Key Financial Data 2026
| 2026 Tax Rate Schedule |
| Taxable income ($) |
Base amount of tax ($) |
Plus |
Marginal tax rate |
Of the amount over ($) |
| Single |
| 0 to 12,400 |
|
+ |
10.0 |
|
| 12,401 to 50,400 |
1,240.00 |
+ |
12.0 |
12,400.00 |
| 50,401 to 105,700 |
5,800.00 |
+ |
22.0 |
50,400.00 |
| 105,701 to 201,775 |
17,966.00 |
+ |
24.0 |
105,700.00 |
| 201,776 to 256,225 |
41,024.00 |
+ |
32.0 |
201,775.00 |
| 256,226 to 640,600 |
58,448.00 |
+ |
35.0 |
256,225.00 |
| Over 640,600 |
192,979.25 |
+ |
37.0 |
640,600.00 |
| Married filing jointly and surviving spouses |
| 0 to 24,800 |
|
+ |
10.0 |
|
| 24,801 to 100,800 |
2,480.00 |
+ |
12.0 |
24,800.00 |
| 100,801 to 211,400 |
11,600.00 |
+ |
22.0 |
100,800.00 |
| 211,401 to 403,550 |
35,932.00 |
+ |
24.0 |
211,400.00 |
| 403,551 to 512,450 |
82,048.00 |
+ |
32.0 |
403,550.00 |
| 512,451 to 768,700 |
116,896.00 |
+ |
35.0 |
512,450.00 |
| Over 768,700 |
206,583.50 |
+ |
37.0 |
768,700.00 |
| Head of household |
| 0 to 17,700 |
|
+ |
10.0 |
|
| 17,701 to 67,450 |
1,770.00 |
+ |
12.0 |
17,700.00 |
| 67,451 to 105,700 |
7,740.00 |
+ |
22.0 |
67,450.00 |
| 105,701 to 201,750 |
16,155.00 |
+ |
24.0 |
105,700.00 |
| 201,751 to 256,200 |
39,207.00 |
+ |
32.0 |
201,750.00 |
| 256,201 to 640,600 |
56,631.00 |
+ |
35.0 |
256,200.00 |
| Over 640,600 |
191,171.00 |
+ |
37.0 |
640,600.00 |
| Married filing separately |
| 0 to 12,400 |
|
+ |
10.0 |
|
| 12,401 to 50,400 |
1,240.00 |
+ |
12.0 |
12,400.00 |
| 50,401 to 105,700 |
5,800.00 |
+ |
22.0 |
50,400.00 |
| 105,701 to 201,775 |
17,996.00 |
+ |
24.0 |
105,700.00 |
| 201,776 to 256,225 |
41,024.00 |
+ |
32.0 |
201,775.00 |
| 256,226 to 384,350 |
58,448.00 |
+ |
35.0 |
256,225.00 |
| Over 384,350 |
103,291.75 |
+ |
37.0 |
384,350.00 |
| Estates and trusts |
| 0 to 3,300 |
|
+ |
10.0 |
|
| 3,301 to 11,700 |
330.00 |
+ |
24.0 |
3,300.00 |
| 11,701 to 16,000 |
2,346.00 |
+ |
35.0 |
11,700.00 |
| Over 16,000 |
3,851.00 |
+ |
37.0 |
16,000.00 |
| Standard Deductions and Child Tax Credit |
| Filing status |
Standard deduction |
| Married, filing jointly and qualifying widow(er)s |
$32,200 |
| Single or married, filing separately |
$16,100 |
| Head of household |
$24,150 |
| Dependent filing own tax return |
$1,350* |
| Additional deductions for non-itemizers |
| Blind or over 65** |
Add $1,650 |
| Enhanced standard deduction for individuals 65+^ |
Add $6,000 |
| Child Tax Credit |
| Credit per child under 17 |
$2,200 ($1,700 refundable) |
| Income phaseouts begin at AGI of: |
$400,000 joint, $200,000 all other |
| Tax Rates on Long-Term Capital Gains and Qualified Dividends |
| If taxable income falls below $49,450 (single/married-filing separately), $98,900 (joint), $66,200 (head of household), $3,300 (estates) |
0% |
| If taxable income falls at or above $49,450 (single/married-filing separately), $98,900 (joint), $66,200 (head of household), $3,300 (estates) |
15% |
| If income falls at or above $545,500 (single), $306,850 (married-filing separately), $613,700 (joint), $579,600 (head of household), $16,250 (estates) |
20% |
| 3.8% Tax on Lesser of Net Investment Income or Excess of MAGI Over |
| Married, filing jointly |
$250,000 |
| Single |
$200,000 |
| Married, filing separately |
$125,000 |
| Exemption Amounts for Alternative Minimum Tax |
| Married, filing jointly or surviving spouses |
$140,200 |
| Single |
$90,100 |
| Married, filing separately |
$70,100 |
| Estates and trusts |
$31,400 |
| 28% tax rate applies to income over: |
| Married, filing separately |
$122,250 |
| All others |
$244,500 |
| Exemption amounts phase out at: |
| Married, filing jointly or surviving spouses |
$1,000,000 |
| Single and married, filing separately |
$500,000 |
| Estates and trusts |
$104,800 |
| Gift and Estate Tax Exclusions and Credits |
