2026 tax law applied — includes the new OBBBA senior deduction Free Newsletter

Retirement Tax Calculator 2026: Social Security, Pension and IRA Income

See how much of your Social Security is actually taxable and estimate your 2026 federal tax bill — including the new $6,000 senior deduction most retirees haven't heard about yet.

Runs in your browser, nothing sent to us Takes about 2 minutes 2026 IRS brackets & OBBBA rules
Retirement Tax Calculator 2026: Social Security, Pension and IRA Income
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Tell us about your income

Filing status
Who is 65 or older?

Total for the year, both spouses combined if married.

Pensions, 401(k)/IRA withdrawals, wages, taxable interest & dividends.

Municipal bond interest — not taxed directly, but it counts toward whether your Social Security is taxable.

This estimate is federal-only either way — but if your state has no income tax at all, we'll tell you that plainly.

This runs entirely in your browser. We don't collect, store, or transmit anything you type here.

How much of your Social Security is taxable

Ways to lower this

Calculate your RMD
This estimator uses 2026 IRS tax brackets, standard deduction amounts, and the OBBBA senior deductions, applying the standard Social Security taxability worksheet. All dollar figures shown are federal only. If you select a state with no income tax at all (verified current for 2026), we'll tell you that plainly since it meaningfully changes your total picture — for the other 41 states, treatment of retirement income varies too much by state to estimate safely here. This does not account for itemized deductions, capital gains rates, or every credit and phase-out that could apply to your return. It is for informational purposes only, is not tax advice, and is not affiliated with the IRS. Confirm your numbers with a tax professional or IRS Free File before filing.
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How retirement income is taxed in 2026

Short answer: Up to 85 percent of your Social Security can be taxable, but only when your other income is high enough. Pensions, IRA withdrawals and RMDs are taxed as ordinary income. Most retirees pay far less than their tax bracket suggests, because the standard deduction, the extra deduction at 65 and the new senior deduction are subtracted first.

When Social Security becomes taxable

The IRS adds half of your Social Security to all your other income, including tax-exempt interest. That total is called combined income. Compare it to these thresholds.

Combined incomeSingleMarried filing jointlyShare of benefits taxable
Below the first thresholdUnder $25,000Under $32,0000%
Between thresholds$25,000 to $34,000$32,000 to $44,000Up to 50%
Above the second thresholdOver $34,000Over $44,000Up to 85%

These thresholds are not adjusted for inflation, so more retirees cross them every year. See our Social Security taxability guide for the full worksheet.

2026 federal tax brackets

RateSingle, taxable incomeMarried filing jointly
10%$0 to $12,400$0 to $24,800
12%$12,400 to $50,400$24,800 to $100,800
22%$50,400 to $105,700$100,800 to $211,400
24%$105,700 to $201,775$211,400 to $403,550
32%$201,775 to $256,225$403,550 to $512,450
35%$256,225 to $640,600$512,450 to $768,700
37%Over $640,600Over $768,700

Deductions that lower the bill

Two worked examples

Example 1: single, 66, Social Security $24,000, IRA withdrawals $20,000. Combined income is $20,000 + $12,000 = $32,000. That is above the first threshold, so $3,500 of the Social Security is taxable. Taxable income before deductions is $23,500. The deductions total $24,150 ($16,100 + $2,050 + $6,000), so taxable income is zero and the federal tax is $0.

Example 2: single, 66, Social Security $30,000, pension $45,000. Combined income is $60,000, so the 85 percent cap applies and $25,500 of Social Security is taxable. Add the pension for $70,500. The deductions are $24,150, leaving taxable income of $46,350. Tax is $1,240 on the first $12,400 plus $4,074 on the next $33,950, which equals $5,314, about 7.1 percent of total income of $75,000.

Run your own numbers in the calculator above. Both examples were computed with the same formulas the tool uses.

What this calculator leaves out

It estimates federal tax only. It does not include state tax, capital gains rates, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, the net investment income tax, itemized deductions or tax credits. For state rules see retirement taxes by state. To see how IRA withdrawals feed in, try the RMD calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is Social Security taxable in 2026?
It can be. If half your Social Security plus your other income is above $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married filing jointly), up to 50 percent of your benefits may be taxable. Above $34,000 or $44,000, up to 85 percent may be taxable. No more than 85 percent is ever taxed.
At what income do retirees pay no federal tax in 2026?
A single person aged 65 or older with the standard deduction, the extra age deduction and the full $6,000 senior deduction can have up to $24,150 of taxable income and owe nothing. A married couple, both 65 or older, can offset $47,500. Social Security that is not taxable does not count against those amounts.
Are pension and IRA withdrawals taxed differently from wages?
No. Pensions, traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals and RMDs are taxed as ordinary income at the same brackets as wages. They also count toward the Social Security taxability formula. Roth withdrawals that qualify are not taxed and do not count.
What is the new senior deduction?
Tax years 2025 through 2028 include an added $6,000 deduction per person aged 65 or older. It is reduced by 6 percent of modified adjusted gross income above $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers.
Does this calculator include state taxes?
No. It estimates federal income tax only. Nine states have no income tax on wages. Many others exempt some or all Social Security. Our retirement taxes by state guide covers the differences.

Related guides

Sources