A new year is a good moment to bookmark the numbers that shape financial outcomes: how much you can save, when deductions begin to fade, and where additional taxes may apply. Below is a practical snapshot of the most relevant tax and retirement planning figures for 2026, organized to make it easier to spot the thresholds that may matter most to you.

1. The Basics: Standard Deduction and Top Brackets

We’ll start with two foundational inputs that affect nearly every tax return: federal income tax brackets and the standard deduction.

Federal Income Tax Brackets

Tax Rate	Married Filing Jointly (MFJ)	Single
10%	$0 - $24,800	$0 - $12,400
12%	$24,801 - $100,800	$12,401 - $50,400
22%	$100,801 - $211,400	$50,401 - $105,700
24%	$211,401 - $403,550	$105,701 - $201,775
32%	$403,551 - $512,450	$201,776 - $256,225
35%	$512,451 - $768,700	$256,226 - $640,600
37%	Over $768,700	Over $640,600

These ranges can be especially relevant when income is flexible, such as bonuses, equity compensation, Roth conversions, or business income.

Standard Deduction

Filing Status	Standard Deduction	Additional (Age 65+ or Blind)
Married Filing Jointly	$32,200	$1,650 per eligible spouse
Single	$16,100	$2,050

2. Common Credits and Deductions

SALT Deduction

Deduction Range	$10,000–$40,400
Phaseout Range	$505,000–$605,000

Even during the phaseout, a minimum $10,000 SALT deduction remains available if you itemize.

Child-Related Tax Credits

Child Tax Credit (under 17): $2,200
- Up to $1,700 refundable
- Phaseouts begin at $200,000 (single) and $400,000 (MFJ).
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
- 20%–50% of the first $3,000 of qualified expenses (or the first $6,000 if you have two or more children).

Education-Related Deductions

Credit	Amount	Phaseout Range
American Opportunity Tax Credit	100% of first $2,000 + 25% of next $2,000	$80,000 - $90,000 (single) $160,000 - $180,000 (MFJ)
Lifetime Learning Credit	20% of first $10,000	Same as above.
Student Loan Interest	$2,500	$85,000 - $100,000 (single) $175,000 - $205,000 (MFJ)

Select Non-Itemized Deductions

Type	Amount	Phaseout Range
Senior (65+)	$6,000 (per eligible individual)	$75,000 - $175,000 (single) $150,000 - $250,000 (MFJ)
Charitable	$1,000 (single) $2,000 (MFJ)	N/A
Car Loan Interest	$10,000 (on eligible vehicles)	$100,000 - $150,000 (single) $200,000 - $250,000 (MFJ)

3. Estate & Gift Tax Numbers

For families thinking about long-term transfers, 2026 brings the following limits:

Lifetime estate and gift exemption: $15,000,000
Top estate and gift tax rate: 40%
Annual gift tax exclusion: $19,000 per recipient

4. Investing Numbers: Long-Term Capital Gains and NIIT

Investment income follows its own set of thresholds, separate from ordinary income.

Long-term Capital Gains & Qualified Dividends (Based on Taxable Income)

Tax Rate	0% Rate	15% Rate	20% Rate
MFJ	Up to $98,900	$98,901 - $613,700	Over $613,700
Single	Up to $49,450	$49,451 - $545,500	Over $545,500

Higher-income households may also be subject to the net investment income tax (NIIT), a 3.8% surtax applied to the lesser of net investment income or income above the thresholds below.

MFJ: $250,000
Single: $200,000

When income sits near these levels, decisions around gain recognition and tax-loss harvesting can carry added weight.

5. Retirement Savings: the 2026 Contribution Ceilings

401(k), 403(b), and 457 Plans

Employee Deferral Limit	$24,500
Catch-Up Contribution for Ages 50-Plus	$8,000
Catch-Up Contribution for Ages 60-63	$11,250
403(b) Long-Service Catch-Up	$3,000

Roth Catch-Up Rule (Effective 2026)

Employees age 50+ who earned more than $150,000 with their employer in the prior year may be required to make catch-up contributions on a Roth (after-tax) basis. Pre-tax contributions remain available up to the standard deferral limit. Plans without a Roth option may restrict catch-up contributions for affected employees.

Traditional IRA and Roth IRA contributions

Contribution limit: $7,500
Catch-up (age 50+): $1,100

Traditional IRA deductibility and Roth IRA eligibility are both subject to income limits, which can make strategies such as backdoor Roth contributions more relevant in certain situations.

SIMPLE IRA

Contribution Limit	$17,000
Catch-Up Contribution for Ages 50-Plus	$4,000
Catch-Up Contribution for Ages 60-63	$5,250

Some SIMPLE plans, typically offered by smaller employers, allow higher limits ($18,100 for 2026), depending on plan design.

SEP IRAs

These are often used by self-employed clients and closely held businesses.

Maximum Contribution: 25% of compensation
Dollar Limit: $72,000
Minimum Compensation: $800

6. Health Savings Accounts

Employees enrolled in high-deductible health plans are eligible for HSAs. Contribution limits for 2026 are:

Individual Coverage	$4,400
Family Coverage	$8,750
Catch-Up Contribution for Ages 55+	$1,000

A Simple Way to Use This List

The value of these numbers is often recognizing which “gate” you’re approaching and then discussing options before the calendar turns to Q4. Keeping these thresholds nearby can help align income, saving, and investment decisions as 2026 unfolds.

At Parkshore Wealth Management, we help clients incorporate new tax limits, contribution rules, and planning thresholds into the broader context of their existing financial plans. That means looking at how these updates interact with cash flow, investments, retirement goals, and long-term priorities, not in isolation, but as part of a coordinated strategy.

If you’d like to talk through how the 2026 numbers can be incorporated into a financial plan, we’re happy to have a conversation.

Schedule a complimentary, 15-minute chat with a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisor to discuss your personal situation.

This material was written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) derived from sources believed to be accurate. This information should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice.

Parkshore Wealth Management is an independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor with offices in Granite Bay and Folsom, CA, and Lehi and Logan, UT. We partner with financially responsible individuals and families who are eager to take positive steps that will allow them to use their money to build the life they desire. The firm is led by Daniel Andersen, CFP®, a member of NAPFA, the country’s leading professional association of fee-only financial advisors.

Important Tax and Retirement Plan Numbers for 2026