Tax Notes & News
Updates, analysis, and notes for federal and state/provincial tax information. Use the links below to jump to the live Tax Tables for each jurisdiction, or read our in-depth articles.
Federal
Federal income tax brackets, capital gains, and standard deduction. Our tables are driven by the same data used in the calculator.
Recent notes
Six new federal deductions — tips, overtime, car loan interest, senior bonus, expanded SALT cap, and Trump Accounts — all effective for 2026.
TCJA rates preserved by the OBBB: 10%–37% brackets with inflation-adjusted thresholds. Standard deduction $16,100 single / $32,200 MFJ.
The OBBB made the elevated estate/gift tax exemption permanent at $15M per person ($30M per couple), indexed to inflation.
Inflation-adjusted federal brackets and standard deduction for tax year 2025.
IRS Revenue Procedure 23-34: 2024 inflation-adjusted brackets and standard deduction for single filers.
Federal articles
The IRS is pushing all tax refunds toward direct deposit and phasing out paper checks. Here's the timeline, who's affected, and how to set up direct deposit.
The new tip and overtime deductions sound simple, but the eligibility rules, income limits, and sunset dates create important nuances most coverage misses.
The SALT deduction cap quadrupled from $10,000 to $40,400. Here's how it works, who benefits most, and why high-tax states are celebrating — cautiously.
The widely-feared reversion to pre-TCJA rates never happened. Here's what the 2026 federal brackets actually look like and how they compare to what would have been.
A plain-language breakdown of the six new federal tax deductions — tips, overtime, car loan interest, senior bonus, expanded SALT, and Trump Accounts — including who qualifies and phase-outs most people miss.
State & Local Analysis
In-depth articles on state-specific tax situations, legislative changes, and interstate comparisons.
Some states tax capital gains as ordinary income, some offer preferential rates, Washington has its standalone 7% tax, and several exempt them entirely. A comparison guide.
An updated comparison of the nine states with no income tax — what each trades for zero income tax and how total tax burden actually compares at different income levels.
Starting 2026, Washington imposes an 8% surcharge on vehicles over $100K, plus new taxes on recreational watercraft and aircraft. How WA is building a patchwork of targeted taxes.
Illinois shifted from Joyce to Finnigan apportionment, capped GILTI deductions, and eliminated key expense addbacks — changes that significantly affect businesses operating across state lines.
New York's estate tax exemption is $7.35M with no portability and a punitive 'cliff' that can tax your entire estate. A case study in state-federal divergence.
Red states are racing to cut or eliminate income taxes while some blue states raise them. The resulting migration and competition is reshaping the US tax map.
Planning & Explainers
Practical guides on tax planning strategies, new forms, and how to make the most of the 2026 tax changes.
The TCJA's bonus depreciation continues its phase-down to just 20% in 2026, with full expiration in 2027. Here's what business owners should know about the QBI extension and Section 179.
With a higher standard deduction but also a quadrupled SALT cap, the itemizing calculus changed dramatically. Here's the break-even analysis by state, income, and homeownership.
The IRS created a new form specifically for the OBBB deductions. Here's what goes on it, how it works with your other forms, and mistakes to avoid.
Taxpayers 65 and older can claim an extra $6,000 deduction starting in 2025. Here's how it stacks with existing age-based deductions and what the real-world impact looks like.
Up to $10,000 in interest on US-manufactured vehicle loans is now deductible. Here's which vehicles qualify, how to claim it, and the actual tax savings at different income levels.
US states
Select a state to open its rate tables for 2026.
Canadian provinces
Select a province to open its rate tables. Federal (Canada) and provincial brackets are available on the Tax Tables page.