The Tax Numbers
The federal figures that decide most of the year’s tax planning, in one place. They change every January. The way they are used does not.
Updated for tax year 2026
These are the numbers a plan is built against. Which bracket a dollar lands in, how much can go into a retirement account this year, what can be given away without a return, what an estate can pass free of federal tax. The figures below are the official 2026 amounts from the IRS. Planning for Taxes is about what to do with them; this page is only the numbers, and it is refreshed each January when the IRS publishes the next year’s.
Income tax brackets
Seven rates, unchanged. Each rate applies only to the dollars inside its band, not to all of your income.
| Rate | Single, taxable income over | Married filing jointly, over |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 | $0 |
| 12% | $12,400 | $24,800 |
| 22% | $50,400 | $100,800 |
| 24% | $105,700 | $211,400 |
| 32% | $201,775 | $403,550 |
| 35% | $256,225 | $512,450 |
| 37% | $640,600 | $768,700 |
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (IR-2025-103, October 9, 2025).
Standard deduction
| Filing status | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Single, or married filing separately | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly, or surviving spouse | $32,200 |
| Head of household | $24,150 |
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Taxpayers 65 or older, or blind, add $2,050 if unmarried and $1,650 per eligible spouse if married.
Alternative minimum tax exemption
| Filing status | Exemption | Begins to phase out at |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $90,100 | $500,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $140,200 | $1,000,000 |
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
Estate and gift
The estate exemption is the amount that can pass free of federal estate tax at death. The annual exclusion is what can be given to any one person in a year without using it or filing a gift tax return. California has no estate tax of its own.
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Federal estate and gift tax basic exclusion, per person | $15,000,000 |
| Annual gift tax exclusion, per recipient | $19,000 |
| Annual exclusion for gifts to a non-citizen spouse | $194,000 |
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32. The $15,000,000 exclusion was set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 and is indexed for inflation from here.
Retirement and health savings contribution limits
What can go into the accounts this year. Catch-up amounts are in addition to the base limit, and the larger catch-up for ages 60 through 63 replaces the age-50 amount in those years rather than stacking on it.
| Account | 2026 limit | Catch-up |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457(b), and federal TSP employee deferral | $24,500 | $8,000 at 50+; $11,250 at ages 60–63 |
| Traditional and Roth IRA, combined | $7,500 | $1,100 at 50+ |
| SIMPLE IRA employee deferral | $17,000 | $4,000 at 50+; $5,250 at ages 60–63 |
| Health savings account, self-only coverage | $4,400 | $1,000 at 55+ |
| Health savings account, family coverage | $8,750 | $1,000 at 55+ |
| Health flexible spending account | $3,400 | — |
Sources: IRS Notice 2025-67 (401(k), IRA, and SIMPLE limits, announced November 2025); IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-19 (HSA limits); Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (FSA). Roth IRA eligibility phases out with income; the ranges are in Notice 2025-67.
Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends
Gains on assets held more than a year, and qualified dividends, are taxed at their own federal rates, set by taxable income. California taxes capital gains as ordinary income at the state’s regular rates, which is the fact most tables built for a national audience leave out.
| Rate | Single, taxable income | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | up to $49,450 | up to $98,900 |
| 15% | $49,451 to $545,500 | $98,901 to $613,700 |
| 20% | over $545,500 | over $613,700 |
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32. A separate 3.8% net investment income tax applies above $200,000 of modified adjusted gross income for a single filer and $250,000 for a married couple; those two thresholds are set by statute and do not change with inflation.
Roth IRA eligibility, charitable distributions, and Social Security
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Roth IRA contribution phase-out, single (modified AGI) | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Roth IRA contribution phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Qualified charitable distribution from an IRA, per person per year | $111,000 |
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 |
Sources: IRS Notice 2025-67 (Roth phase-outs); IRS (QCD limit, indexed); Social Security Administration (wage base).
Educational content only. This page is for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, or legal advice, and does not create an advisory relationship. The figures are the federal amounts published by the Internal Revenue Service for tax year 2026, reproduced here for reference; they change annually, may be amended by later guidance or legislation, and are not a substitute for the official sources cited. State figures differ. Whether and how any limit, deduction, or exemption applies to you depends on your individual circumstances. This page lists tax figures only and mentions no security or investment; the firm and its related persons may or may not hold any security, fund, or asset class mentioned anywhere in this Library, and any such position may change at any time.
TenBroeck Wealth Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the State of California (DFPI). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The firm does not provide tax preparation or legal services; tax and estate strategies are developed in coordination with your CPA and attorney, who confirm and implement tax filings and legal documents. The firm is affiliated through common ownership with TenBroeck Insurance Services, a licensed insurance agency; the firm or its representatives may receive commissions on insurance products implemented for clients — compensation separate from advisory fees that creates a conflict of interest. Clients are under no obligation to purchase insurance through the affiliate. This and other material conflicts are described in the firm's Form ADV Part 2A, available upon request.
Written by Schad TenBroeck, CFP®, Principal. CFP Board owns the marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the United States.