2026 Federal Tax Amounts and Limits

To help you stay informed of changes to federal tax amounts and limits, use this quick-reference sheet. Note: This sheet applies only to federal tax laws for the tax year 2025 and not to state tax laws. Information is as of January 1, 2026.

General Income Tax

Joint Returns/Surviving Spouse

Min. Max. Tax on Min. Rate on Excess
$0 $24,800 $0 10%
24,801 100,800 2,480 12%
100,801 211,400 11,600 22%
211,401 403,550 35,932 24%
403,551 512,450 82,048 32%
512,451 768,700 116,896 35%
768,701 - 206,583.50 37%
 

Head of Household

Min. Max. Tax on Min. Rate on Excess
$0 $17,700 $0 10%
17,701 67,450 1,770 12%
67,451 105,700 7,740 22%
105,701 201,750 16,155 24%
201,751 256,200 39,207 32%
256,201 640,600 56,631 35%
640,601 - 191,171 37%
 

Single Individuals

Min. Max. Tax on Min. Rate on Excess
$0 $12,400 $0 10%
12,401 50,400 1,240 12%
50,401 105,700 5,800 22%
105,701 201,775 17,966 24%
201,776 256,225 41,024 32%
256,226 640,600 58,448 35%
640,601 - 192,979.25 37%
 

Married Filing Separate

Min. Max. Tax on Min. Rate on Excess
$0 $12,400 $0 10%
12,401 50,400 1,240 12%
50,401 105,700 5,800 22%
105,701 201,775 17,966 24%
201,776 256,225 41,024 32%
256,226 384,350 58,448 35%
384,351 - 103,294.75 37%
 

Estates and Trusts

Min. Max. Tax on Min. Rate on Excess
$0 $3,300 $0 10%
3,301 11,700 330 24%
11,701 16,000 2,346 35%
16,001 - 3,851 37%

Standard Deduction

Joint Returns and Surviving Spouse $32,200
Heads of Households $24,150
Single Individuals
 $16,100
Married Filing Separate $16,100
Dependent $1,350, or $450 plus earned income, if greater
Aged or Blind - Unmarried and not Surviving Spouse $2,050 each
Aged or Blind - Other $1,650 each
Temporary Bonus Deduction 65+ (phase out $75,000-$175,000 single / $150,000-$250,000 joint MAGI) $6,000 each

Kiddie Tax

Amount
 $1,350
Exemption $2,700
Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption $9,750 plus earned income

Child Tax Credit

Amount
 $2,200
Refundable Threshold $2,500

AMT Exemption Amounts

Tax Filing Status AMT Exemption Amounts
Joint Returns/Surviving Spouse $140,200
Single Individuals/Heads of Households $90,100
Married Filing Separate $70,100
Estates and Trusts $31,400
Excess Taxable Income 28% Applies
Married Filing Separate $122,250
Joint Returns/Surviving Spouses/Single/Head of Household $244,500

MAGI Threshold for Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

Tax Filing Status MAGI Threshold
Joint Returns and Surviving Spouse $250,000
Single Individuals/Heads of Households $200,000
Married Filing Separate $125,000
Estates and Trusts $16,000
Net Investment Income - e.g., interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income, royalty income, non-qualified annuities, passive income from business
Net Investment Income Tax - 3.8% of lesser of MAGI over thresholds OR net investment income

American Opportunity Education Tax Credit

Contribution Limit for 100% Tax Credit $2,000
25% Tax Credit for Amount Between $2,000-$4,000
American Opportunity Tax Credit Phaseout
Joint Return $160,000 / $180,000
All Other $80,000 / $90,000

Capital Gain/Qualified Dividends Rates

Annual Income & Filing Status Capital Gains/Qualified Dividends Rates
Under: $98,901 (joint)
$66,201 (H-O-H)
$49,451 (single & married filing separately)		 0%

$98,901-$613,700 (joint)

$66,201-$579,600 (H-O-H)

$49,451-$545,500 (single)

$49,451-$306,850 (married filing separately)

 15%

Over: $613,701 (joint)

$579,601 (H-O-H)

$545,501 (single)

$306,851 (married filing separately)

 20%

Estate Planning

Gift Tax Annual Exclusion $19,000
Annual Exclusion: Non-U.S. Spouse
 $194,000
Estate and Gift Tax Unified Credit
 $5,945,800
Estate and Gift Tax Exclusion Amount
 $15,000,000
Top Gift and Estate Tax Rate
 40%
GST Exemption
 $15,000,000

Income Tax Charitable Deduction Limitations

Limit1 Gift Charity Value

60%2

 

50%

 

50%

 Cash Public
 FMV
Ordinary Income
 Public Basis
UUTPP
 Public Basis
30%3 LTCG Public FMV4
Ordinary Income Public Basis
Other than LTCG Private Basis
20%5 LTCG Private Basis6

Note: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a charitable contribution deduction for non-itemizing taxpayers of up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

FMV = fair market value

LTCG = long-term capital gains property

UUTPP = unrelated use tangible personal property

1Percentage of adjusted gross income (AGI), 5-year carryover for disallowed deductions

2Gifts to charity (not for use of charity)

3Lesser of 30% limit or unused 50% limit

4Can elect 50% limit for gifts of LTCG to public charity if use basis as value

5Lesser of 20% limit or unused 30% limit

6FMV for qualified appreciated stock

 

Source: 2026 Federal Tax Amounts and Limits

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