2026 Federal Tax Reference Guide

Presented by Hearth
Tax Year 2026
Updated March 2026
Includes 2025 comparison
Income Tax Brackets
2026 Taxable Income Thresholds
RateSingleMFJHoH
10%$0 – $12,400$0 – $24,800$0 – $17,700
12%$12,401 – $50,400$24,801 – $100,800$17,701 – $67,450
22%$50,401 – $105,700$100,801 – $211,400$67,451 – $105,700
24%$105,701 – $201,775$211,401 – $403,550$105,701 – $201,775
32%$201,776 – $256,225$403,551 – $512,450$201,776 – $256,200
35%$256,226 – $640,600$512,451 – $768,700$256,201 – $640,600
37%> $640,600> $768,700> $640,600
MFS: Same as Single except 35% begins at $384,350 and 37% above.
Estates & Trusts
Rate20262025
10%$0 – $3,300$0 – $3,150
24%$3,301 – $11,700$3,151 – $11,450
35%$11,701 – $16,000$11,451 – $15,650
37%Over $16,000Over $15,650
Net Investment Income Tax (3.8%)
Filing StatusMAGI Threshold
Single / HoH$200,000
MFJ / Surviving Spouse$250,000
MFS$125,000
Estates & Trusts$16,000
NIIT: 3.8% surtax on the lesser of net investment income or MAGI exceeding the threshold. Thresholds are statutory (not indexed), except Estates & Trusts which tracks the top bracket.
Kiddie Tax (Unearned Income)
Tier2026Treatment
First$1,350Tax-free
Second$1,351 – $2,700Child's rate
Above> $2,700Parent's marginal rate
Key OBBBA Provisions (2025–2028)
  • TCJA individual rates made permanent
  • Section 179 raised to $2.5M+ (indexed)
  • Estate exemption set at $15M (indexed)
  • 100% bonus depreciation restored (retro to 1/19/2025)
  • SALT cap raised to $40,000 (from $10,000)
  • $6,000 senior standard deduction (65+)
  • Tips & overtime income deductions
  • Child Tax Credit increased to $2,200
Capital Gains & Qualified Dividends
2026 Long-Term Rate Thresholds
RateSingleMFJHoH
0%≤ $49,450≤ $98,900≤ $66,200
15%$49,451 – $545,500$98,901 – $613,700$66,201 – $579,600
20%> $545,500> $613,700> $579,600
MFS: 0% up to $49,450; 15% to $306,850; 20% above. Estates/Trusts: 0% up to $3,300; 15% to $16,250; 20% above. Short-term gains taxed at ordinary rates. 25% rate applies to unrecaptured §1250 gain; 28% rate to collectibles.
Alternative Minimum Tax
Item20262025
Exemption — Single/HoH$90,100$88,100
Exemption — MFJ$140,200$137,000
Exemption — MFS$70,100$68,500
Exemption — Estates/Trusts$30,700$29,900
Phaseout begins — Single/HoH$500,000$626,350
Phaseout begins — MFJ$1,000,000$1,252,700
Phaseout rate50%25%
26%/28% breakpoint$244,500$239,100
OBBBA change: Phaseout thresholds reset to $500,000/$1,000,000 (from $626,000/$1,250,000) and phaseout rate doubled from 25% to 50% for 2026+.
Social Security & Medicare
Item20262025
OASDI Wage Base$184,500$176,100
OASDI Rate (Employee/Employer)6.20%6.20%
Medicare HI Rate (Employee/Employer)1.45%1.45%
Self-Employed (OASDI + HI)15.30%15.30%
Max OASDI Tax (Employee)$11,439$10,918
Addl. Medicare (0.9%) — Single> $200,000> $200,000
Addl. Medicare (0.9%) — MFJ> $250,000> $250,000
Standard Mileage Rates (per mile)
Purpose20262025
Business72.5¢70.0¢
Medical / Moving20.5¢21.0¢
Charitable (statutory)14.0¢14.0¢
Hearth · 2026 Federal Tax Reference Guide Page 1 of 2
2026 Federal Tax Reference Guide Presented by Hearth
Standard Deductions
Filing Status20262025
Single$16,100$15,750
MFJ / Surv. Spouse$32,200$31,500
HoH$24,150$23,625
MFS$16,100$15,750
Additional Amount (Age 65+ or Blind, per condition)
Filing Status20262025
Single / HoH$2,050$2,000
MFJ / MFS$1,650$1,600
OBBBA Senior Deduction (2025–2028): Additional $6,000 per person age 65+ ($12,000 MFJ). Phases out at MAGI $75,000–$175,000 (Single) / $150,000–$250,000 (MFJ). Available whether itemizing or taking standard deduction.
