A clear reference for Chicago individuals, families, and business owners. These are the 2026 figures, which apply to income earned in 2026 and returns filed in early 2027, reflecting the IRS inflation adjustments under Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and the changes made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
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2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
The seven federal rates, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, were made permanent by the OBBBA. Only the income thresholds change each year. Remember these are marginal: each rate applies only to the income that falls within its range, not your whole income.
Single Filers
| Rate | Taxable Income |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $49,840 |
| 22% | $49,841 – $106,250 |
| 24% | $106,251 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 |
Married Filing Jointly
| Rate | Taxable Income |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $24,800 |
| 12% | $24,801 – $99,600 |
| 22% | $99,601 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $211,401 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $403,551 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $512,451 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $768,700 |
Head of Household uses a separate schedule with thresholds between the single and joint tables. Married Filing Separately mirrors the single brackets through the lower rates, with the 37% rate beginning at $384,350.
2026 Standard Deduction
| Filing Status | Standard Deduction |
|---|---|
| Single / Married Filing Separately | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly / Surviving Spouse | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
Taxpayers 65 or older (or blind) get an additional standard deduction of $2,050 (single or head of household) or $1,650 per qualifying spouse (joint). On top of that, the OBBBA added a temporary senior bonus deduction of $6,000 for those 65 and older, available through 2028 and phased out at higher incomes (above $75,000 single / $150,000 joint).
2026 Long-Term Capital Gains & Qualified Dividends
Assets held more than a year are taxed at preferential rates separate from the ordinary brackets above. The 0%, 15%, and 20% structure continues for 2026, with breakpoints adjusted for inflation.
| Rate | Applies To (approximate) |
|---|---|
| 0% | Lower taxable incomes (roughly up to $49,000 single / $98,000 joint) |
| 15% | Most middle and upper-middle incomes |
| 20% | High earners (roughly above $545,000 single / $614,000 joint) |
On top of these, the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) adds 3.8% on investment income once modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint). These NIIT thresholds are not adjusted for inflation. Short-term gains (assets held a year or less) are taxed as ordinary income.
2026 Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exemption – Single | $90,100 |
| Exemption – Married Filing Jointly | $140,200 |
| 28% rate applies above (AMTI) | $244,500 ($122,250 if MFS) |
| Exemption phaseout begins | $500,000 single / $1,000,000 joint |
The OBBBA returned the AMT phaseout thresholds to lower levels and accelerated the phaseout rate, so some higher earners, especially those exercising incentive stock options, may see more AMT exposure than in prior years.
2026 Key Credits & Limits
| Item | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Child Tax Credit | $2,200 per qualifying child (now inflation-indexed) |
| SALT deduction cap | $40,000 (phasing down above roughly $505,000 MAGI) |
| Estate & gift tax exemption | $15,000,000 per person |
| Annual gift tax exclusion | $19,000 per recipient ($194,000 to a non-citizen spouse) |
| Top estate tax rate | 40% |
| Foreign Earned Income Exclusion | $132,900 |
2026 Retirement Contribution Limits
| Account | 2026 Limit |
|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b) elective deferral | $24,500 |
| 401(k) catch-up (age 50+) | $8,000 (total $32,500) |
| 401(k) super catch-up (ages 60–63) | $11,250 (total $35,750) |
| IRA (traditional or Roth) | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up (age 50+) | $1,100 |
| SIMPLE plan | $17,000 (catch-up $4,000) |
| Total defined-contribution (415 limit) | $72,000 ($80,000 with catch-up) |
A key 2026 change: if you earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages from your employer in 2025, any 401(k) catch-up contribution must now be made as a Roth (after-tax) contribution.
Roth IRA contribution phase-out: $153,000–$168,000 (single/HOH), $242,000–$252,000 (joint). Traditional IRA deduction phase-out when covered by a workplace plan: $81,000–$91,000 (single), $129,000–$149,000 (joint).
2026 HSA & FSA Limits
| Account | 2026 Limit |
|---|---|
| HSA – self-only coverage | $4,400 |
| HSA – family coverage | $8,750 |
| HSA catch-up (age 55+) | $1,000 |
| Health FSA salary reduction | $3,400 (carryover up to $680) |
2026 Payroll & Self-Employment Taxes
| Item | 2026 Figure |
|---|---|
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 |
| Social Security rate | 6.2% employee + 6.2% employer (12.4% self-employed) |
| Medicare rate | 1.45% each (2.9% self-employed), no wage cap |
| Additional Medicare tax | 0.9% on wages above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint |
| Self-employment tax | 15.3% up to the wage base, 2.9% above |
2026 Business Tax Highlights
Federal corporate income tax rate: a flat 21% on C-corporation taxable income.
QBI deduction (Section 199A): the 20% deduction for pass-through owners continues, with income thresholds rising to roughly $203,000 (single) and $406,000 (joint) before service-business limitations begin to phase in.
Section 179 expensing: the OBBBA permanently raised the limit to $2.5 million, with the phase-out beginning once qualifying purchases exceed $4 million (both inflation-indexed going forward).
Bonus depreciation: the OBBBA restored 100% bonus depreciation for qualified property acquired and placed in service after January 19, 2025. Illinois treats bonus depreciation differently from the federal rules, so state adjustments are usually required. Confirm current treatment with your preparer before relying on it.
2026 Illinois State Taxes
Illinois keeps things flat, but there are important details for residents and business owners.
| Item | 2026 Figure |
|---|---|
| Individual income tax | Flat 4.95% (no graduated brackets) |
| Personal exemption allowance | $2,925 per taxpayer and dependent |
| Standard deduction | None (Illinois uses the exemption instead) |
| Capital gains | Taxed as ordinary income at 4.95% (no preferential rate) |
| Corporate income tax | 9.5% combined (7% income tax + 2.5% replacement tax) |
| Estate tax exemption | $4,000,000 (no portability; rates up to 16%) |
| Inheritance tax | None |
Retirement-friendly: Illinois does not tax Social Security, pensions, or distributions from 401(k)s and IRAs. It also offers a 529 plan deduction of up to $10,000 (single) or $20,000 (joint).
One trap worth flagging: the Illinois estate tax exemption of $4 million is far below the federal $15 million and is not indexed for inflation, so many Chicago-area families owe Illinois estate tax while owing nothing federally.
Key 2026 Filing Deadlines
| Deadline | What’s Due |
|---|---|
| April 15, 2026 | Individual returns (2025 tax year), Illinois IL-1040, first 2026 estimated payment |
| June 15, 2026 | Second 2026 quarterly estimated payment |
| September 15, 2026 | Third 2026 quarterly estimated payment |
| October 15, 2026 | Extended individual returns (extension is to file, not to pay) |
| January 15, 2027 | Fourth 2026 quarterly estimated payment |
Business and entity returns (S-corp, partnership, C-corp, trust) follow their own deadlines. The standard business mileage rate and certain other figures are set by the IRS annually, so confirm the current-year rate before filing.
Need Help Putting These Numbers to Work?
Tax rates are only useful when someone applies them to your actual situation. Heard & Associates LLC helps Chicago individuals, families, and business owners plan around these brackets and limits, time income and deductions, and file accurately at both the federal and Illinois level. Book a Consultation Today. 📞 (312) 810-3603 📍 5113 S. Harper Suite 2C, Chicago, IL 60615
This page is a general reference, not tax advice. Figures are based on IRS and Illinois guidance for 2026 and may be updated; verify current amounts at IRS.gov and tax.illinois.gov or with our team before filing or making decisions.
