A CPA-reviewed guide by Rachel Mitchell, CPA — updated for 2026 tax year
Ready-to-use spreadsheet formulas for calculating 2026 federal income tax. Nested IF, VLOOKUP, and SUMPRODUCT methods for Excel and Google Sheets.
Lead Tax Analyst & Editorial Director, TheTaxCalc
Rachel Mitchell is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Illinois with over 12 years of experience in individual and small-business taxation. She specializes in federal and state income tax compliance, FICA optimization, payroll tax strategy, and multi-state tax planning. Rachel holds an MS in Taxation from Golden Gate University and a BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Illinois CPA Society. Before joining TheTaxCalc, Rachel spent 8 years at a Big Four accounting firm advising high-net-worth clients on tax-efficient wealth strategies.
See exactly how much you'll take home after all taxes and deductions.
Quick access to take-home pay estimates for common salary levels.
See exactly how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) changes your 2026 tax refund. New SALT cap, doubled Child Tax Credit, tip/overtime deductions, and worked examples comparing OBBBA vs prior law.
Complete 2026 tax refund guide for self-employed workers, freelancers, and contractors. Calculate SE tax, quarterly estimated payments, business deductions, and your expected refund with worked examples.
Complete 2026 W-2 tax refund guide for employees. How to read your W-2, calculate federal withholding, apply 2026 brackets, and estimate your refund with worked examples.