Income Tax Calculator
What this income tax calculator does: it estimates income tax and payroll taxes on a year’s income and shows what’s left. It covers:
1. United States (2026): federal income tax for all four filing statuses, Social Security, Medicare, an optional flat state rate, plus self-employment tax and the 20% QBI deduction for 1099 income
2. United Kingdom (2026/27): income tax and employee National Insurance
3. Canada (2026): federal and provincial tax, CPP, CPP2, and EI
4. Australia (2026-27): resident income tax and the Medicare levy, plus a Custom mode for any country
Free, no sign-up. Your numbers stay in your browser. Results are educational estimates, not tax advice; credits and many special rules aren’t included.
US, UK, Canada & Australia — with filing status, take-home pay, and the exact bracket-by-bracket breakdown
| Tax Band | Taxed in Band | Rate | Tax |
|---|
How to use the income tax calculator
1. Choose a country tab: US, UK, Canada, Australia, or Custom.
2. Enter your Annual Gross Income (wages before any deductions).
3. US: pick a Filing Status, enter Pre-Tax (401k / HSA / IRA) contributions, choose Standard or Itemized deductions, and optionally a State Tax Rate. Self-employed income goes in 1099 / Self-Employment Income as net profit, with the 20% QBI Deduction switch.
4. Canada: choose your province. UK and Australia take pre-tax pension or super contributions.
5. Results appear as you type: a payslip-style breakdown, your marginal and effective rates, take-home per year, month, and two weeks, and the tax in each bracket. Save with Copy Shareable Link.
How to read your results
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Total tax | Income tax plus payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare, National Insurance, CPP and EI, or the Medicare levy). |
| Effective rate | Total tax ÷ gross income, including payroll taxes. |
| Marginal rate | The income tax rate on your next dollar of taxable income (federal + provincial in Canada). |
| Take-home | Gross income minus all the taxes shown, per year, month, and two weeks. Pre-tax contributions are shown separately because they go to your account, not your paycheck. |
| Bracket breakdown | How much income falls in each bracket and the tax on it. |
Worked example: $85,000 salary, single filer, 2026
Here’s one example run through the US tab: $85,000 in wages, single, $6,000 pre-tax 401(k) contributions, standard deduction, no state tax.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal taxable income | $62,900 |
| Federal income tax | $8,550.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $5,270.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $1,232.50 |
| Total | $15,052.50 (17.71% effective, 22% marginal) |
| After tax | $69,947.50, of which $6,000 goes to the 401(k) and $63,947.50 to paychecks |
🧮 How this was calculated
- Taxable income: $85,000 − $6,000 401(k) − $16,100 standard deduction = $62,900
- Federal tax: $12,400 × 10% + $38,000 × 12% + ($62,900 − $50,400) × 22% = $1,240 + $4,560 + $2,750 = $8,550
- Social Security: $85,000 × 6.2% = $5,270. Medicare: $85,000 × 1.45% = $1,232.50 (401(k) deferrals don’t reduce these)
- Total: $8,550 + $5,270 + $1,232.50 = $15,052.50. Effective rate: $15,052.50 ÷ $85,000 = 17.71%
- After tax: $85,000 − $15,052.50 = $69,947.50; minus the $6,000 401(k) = $63,947.50 in paychecks
Assumptions: no tax credits · no state or local tax · all income is W-2 wages.
Self-employment example
A single filer with $30,000 of net 1099 profit and no other income, with the QBI deduction on, owes $4,238.87 of self-employment tax but only $942.45 of federal income tax.
🧮 How this was calculated
- SE tax base: $30,000 × 92.35% = $27,705. SE tax: $27,705 × 15.3% = $4,238.87
- Half of SE tax is deductible: $30,000 − $2,119.43 = $27,880.57 adjusted gross income
- After the $16,100 standard deduction: $11,780.57. QBI deduction: 20% × $11,780.57 = $2,356.11 (the smaller of the two QBI limits)
- Taxable income: $11,780.57 − $2,356.11 = $9,424.45; at 10%, federal income tax = $942.45
Assumptions: no other income · no self-employed health insurance or retirement deductions · QBI simplified for a sole proprietor below the income limits.
Example figures are illustrative, not averages or statistics.
Methodology and sources
1. US: 2026 brackets and standard deductions ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) from the IRS. Social Security: 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 (SSA); Medicare: 1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint). Self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit, per the IRS. The QBI deduction is simplified. State tax is a flat rate on federal taxable income, a rough stand-in for real state rules.
2. UK: 2026/27 bands for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from GOV.UK, the personal allowance taper above £100,000, and employee National Insurance at 8% and 2%. Scottish rates differ.
3. Canada: 2026 federal and provincial brackets, the federal basic personal amount, CPP (5.95%), CPP2 (4%), and EI (1.63%). Provincial credits, surtaxes, and several federal credits aren’t included, so results may be slightly high; the CRA payroll calculator is the official check.
4. Australia: 2026-27 resident rates from the ATO (A$18,200 tax-free, then 15%, 30%, 37%, 45%) and the 2% Medicare levy. Offsets such as LITO aren’t included.
5. Not included anywhere: tax credits (such as the US Child Tax Credit), capital gains rates, and local taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rates?
Ans: The marginal rate is the income tax rate on your next dollar of taxable income. The effective rate is all the tax you pay divided by your gross income. In the example, the marginal rate is 22%, but the effective rate, including payroll taxes, is 17.71%.
2. What is the 2026 standard deduction?
Ans: According to the IRS, $16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household. Additional amounts apply for people 65 or older or blind, which this calculator doesn’t add.
3. How can I lower my taxable income?
Ans: The most common way to lower your taxable income is by contributing to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, utilizing flexible spending accounts for healthcare, or claiming deductions for business expenses.
4. Do 401(k) contributions reduce Social Security and Medicare taxes?
Ans: Traditional 401(k) deferrals lower federal income tax but not Social Security and Medicare taxes. In the example, $6,000 of contributions cut taxable income to $62,900, while payroll taxes are still figured on the full $85,000.
5. How is self-employment tax calculated?
Ans: At 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net self-employment profit, once that profit is $400 or more. Half of it is deductible when figuring income tax. The IRS generally expects quarterly estimated payments from people who expect to owe $1,000 or more.
6. Why can my take-home differ from my paycheck?
Ans: Paychecks also reflect withholding choices, health insurance premiums, local taxes, and other deductions, and withholding is an estimate settled when you file. This calculator shows the tax for the full year on the income you enter.
7. Does the calculator include tax credits?
Ans: No. Credits such as the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit reduce tax directly and can change the result a lot. Treat the figure as tax before credits.
Kevin Brown researches personal finance topics using official sources; he is not a licensed financial advisor or mortgage lender. Last reviewed: October 2026.