| Maximum estate, gift and GST rates |
40% |
| Estate, gift and GST exclusions |
$15,000,000 |
| Gift tax annual exclusion |
$19,000 |
| Exclusion on gifts to non-citizen spouse |
$194,000 |
| Education Credits, Deductions, and Distributions |
| Credit / Deduction / Account |
Maximum credit / Deduction / Distribution |
Income phaseouts begin at AGI of: |
| American Opportunity Tax Credit/Hope |
$2,500 credit |
$160,000 joint
$80,000 all others |
| Lifetime learning credit |
$2,000 credit |
$160,000 joint
$80,000 all others |
| Savings bond interest tax-free if used for education |
Deduction limited to amount of qualified expenses |
$152,650 joint
$101,800 all others |
| Coverdell |
$2,000 maximum; not deductible |
$190,000 joint
$95,000 all others |
| 529 plan (K-12) |
$20,000 distribution |
None |
| 529 plan (Higher Ed.)† |
Distribution limited to amount of qualified expenses |
None |
| Tax Deadlines |
| January 15 — 4th installment of the previous year’s estimated taxes due |
| April 15 — Tax filing deadline, or request extension to Oct. 15. 1st installment of 2026 taxes due. Last day to file amended return for 2022. Last day to contribute to: Roth or traditional IRA for 2025; HSA for 2025; Keogh or SEP for 2025 (unless tax filing deadline has been extended). |
| June 16 — 2nd installment of estimated taxes due |
| September 15 — 3rd installment of estimated taxes due |
| October 15 — Tax returns due for those who requested an extension. Last day to contribute to SEP or Keogh for 2025 if extension was filed. |
| December 31 — Last day to: 1) pay expenses for itemized deductions; 2) complete transactions for capital gains or losses; 3) establish a Keogh plan for 2026; 4) establish and fund a solo 401(k) for 2026; 5) complete 2026 contributions to employer-sponsored 401(k) plans; 6) correct excess contributions to IRAs and qualified plans to avoid penalty. |
| Retirement Plan Contribution Limits |
| Annual compensation used to determine contribution for most plans |
$360,000 |
| Defined-contribution plans, basic limit |
$72,000 |
| Defined-benefit plans, basic limit |
$290,000 |
| 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), Roth 401(k) plans elective deferrals |
$24,500 |
| Catch-up provision for individuals 50–59 and 64+, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), Roth 401(k) plans |
$8,000 |
| Catch-up provision for individuals 60–63, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), Roth 401(k) plans |
$11,250 |
| SIMPLE plans, elective deferral limit |
$17,000 |
| SIMPLE plans, catch-up contribution for individuals 50 and over |
$4,000 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts |
| IRA type |
Contribution limit |
Catch-up at 50+ |
Income limits |
| Traditional nondeductible |
$7,500 |
$1,100 |
None |
| Traditional deductible |
$7,500 |
$1,100 |
If covered by a plan:
$129,000–$149,000 joint
$81,000–$91,000 single, HOH
0–$10,000 married filing separately
If one spouse is covered by a plan:
$242,000–$252,000 joint |
| Roth |
$7,500 |
$1,100 |
$242,000–$252,000 joint
$153,000–$168,000 single & HOH
0–$10,000 married filing separately |
| Roth conversion |
|
|
No income limit |
| Health Savings Accounts |
| Annual limit |
Maximum deductible contribution |
Expense limits (deductibles and co-pays) |
Minimum annual deductible |
| Individuals |
$4,400 |
$8,500 |
$1,700 |
| Families |
$8,750 |
$17,000 |
$3,400 |
| Catch-up for 55 and older |
$1,000 |
|
|
| Deductibility of Long-Term Care Premiums on Qualified Policies |
| Attained age before close of tax year |
Amount of LTC premiums that qualify as medical expenses in 2026 |
| 40 or less |
$500 |
| 41 to 50 |
$930 |
| 51 to 60 |
$1,860 |
| 61 to 70 |
$4,960 |
| Over 70 |
$6,200 |
| Medicare Deductibles |
