Marginal Tax Rate
Your marginal tax rate is the rate you pay on your last dollar of income — the tax bracket your top dollar falls into. Because the US uses progressive brackets, it's higher than your effective (average) rate: moving into a higher bracket only taxes the income above that threshold, never your whole income.
The marginal rate is the right number for decisions at the edge — whether a pre-tax 401(k) contribution or a deductible IRA is worth it, since each deducted dollar saves tax at that top rate. The effective rate better describes your overall tax burden.
Put it to work
Federal Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax: total tax, effective and marginal rates, and a bracket-by-bracket breakdown using official IRS figures.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
See your actual paycheck after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), health premiums, and state tax — per paycheck and per year (2026 figures).
Traditional IRA Calculator
Project your traditional IRA at retirement, see this year's tax deduction, and estimate the tax you'll owe on withdrawals. Uses the 2026 limit of $7,500.