Tax Bracket Boundary Calculator 2026 โ How Much Before Next Bracket?
Find exactly how much more income you can earn before hitting the next tax bracket. See your bracket headroom for Roth conversions, bonuses, and income timing. 2026 tax brackets.
$
AGI minus standard/itemized deduction $
Bonus, Roth conversion, freelance income, etc. $0
Remaining at Current Rate
โ%
Your Current Bracket
โ%
Next Bracket Rate
$0
Current Bracket Ceiling
$0
Tax on Additional Income
0%
Effective Rate on Additional $
2026 Bracket Map โ Your Position
| Bracket | Range | Tax in Bracket | Status |
|---|
Understanding Tax Bracket Boundaries
The US tax system is progressive โ you pay each bracket's rate only on income within that bracket's range. Earning one dollar into the next bracket does not make your entire income taxable at the higher rate. Only the dollars above the boundary are taxed at the higher rate.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Taxable Income = AGI โ Standard Deduction
Find Current Bracket = highest bracket your income reaches
Headroom = Bracket Ceiling โ Current Taxable Income
Tax on Extra Income = min(extra, headroom) ร current rate
+ max(0, extra โ headroom) ร next rate
Effective Rate on Extra = Tax on Extra รท Extra Income
Find Current Bracket = highest bracket your income reaches
Headroom = Bracket Ceiling โ Current Taxable Income
Tax on Extra Income = min(extra, headroom) ร current rate
+ max(0, extra โ headroom) ร next rate
Effective Rate on Extra = Tax on Extra รท Extra Income
Example โ Single Filer at $75,000 Taxable
22% bracket ceiling (single): $103,350
Headroom: $103,350 โ $75,000 = $28,350 at 22%
A $10,000 bonus: all $10,000 taxed at 22% = $2,200 in extra federal tax
A $35,000 Roth conversion: $28,350 ร 22% + $6,650 ร 24% = $6,237 + $1,596 = $7,833
To stay entirely in 22%: max Roth conversion = $28,350
Headroom: $103,350 โ $75,000 = $28,350 at 22%
A $10,000 bonus: all $10,000 taxed at 22% = $2,200 in extra federal tax
A $35,000 Roth conversion: $28,350 ร 22% + $6,650 ร 24% = $6,237 + $1,596 = $7,833
To stay entirely in 22%: max Roth conversion = $28,350
Extended
Roth Conversion Optimizer & Bonus Planner
Size your Roth conversion or bonus to maximize current bracket without jumping to the next rate
Roth Conversion Sizing Tool
Find the optimal Roth conversion amount to fill your current bracket without crossing into the next rate. Also shows bonus income planning.
| Roth Conversion Amount | Tax Cost | Rate on Conversion | Bracket After |
|---|
Full 2026 Bracket Table โ All Filing Statuses
| Rate | Single | Married Joint | Head of HH | Married Sep. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 โ $11,925 | $0 โ $23,850 | $0 โ $17,000 | $0 โ $11,925 |
| 12% | $11,926 โ $48,475 | $23,851 โ $96,950 | $17,001 โ $64,850 | $11,926 โ $48,475 |
| 22% | $48,476 โ $103,350 | $96,951 โ $206,700 | $64,851 โ $103,350 | $48,476 โ $103,350 |
| 24% | $103,351 โ $197,300 | $206,701 โ $394,600 | $103,351 โ $197,300 | $103,351 โ $197,300 |
| 32% | $197,301 โ $250,525 | $394,601 โ $501,050 | $197,301 โ $250,500 | $197,301 โ $250,525 |
| 35% | $250,526 โ $626,350 | $501,051 โ $751,600 | $250,501 โ $626,350 | $250,526 โ $375,800 |
| 37% | $626,351+ | $751,601+ | $626,351+ | $375,801+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more can I earn before hitting the next tax bracket?
Use this calculator: enter your current taxable income and filing status. It shows your current bracket, the ceiling of that bracket, and exactly how much more you can earn while staying at your current marginal rate. Remember: only income above the bracket ceiling jumps to the higher rate โ lower income stays in lower brackets. Moving up one bracket does not make all your income taxable at the higher rate.
What is the marginal vs effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate on your last (highest) dollar of income โ the rate you'd pay on one more dollar earned. Your effective rate is the total tax divided by total income โ the average rate across all brackets. Most people have an effective rate well below their marginal rate. For example, a single filer with $80,000 taxable income is in the 22% bracket but has an effective federal rate of about 13%.
How does this help with Roth IRA conversions?
If you're in the 22% bracket, you may want to convert just enough traditional IRA to Roth IRA to use up the remaining 22% bracket space without jumping to 24%. This calculator tells you exactly how much you can convert while staying in your current bracket. Roth conversions are often most valuable in lower-income years โ after retirement but before Social Security and RMDs kick in.
Should I try to stay below a bracket ceiling?
It depends on the rate jump. Moving from 22% to 24% (a 2-percentage-point increase) on a small amount of additional income may not matter much. However, the jump from 24% to 32% (8 percentage points) or 35% to 37% can make it worth timing income carefully. Strategies include deferring year-end bonuses, contributing to a 401(k), making additional IRA contributions, or harvesting losses to stay in a lower bracket.
What is bracket headroom and why does it matter for bonuses?
Bracket headroom is the gap between your current taxable income and the next bracket ceiling. If you have $15,000 of headroom in the 22% bracket and receive a $20,000 bonus, the first $15,000 is taxed at 22% and the remaining $5,000 jumps to 24%. Knowing your headroom helps you decide whether to defer a bonus, max out your 401(k), or accept all the income this year. A $1,000 401(k) contribution with $15,000 headroom saves 22% โ that's $220 in federal taxes.