Filing status
The category you file your tax return under — single, married filing jointly or separately, or head of household — which sets your brackets and deduction.
Your filing status determines your standard deduction and where each tax bracket starts. In 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household.
Head of household is for unmarried taxpayers who pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for a qualifying person, such as a child. It has wider brackets and a bigger deduction than single. Married couples usually owe less filing jointly; filing separately makes sense only in specific situations.
Calculators that use this
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Disclaimer: Definitions are general education, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are for the 2026 tax year unless noted.