Section 179 Expense
Item20262025
Deduction Limit$2,560,000$2,500,000
Phaseout Threshold$4,090,000$4,000,000
OBBBA: Limits raised from prior-law $1.25M/$3.13M and made permanent with inflation indexing. 100% bonus depreciation also restored retroactive to 1/19/2025.
Estate & Gift Tax
Item20262025
Basic Exclusion (per decedent)$15,000,000$13,990,000
Married (w/ portability)$30,000,000$27,980,000
Annual Gift Exclusion$19,000$19,000
Gift to Non-Citizen Spouse$194,000$190,000
GST Exemption$15,000,000$13,990,000
Top Estate/Gift Tax Rate40%40%
OBBBA: Enhanced exemption made permanent at $15M base (indexed).
Credits, Exclusions & Corporate Rate
Item20262025
Child Tax Credit (per child)$2,200$2,200
Refundable Portion (ACTC)$1,700$1,700
CTC Phaseout — Single/HoH$200,000$200,000
CTC Phaseout — MFJ$400,000$400,000
Foreign Earned Income Excl.$132,900$130,000
Corporate Tax Rate21%21%
Section 199A QBI Deduction
Item20262025
Deduction Rate20%20%
Threshold — Single/HoH$203,000$197,300
Threshold — MFJ$406,000$394,600
Phaseout Range — Single/HoH$75,000$50,000
Phaseout Range — MFJ$150,000$100,000
OBBBA: Made permanent with expanded phaseout ranges ($75,000/$150,000, up from $50,000/$100,000).
IRA Contribution Limits
Item20262025
Traditional & Roth IRA$7,500$7,000
Catch-Up (age 50+)$1,100$1,000
Total (age 50+)$8,600$8,000
Roth IRA MAGI Phaseout Ranges
Filing Status20262025
Single / HoH$153,000 – $168,000$150,000 – $165,000
MFJ$242,000 – $252,000$236,000 – $246,000
MFS (lived w/ spouse)$0 – $10,000$0 – $10,000
Traditional IRA Deductibility (MAGI Limits)
Covered by Employer Plan
Filing Status20262025
Single / HoH$81,000 – $91,000$79,000 – $89,000
MFJ (contributor covered)$129,000 – $149,000$126,000 – $146,000
MFS (lived w/ spouse)$0 – $10,000$0 – $10,000
Not Covered, but Spouse IS Covered
Filing Status20262025
MFJ$242,000 – $252,000$236,000 – $246,000
If neither spouse is covered by an employer plan, the full deduction is available regardless of MAGI.
Qualified Retirement Plan Limits
Item20262025
401(k)/403(b)/457 Deferral$24,500$23,500
Catch-Up (age 50+)$8,000$7,500
Super Catch-Up (ages 60–63)$11,250$11,250
Total (age 50+)$32,500$31,000
Total (ages 60–63)$35,750$34,750
SIMPLE IRA Deferral$17,000$16,500
SEP Maximum Contribution$72,000$70,000
Defined Contribution (415(c))$72,000$70,000
Defined Benefit (415(b))$290,000$280,000
Compensation Limit (401(a)(17))$360,000$350,000
HCE Threshold$160,000$160,000
SALT Deduction Cap
Item20262025
SALT Cap$40,400$40,000
MFS Cap$20,200$20,000
Phasedown begins (MAGI)$500,000$500,000
Floor$10,000$10,000
OBBBA: Raised from $10,000 (2018–2024). Phases down for MAGI > $500,000. Reverts to $10,000 in 2030.
Excess Business Loss §461(l)
Filing Status20262025
Single / HoH$313,000$305,000
MFJ$626,000$610,000
Excess losses carried forward as NOL. Critical for large Section 179 claims.
For informational purposes only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures are based on IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Rev. Proc. 2024-40, SSA announcements, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). Tax law is subject to change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Hearth · 2026 Federal Tax Reference Guide Page 2 of 2