| Part B deductible |
$283.00 |
| Part A (inpatient services) deductible for first 60 days of hospitalization |
$1,736.00 |
| Part A deductible for days 61-90 of hospitalization |
$434.00/day |
| Part A deductible for more than 90 days of hospitalization |
$868.00/day |
| Social Security |
| Benefits |
| Estimated maximum monthly benefit if turning full retirement age (66) in 2026 |
$4,152 |
| Retirement earnings exempt amounts |
$24,480 under FRA
$65,160 during year reach FRA
No limit after FRA |
| Tax on Social Security benefits: income brackets |
| Filing status |
Provisional income*** |
Amount of Social Security subject to tax |
| Married filing jointly |
Under $32,000
$32,000–$44,000
Over $44,000 |
0
up to 50%
up to 85% |
| Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), married filing separately and living apart from spouse |
Under $25,000
$25,000–$34,000
Over $34,000 |
0
up to 50%
up to 85% |
| Married filing separately and living with spouse |
Over 0 |
up to 85% |
| Tax (FICA) |
| SS tax paid on income up to $184,500 |
% withheld |
Maximum tax payable |
| Employer pays |
6.2% |
$11,439.00 |
| Employee pays |
6.2% |
$11,439.00 |
| Self-employed pays |
12.4% |
$22,878.00 |
| Medicare tax |
| Employer pays |
1.45% |
varies per income |
| Employee pays |
1.45% plus 0.9% on income over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint) |
varies per income |
| Self-employed pays |
2.90% plus 0.9% on income over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint) |
varies per income |
| Medicare Premiums |
| 2024 MAGI single ($) |
2024 MAGI joint ($) |
Part B Premium ($) |
Part D income adjustment ($) |
| $109,000 or less |
$218,000 or less |
$202.90 |
$0 |
| 109,001–137,000 |
218,001–274,000 |
$284.10 |
$14.50 |
| 137,001–171,000 |
274,001–342,000 |
$405.80 |
$37.50 |
| 171,001–205,000 |
342,001–410,000 |
$527.50 |
$60.40 |
| 205,001–499,999 |
410,001–749,999 |
$649.20 |
$83.30 |
| ≥ 500,000 |
≥ 750,000 |
$689.90 |
$91.00 |
| Uniform Lifetime Table (partial) |
| Age of IRA owner or plan participant |
Life expectancy (in years) |
Age of IRA owner or plan participant |
Life expectancy (in years) |
| 73 |
26.5 |
89 |
12.9 |
| 74 |
25.5 |
90 |
12.2 |
| 75 |
24.6 |
91 |
11.5 |
| 76 |
23.7 |
92 |
10.8 |
| 77 |
22.9 |
93 |
10.1 |
| 78 |
22.0 |
94 |
9.5 |
| 79 |
21.1 |
95 |
8.9 |
| 80 |
20.2 |
96 |
8.4 |
| 81 |
19.4 |
97 |
7.8 |
| 82 |
18.5 |
98 |
7.3 |
| 83 |
17.7 |
99 |
6.8 |
| 84 |
16.8 |
100 |
6.4 |
| 85 |
16.0 |
101 |
6.0 |
| 86 |
15.2 |
102 |
5.6 |
| 87 |
14.4 |
103 |
5.2 |
| 88 |
13.7 |
104 |
4.9 |
Check with your financial professional for updates.
Sources: IRS, One Big Beautiful Bill, Affordable Care Act, Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Misc IRS documents.
Horsesmouth is an independent organization providing unique, unbiased insight into the critical issues facing financial professionals and their clients. Horsesmouth, LLC is not affiliated with the reprint licensee or any of its affiliates.
* Greater of $1,350 or $450 plus the individual’s earned income.
** Blind or over 65, unmarried and not a surviving spouse: $2,050.
*** Provisional income = adjusted gross income (not incl. Social Security) + tax-exempt interest + 50% of Social Security benefit.
^ Phaseout begins at $75,000 (single) and $150,000 (joint).
† $10,000 lifetime 529 distribution can be applied to student loan debt.
Information contained herein is current as of 12/16/2025. It is subject to legislative changes and is not intended to be legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax advisor regarding specific circumstances. This material is furnished “as is” without warranty of any kind. Its accuracy and completeness is not guaranteed and all warranties expressed or implied are hereby excluded.