Tax Basics

How Do Tax Brackets Actually Work?

The progressive tax system explained step by step: why being in the 22% bracket does not mean all income is taxed at 22%.

What Tax Bracket Am I In? 2026 Quick Lookup

Find your 2026 federal tax bracket by filing status and income, with the exact thresholds for all seven brackets.

Single vs Married Filing Jointly: 2026 Tax Comparison

Side-by-side bracket and deduction comparison for the two most common filing statuses.

2026 Standard Deduction: What Changed

The new standard deduction amounts, who should itemize, and how the OBBBA senior bonus adds on top.

How to Calculate MAGI for the SALT Phase-Down

The SALT phase-down starts at $505,000 MAGI. Step-by-step calculation.

SALT Deduction for MFS: The Halving Rules

MFS gets half the cap ($20,200), half the threshold ($252,500), and half the floor.

What Counts as SALT? Property Tax, Income Tax, and Sales Tax

SALT = state/local income tax OR sales tax + property tax. The $40,400 cap covers the total.

Can Renters Claim the SALT Deduction?

Renters can claim income/sales tax SALT but not property tax.

SALT Deduction for Single Filers in 2026

Single filers get the same $40,400 cap and $505,000 threshold as MFJ.

Who Gets the $40,000 SALT Deduction?

Itemize, pay enough SALT, and have MAGI below $505,000 for the full cap.

Why Is My SALT Deduction Limited to $10,000?

TCJA set the $10K cap in 2017. OBBBA raised it but the $10K floor remains for high earners.

SALT Deduction Explained Simply for 2026

State And Local Taxes: what counts, the cap, and when itemizing makes sense.