US Federal Income Tax Filing: A Practical Guide

March 1, 2026 · By Ifat Associates Editorial

The US federal income tax is progressive: your income is taxed in slices, each at its own rate.

How brackets work

For a single filer, the lowest portion of taxable income is taxed at 10%, the next portion at 12%, and so on up to the top marginal rate. Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income; your effective rate is the average across all dollars.

Key dates

April 15, 2027 — federal return filing deadline for tax year 2026
Quarterly estimated payments — due in January, April, June, and September

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general awareness only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. It does not account for your specific circumstances. For advice tailored to your situation, consult the Ifat Associates team.