Tax reference

2026 Federal Tax Facts

A quick reference to frequently used federal tax rates, limits, deductions, retirement amounts, payroll thresholds, and mileage rates.

Tax year 2026Updated August 8, 2026
Current information.These figures apply to tax year 2026 unless a different period is shown. Midyear changes are displayed separately where applicable.

Standard Deduction

IRS source ↗
Single$16,100
Married filing separately$16,100
Married filing jointly / surviving spouse$32,200
Head of household$24,150

Itemized Deductions

Detailed guide →

Medical expenses, state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, gambling losses, casualty losses, and high-income limitations each have separate rules, floors, caps, and documentation requirements.

Federal Income Tax Rates

IRS source ↗

Single

Taxable incomeRate
$12,400 or less10%
$12,401 – $50,40012%
$50,401 – $105,70022%
$105,701 – $201,77524%
$201,776 – $256,22532%
$256,226 – $640,60035%
Over $640,60037%

Married Filing Jointly

Taxable incomeRate
$24,800 or less10%
$24,801 – $100,80012%
$100,801 – $211,40022%
$211,401 – $403,55024%
$403,551 – $512,45032%
$512,451 – $768,70035%
Over $768,70037%

Marginal rates apply only to taxable income within each bracket.

Long-Term Capital Gains & Qualified Dividends

IRS source ↗
Filing status0% rate through15% rate throughAbove that
Single$49,450$545,50020%
Married filing jointly / surviving spouse$98,900$613,70020%
Head of household$66,200$579,60020%
Married filing separately$49,450$306,85020%

These are taxable-income thresholds, not simply the amount of capital gain. Special maximum rates can apply to collectibles and unrecaptured section 1250 gain.

Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

IRS source ↗
NIIT rate3.8%
Single / Head of household$200,000
Married filing jointly / surviving spouse$250,000
Married filing separately$125,000

NIIT is generally 3.8% of the lesser of net investment income or MAGI above the applicable statutory threshold. The thresholds are not indexed for inflation.

Net investment income can include interest, dividends, capital gains, rental and royalty income, and nonqualified annuity income. Wages and most self-employment income are generally excluded.

Contribution Limits

IRS source ↗
401(k), 403(b), 457 elective deferral$24,500
401(k), 403(b), 457 catch-up — age 50+$8,000
Higher catch-up — ages 60–63$11,250
Defined contribution plan limit$72,000
IRA contribution limit$7,500
IRA catch-up — age 50+$1,100
SIMPLE employee contribution$17,000
SIMPLE catch-up — age 50+$4,000
SEP maximum contribution$72,000
Annual compensation limit$360,000

Social Security & Medicare

SSA source ↗
Social Security taxable wage base$184,500
Employee Social Security rate6.2%
Employer Social Security rate6.2%
Self-employment Social Security rate12.4%
Employee Medicare rate1.45%
Employer Medicare rate1.45%
Self-employment Medicare rate2.9%
Medicare taxable wage baseNo limit
Additional Medicare Tax0.9%
Additional Medicare threshold — Single / HOH / QSS$200,000
Additional Medicare threshold — Married filing jointly$250,000
Additional Medicare threshold — Married filing separately$125,000

Employers begin withholding the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax when an employee's Medicare wages exceed $200,000 during the calendar year, regardless of filing status. There is no employer match on the additional tax.

HSA & HDHP Limits

IRS source ↗
HSA contribution — self-only$4,400
HSA contribution — family$8,750
HDHP minimum deductible — self-only$1,700
HDHP minimum deductible — family$3,400
HDHP out-of-pocket maximum — self-only$8,500
HDHP out-of-pocket maximum — family$17,000

Standard Mileage Rates

IRS source ↗

Business

Jan. 1 – Jun. 3072.5¢ / mile
Jul. 1 – Dec. 3176¢ / mile

Medical / qualifying moving

Jan. 1 – Jun. 3020.5¢ / mile
Jul. 1 – Dec. 3123.5¢ / mile

Charitable

All year14¢ / mile

Exclusions

IRS source ↗
Estate / lifetime basic exclusion$15,000,000
Annual gift tax exclusion — per donee$19,000

Frequently Used Amounts

IRS source ↗
Alternative minimum tax exemption — unmarried$90,100
AMT exemption — married filing jointly$140,200
Foreign earned income exclusion$132,900
Health FSA salary reduction limit$3,400
Health FSA maximum carryover$680
Qualified transportation / parking monthly limit$340