The IRS recently published the last of the annual inflation updates for 2026. If you have questions about a particular amount that I do not mention here, you can likely find it in the official IRS announcements:
Single 2026 Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income |
Tax Bracket: |
| $0-$12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400-$50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400-$105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700-$201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775-$256,225 | 32% |
| $256,225-$640,600 | 35% |
| $640,600+ | 37% |
Married Filing Jointly 2026 Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income |
Tax Bracket: |
| $0-$24,800 | 10% |
| $24,800-$100,800 | 12% |
| $100,800-$211,400 | 22% |
| $211,400-$403,550 | 24% |
| $403,550-$512,450 | 32% |
| $512,450-$768,700 | 35% |
| $768,700+ | 37% |
Head of Household 2026 Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income |
Tax Bracket: |
| $0-$17,700 | 10% |
| $17,700-$67,450 | 12% |
| $67,450-$105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700-$201,750 | 24% |
| $201,750-$256,200 | 32% |
| $256,200-$640,600 | 35% |
| $640,600+ | 37% |
Married Filing Separately 2026 Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income |
Marginal Tax Rate: |
| $0-$12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400-$50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400-$105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700-$201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775-$256,225 | 32% |
| $255,225-$384,350 | 35% |
| $384,350+ | 37% |
Standard Deduction Amounts
The 2026 standard deduction amounts are as follows:
- Single or married filing separately: $16,100
- Married filing jointly: $32,200
- Head of household: $24,150
The additional standard deduction for people who have reached age 65 (or who are blind) is $1,650 for each married taxpayer or $2,050 for unmarried taxpayers.
IRA Contribution Limits
The contribution limit for Roth IRA and traditional IRA accounts increases to $7,500.
The catch-up contribution limit for people age 50+ increases to $1,100.
401(k), 403(b), 457(b) Contribution Limits
The salary deferral limit for 401(k) and other similar plans is increased to $24,500.
The catch-up contribution limit for 401(k) and other similar plans for people age 50+ increases to $8,000. For people who turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2026, the catch-up contribution limit remains at $11,250.
The maximum possible contribution for defined contribution plans (e.g., for a self-employed person with a sufficiently high income contributing to a solo 401(k)) is increased to $72,000.
Health Savings Account Contribution Limits
For 2026, the maximum HSA contribution for somebody with self-only coverage under a high deductible health plan is $4,400. The limit for somebody with family coverage under such a plan is $8,750.
The HSA catch-up contribution limit for people age 55 and over is not inflation adjusted, so it remains at $1,000.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
For 2026, the limit for qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) for people age 70.5 and up is increased to $111,000 (per spouse, if married).
Capital Gains and Qualified Dividends
For 2026, long-term capital gains and qualified dividends face the following tax rates:
- 0% tax rate if they fall below $49,450 of taxable income if filing as single or married filing separately, $98,900 if married filing jointly, or $66,200 if head of household.
- 15% tax rate if they fall above the 0% threshold but below $545,500 if single, $613,700 if married filing jointly, $579,600 if head of household, or $306,850 if married filing separately.
- 20% tax rate if they fall above the 15% threshold.
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
The AMT exemption amount is increased to:
- $90,100 for single people and people filing as head of household,
- $140,200 for married people filing jointly, and
- $70,100 for married people filing separately.
Annual Gift Tax Exclusion
For 2026 the annual exclusion for gifts remains at $19,000.
Estate Tax
The estate tax exclusion is increased to $15 million per decedent.
Pass-Through Business Income
With respect to the 20% deduction for qualified pass-through income, for 2026, the threshold amount at which the “specified service trade or business” phaseout and the wage (or wage+property) limitations begin to kick in will be $403,500 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $201,750 for single taxpayers and people filing as head of household, and $201,775 for married people filing separately.
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