?

The calculator supports 2025 and 2026 with IRS bracket thresholds, standard deductions, and long-term capital gains thresholds for those years. Select your tax year to compare estimates.

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