Maryland Income Tax Calculator 2026 โ€” State + County Piggyback

Calculate your 2026 Maryland state income tax with all 8 brackets plus county piggyback tax. Choose your county for accurate combined rate. MD vs VA, DC, PA, DE comparison.

$
= $7,083 / month
$3,200 per exemption (includes self)
Standard deduction: 15% of AGI, min $1,800, max $2,550
Common salaries:
$0
MD State Income Tax
$0
County Piggyback Tax
$0
Total MD Tax (State + County)
$0
Federal Income Tax
0%
MD Combined Effective Rate
$0
After All Taxes Income

Maryland State Tax Bracket Breakdown

MD State Bracket Taxable in Bracket Rate Tax

Tax Computation Summary

How to Use This Maryland Income Tax Calculator

Enter your annual gross income, select your filing status, and choose your county for the correct piggyback tax rate. Maryland's standard deduction is 15% of AGI (min $1,800, max $2,550), and personal exemptions are $3,200 each. Results update instantly.

Maryland is one of the few states where you must also pay a local county income tax on your state return. The county rate is applied to the same taxable income as the state tax.

The Formula

MD Standard Deduction = 15% ร— AGI, capped at min $1,800, max $2,550 (single)
MD Taxable Income = Gross Income โˆ’ MD Standard Deduction โˆ’ (Exemptions ร— $3,200)
MD State Tax = apply 8-bracket state rate table
MD County Tax = MD Taxable Income ร— county rate (2.25%โ€“3.20%)
Total MD Tax = MD State Tax + MD County Tax

Example

David, Single, $100,000 salary, Montgomery County (3.20%) 2026:
Standard deduction: min($2,550, 15%ร—$100,000) = $2,550
Exemption: 1 ร— $3,200 = $3,200
MD taxable: $100,000 โˆ’ $2,550 โˆ’ $3,200 = $94,250
State tax: $1Kร—2% + $1Kร—3% + $1Kร—4% + $91,250ร—4.75% = $4,384
County tax: $94,250 ร— 3.20% = $3,016
Total MD tax: $7,400 | Combined MD effective rate: 7.40%

Maryland's Unique County Tax System

Maryland is one of only a handful of states that require all counties to levy a local income tax collected through the state return. This "piggyback" tax ranges from 2.25% (Worcester County) to 3.20% (Baltimore City, Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, and Frederick). Because all Maryland residents pay this tax โ€” not just city residents โ€” the effective state tax burden is significantly higher than the state brackets alone suggest.

Extended

MD vs Neighboring States Comparison

Side-by-side Maryland, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia tax analysis

Total state income tax comparison at your current income. Single filer, standard deductions, MD uses Montgomery County (3.20%) for total.

StateStructureTotal State TaxEffective RateAfter-State Income

Your total tax burden including federal, Maryland state+county, and FICA payroll taxes.

Tax ComponentAmount% of Gross

County piggyback tax impact at your current income level. Shows state+county total and effective rate for each jurisdiction.

CountyCounty RateCounty TaxState + County TotalCombined Effective Rate

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Maryland income tax brackets for 2026?
Maryland has 8 state income tax brackets for 2026: 2% on first $1,000; 3% on $1,001โ€“$2,000; 4% on $2,001โ€“$3,000; 4.75% on $3,001โ€“$100,000; 5% on $100,001โ€“$125,000; 5.25% on $125,001โ€“$150,000; 5.5% on $150,001โ€“$250,000; and 5.75% on income above $250,000. These are state-only rates โ€” county piggyback taxes add 2.25%โ€“3.20% on top.
What is Maryland's county piggyback income tax?
Maryland is unique in that every county (and Baltimore City) levies an additional income tax โ€” called the "county piggyback tax" โ€” on top of state income tax. Rates range from 2.25% (Worcester County) to 3.20% (Baltimore City, Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, and Frederick counties). This local tax is calculated on Maryland taxable income and paid with your state return.
What is the Maryland standard deduction for 2026?
The Maryland standard deduction equals 15% of Maryland adjusted gross income, with a minimum of $1,800 and a maximum of $2,550 for single filers (double for married filing jointly). Because the maximum is so low ($2,550 single), most taxpayers benefit more from the standard deduction only at lower income levels. At $17,000+ of income, the standard deduction is capped.
What is the Maryland personal exemption for 2026?
Maryland allows a personal exemption of $3,200 per exemption. Single filers claim one ($3,200), married filing jointly claim two ($6,400), and additional exemptions apply for dependents. Unlike credits, these are deductions from taxable income, so they save you the exemption amount multiplied by your marginal rate.
How does Maryland's total tax rate compare to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and DC?
Maryland's effective rate is higher than Virginia (5.75% max state only) and Pennsylvania (3.07% flat, no local for state return) because of the mandatory county piggyback tax. Baltimore City residents pay state + 3.20% county = up to 8.95% combined state+local. DC charges up to 10.75% but has no county add-on. Virginia has no county income tax. Maryland's combined state+county is among the highest in the Mid-Atlantic.