Tax Bracket Year-Over-Year Comparison

2026

Compare your tax liability under 2025 vs 2026 brackets. See how bracket inflation adjustments affect you.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 brackets); 2025 brackets from Rev. Proc. 2024-40

$
Filing Status

2025 Federal Tax

$28,847.00

2026 Federal Tax

$28,598.00

Difference

$249.00

2025 vs 2026 Comparison

2025 Tax$28,847.00
2025 Marginal Bracket24.00%
2025 Effective Rate19.23%
2026 Tax$28,598.00
2026 Marginal Bracket24.00%
2026 Effective Rate19.07%
You Save in 2026$249.00

Use the Tax Bracket Year-Over-Year Comparison above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

When brackets shift, standard deductions move, and rates get rewritten between two tax years, the same income can carry a noticeably different tax bill. Comparing one year against another puts a number on that drift, which makes it far easier to plan ahead, set a budget, and time income or investment decisions with confidence.

The calculator compares 2025 with 2026. It runs the taxable income you enter through each year's bracket ranges and rates for your filing status and shows the tax, the marginal bracket and the effective rate for both. There is no standard deduction step, so enter income after deductions. Because both years are calculated on the same footing, you get a true apples-to-apples read on how the brackets alone moved your bill.

Treat the result as an estimate rather than a filing figure. Real liability bends with deductions, credits, and the state and local taxes left out here. The calculator applies one income and one filing status to both years, so it isolates the bracket changes; it does not reflect a raise, a job change or a new filing status between the years.

Example: Comparing 2025 vs. 2026 for a Single Filer with $80,000 Taxable Income

  1. 1 Input '$80,000' as taxable income and choose 'Single'. The calculator applies both years' brackets to the same figure.
  2. 2 2025 (Rev. Proc. 2024-40): 10% of $11,925 = $1,192.50, plus 12% of $36,550 ($11,925 to $48,475) = $4,386, plus 22% of $31,525 ($48,475 to $80,000) = $6,935.50. Total: $12,514, an effective rate of 15.64%.
  3. 3 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32): 10% of $12,400 = $1,240, plus 12% of $38,000 ($12,400 to $50,400) = $4,560, plus 22% of $29,600 ($50,400 to $80,000) = $6,512. Total: $12,312, an effective rate of 15.39%.
  4. 4 The calculator shows 'You Save in 2026' of $202. The marginal bracket is 22% in both years; the saving comes from the wider 10% and 12% brackets, which leave less income in the 22% band.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did tax brackets change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2026 brackets were adjusted for inflation. The 22% bracket for single filers now applies to income from $50,401 to $105,700 (up from $48,476 to $103,350 in 2025). The tops of the 10% and 12% brackets rose about 4% ($11,925 to $12,400 and $48,475 to $50,400), while the higher thresholds rose about 2.3%.
Will tax rates go up in 2026?
No. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the TCJA individual rate cuts permanent in July 2025, so 2026 keeps the same bracket rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%). The bracket thresholds have been adjusted upward for inflation, meaning slightly more income is taxed at each lower rate.
How do I minimize the impact of bracket changes?
Maximize pre-tax retirement contributions (401(k), Traditional IRA, HSA) to lower taxable income. Consider Roth conversions in years when your income dips. Time deductions and income recognition strategically around bracket boundaries.