2026 Standard Deduction Calculator

The standard deduction is the slice of income the IRS never taxes. Enter your salary and filing status to see your 2026 standard deduction and the taxable income that remains.

● IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 ● All filing statuses ● Shows taxable income

📋 Your deduction

2026 figures

The 2026 standard deduction by filing status

For tax year 2026, the IRS set the standard deduction in Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Most taxpayers take it rather than itemizing, because it is larger than their deductible expenses.

Filing status	2026 standard deduction
Single	$16,100
Married filing jointly	$32,200
Head of household	$24,150
Married filing separately	$16,100

Taxpayers who are 65 or older or blind get an additional standard deduction on top of these amounts.

How the deduction shapes your tax

Your federal income tax is calculated on taxable income, not gross salary. A single filer earning $65,000 subtracts the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $48,900 of taxable income — and that is what the brackets are applied to. Any pre-tax 401(k) or HSA contribution comes off first, shrinking taxable income further.

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Standard vs itemizing: You take whichever is larger. If your mortgage interest, state-and-local taxes (capped at $10,000) and charitable gifts add up to more than your standard deduction, itemizing wins. For most W-2 workers, the standard deduction is bigger.

From taxable income to take-home

Once you know taxable income, the paycheck calculator applies the 2026 brackets and FICA to show your full net pay. To see how your filing status changes the result, try the filing status comparison.

2026 Standard Deduction Calculator FAQ

What is the 2026 standard deduction?

For tax year 2026 it is $16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household, per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Taxpayers 65+ or blind get an additional amount.

How does the standard deduction lower my taxes?

It reduces your taxable income before the brackets apply. A single filer earning $65,000 is taxed on only $48,900 after the $16,100 standard deduction — and even less if they make pre-tax 401(k) contributions.

Should I take the standard deduction or itemize?

Take whichever is larger. Itemizing wins only if your deductible expenses — mortgage interest, up to $10,000 of state and local taxes, charitable gifts — exceed your standard deduction. Most W-2 employees come out ahead with the standard deduction.

Does the standard deduction reduce Social Security and Medicare tax?

No. FICA (6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare) is calculated on your gross wages. The standard deduction only reduces federal income tax.