TaxPrepGuru
2026 federal tax brackets, deductions & filing guides
IRS numbers for tax year 2026, plain-English filing help, and software comparisons — updated for the current season.
Federal tax changes
Stay current on brackets, deadlines, and law updates.
Tax year 2026
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
IRS 2026 federal income tax brackets and rates for single, married filing jointly, and head of household — plus how marginal brackets work.
Tax year 2026
2026 Standard Deduction Amounts
2026 federal standard deduction amounts for single, married filing jointly, and head of household — plus extra amounts for age 65 or blind.
Tax year 2026
What's New for Tax Year 2026
Key U.S. federal tax changes for 2026 — brackets, deductions, credits, and post-TCJA planning notes. Verify all figures on IRS.gov.
Tax year 2026
Federal Tax Deadlines for 2026–2027
Key U.S. federal tax dates — estimated payments, filing deadlines, and extensions. Confirm exact dates on IRS.gov each year.
From the blog
Policy and filing-season commentary.
Popular guides
Plain-English help for common federal filing questions.
basics
How to Become a Tax Preparer or EA
U.S. path to preparing taxes for others — PTIN, IRS Annual Filing Season Program, state rules, and the Enrolled Agent exam and practice rights.
basics
W-2 vs 1099: What Filers Need to Know
Understand the difference between employee W-2 wages and 1099 independent contractor income for federal taxes.
credits
Federal Tax Credits Overview
A plain-English overview of major U.S. federal tax credits — Child Tax Credit, EITC, education, energy, and more.
filing
Am I Required to File a Federal Tax Return?
2026 federal tax filing thresholds by status and age, plus when you must file for self-employment, credits, or Marketplace coverage even at lower income.
basics
How to File Your Federal Taxes: Step-by-Step
A clear walkthrough of filing a U.S. Form 1040 — gathering documents, choosing a method, e-filing, and what happens after you submit.
Tax software at a glance
Free editions, audit support, crypto, and live experts — side by side.
| Feature | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 Free Edition | $0 Free Online | $0 Free Edition | $0 Simply Free |
| Live expert access | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| Cryptocurrency | Advanced | Basic | Basic | Basic |
2026 tax brackets
Rates and income ranges by filing status.
Standard deduction
2026 amounts plus age 65 / blind extras.
Filing thresholds
Do you have to file a federal return?
Filing checklist
Documents to gather before you start.
Important disclaimer
TaxPrepGuru provides general educational information about U.S. federal taxes. We are not a CPA firm, Enrolled Agent practice, or law firm. Nothing on this site is tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules change; always confirm figures and forms on IRS.gov or with a qualified tax professional before filing.