Effective Tax Rate Calculator
Find your effective tax rate from the tax you paid, tax by tax, or estimate it from income with the 2026 US federal brackets, FICA and state tax — with your marginal rate, take-home pay and a bracket-by-bracket breakdown.
How it works
Effective tax rate = total tax ÷ total income × 100 · After-tax income = income − tax · Estimate mode: taxable income = income − pre-tax contributions − max(standard, itemized deduction); federal tax = 2026 brackets − credits; FICA = 6.2% up to $184,500 + 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000)
Your effective tax rate is the single percentage that sums up how much of your income goes in tax: total tax divided by total income. In a progressive system it is almost always lower than your marginal rate, the rate on your top dollars, because the first part of your income is taxed at low rates or not at all. You can work it out three ways. Enter the total tax you paid; enter each tax separately (income tax, state or local tax, payroll contributions and other taxes) to see each one’s share; or let the calculator estimate US federal tax for 2026. The estimate subtracts pre-tax 401(k) or HSA contributions and the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) or your itemized deductions. It applies the 10%–37% brackets and credits, and can add Social Security and Medicare and a flat state rate. The rate also depends on what you divide by. Against gross income it shows the share of everything you earned; against taxable income it is higher. The calculator shows both, so be consistent when you compare years or people.
Worked example
If you paid $14,000 of total tax on $90,000 of income, your effective tax rate is 14,000 ÷ 90,000 = 15.56%. You kept $76,000, or about 84.4% of your income, even if your top bracket was 22%. In estimate mode, a single filer earning $90,000 in 2026 has $73,900 of taxable income after the $16,100 standard deduction. Federal tax is 10% × $12,400 + 12% × $38,000 + 22% × $23,500 = $10,970, an effective federal rate of 12.19%. Adding $6,885 of Social Security and Medicare gives $17,855, or 19.84% of income.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction · SSA — Contribution and benefit base (2026: $184,500)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between effective and marginal tax rate?
The marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar of income (your top bracket). The effective rate is total tax divided by total income — the average across all your income. In a progressive system the effective rate is lower: a single filer earning $90,000 in 2026 is in the 22% bracket but pays about 12.2% of income in federal income tax.
Should I use gross or taxable income?
Both are used. Dividing by gross income gives the share of everything you earned; dividing by taxable income gives the rate on what was actually taxed, which is higher. Enter your taxable income under More options (or use estimate mode) to see both rates side by side.
Does the effective rate include payroll tax?
Only if you include it. Choose “I know each tax separately” to enter income tax and payroll contributions (FICA in the US) on their own lines and see each rate, or keep FICA switched on in estimate mode. Many people quote an income-tax-only rate; adding payroll taxes gives a fuller picture of your tax burden.
How do I lower my effective tax rate?
Pre-tax retirement and HSA contributions lower taxable income, and so do itemized deductions when they beat the standard deduction. Tax credits cut the tax itself. Try the pre-tax and credits fields in estimate mode to see how much each one moves the rate.
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Educational estimate, not tax advice. The estimate mode uses 2026 US federal brackets and standard deductions (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and ignores capital gains, self-employment tax, credit phase-outs and real state brackets; consult a tax professional or the IRS for your actual liability.