The Retirement Numbers: deductions, exclusions, and brackets
2026 law · reviewed September 4, 2026
| Figure | 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single · $32,200 joint · $24,150 head of household | |
| Additional standard deduction, 65 or older or blind | $1,650 per condition | $2,050 if unmarried and not a surviving spouse |
| Deduction for seniors (OBBBA) | $6,000 per person 65+ | 2025 through 2028; phases out above $75,000 single / $150,000 joint MAGI; itemizers too |
| 37% bracket begins | $640,600 single · $768,700 joint | $16,000 for a trust |
| Long-term capital gains, 0% up to | $49,450 single · $98,900 joint | 15% up to $545,500 / $613,700 |
| Net investment income tax threshold | $200,000 single · $250,000 joint | 3.8%; not indexed |
| Annual gift exclusion | $19,000 | $194,000 to a non-citizen spouse |
| Federal estate and gift exclusion | $15,000,000 | Per person; portable between spouses |
| Illinois estate tax exclusion | $4,000,000 | Not portable |
2026 standard deduction, senior deduction, gift and estate exclusions, and the top of each bracket (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the OBBBA).