Texas Income Tax Calculator (2026)

Drop in your gross income and filing status. The estimator uses projected 2026 federal brackets and the standard deduction. For more detail (401(k), HSA, pre-tax health), use the full Paycheck Calculator.

Texas is one of nine US states without a state income tax. The Texas Constitution explicitly prohibits a personal income tax without voter approval (Article 8, Section 24, added in 2019). What Texas residents actually pay on wages is entirely federal:

• Federal income tax — progressive 10% to 37% based on 2026 brackets
• Social Security tax (FICA-SS) — 6.2% on the first $176,100 of wages (2026 wage base)
• Medicare tax (FICA-Medicare) — 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% additional Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ)
• No state income tax — $0
• No local income tax — $0
• No state disability insurance withholding — Texas has no equivalent of California's SDI

The effective federal-plus-FICA rate for a typical Texas wage earner runs about 18-28% depending on filing status, total income, and deductions. Compare to California where a similar earner pays an additional 5-13% in state income tax plus a 1.1% State Disability Insurance line. A $150,000 single earner in Texas keeps about $108,000 take-home; the same earner in California keeps about $98,000 — a $10,000 swing entirely from the state line.

The 2026 federal income tax brackets (projected, applied after the standard deduction):

• 10% — taxable income up to $11,925 (single) / $23,850 (MFJ)
• 12% — up to $48,475 / $96,950
• 22% — up to $103,350 / $206,700
• 24% — up to $197,300 / $394,600
• 32% — up to $250,525 / $501,050
• 35% — up to $626,350 / $751,600
• 37% — above $626,350 / $751,600

2026 standard deduction (projected): $15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly, $22,500 head of household. The standard deduction reduces taxable income before brackets apply. Most Texas taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing — federal SALT cap (state and local tax) limits itemized deductions to $10,000 combined, which makes itemizing less attractive for Texans without large state tax to deduct (since there's no state income tax to add to property tax).

The brackets are marginal, not flat. A single earner with $100,000 taxable income doesn't pay 22% on the full $100k — they pay 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on the next bracket, and 22% only on the portion above $48,475. The effective rate (total tax ÷ income) is much lower than the marginal rate (rate on the next dollar). Most Texas earners with $100k taxable income have an effective federal rate around 14-15%.

"Texas income tax calculator" gets searched roughly 5-10× more than "Texas tax calculator." Why? A few reasons:

• Relocators from other states assume every state has income tax. They want to know what Texas's rate is. The answer — zero — is genuinely surprising for someone moving from California or New York.
• Employers calculating offers compare gross-to-net across states. They want a Texas calculator that shows the federal-only stack.
• Tax-curious residents want to verify what they actually owe. Many never realize Texas has no income tax until they file federal-only.
• Real estate analysis — a Texas-based buyer modeling housing affordability needs to understand take-home pay accurately.

If you're relocating to Texas: budget a 5-13% raise on your gross income equivalent. A New York resident earning $200,000 currently nets about $135,000 after state tax. The same wages in Texas net about $148,000. That's real money — roughly $1,100/month — that should factor into your housing budget.

If you're a Texas resident: the practical implication is that you're paying federal-only on wages. Most CPAs and tax software handle this correctly automatically. The complications come from out-of-state work (which can create non-resident tax obligations in other states), remote work for an out-of-state employer (varies by state — most don't require Texas residents to pay), and oil/gas royalties (no state tax but federal applies).

Nine states have no state income tax (or only tax dividends/interest):

• Texas: No income tax, no estate tax, no inheritance tax. Heavier property tax (1.6-2.3% effective) and sales tax (6.25-8.25%).
• Florida: No income tax. Lower property tax (0.9-1.2%) but Save Our Homes 3% cap. Sales tax 6-7.5%.
• Tennessee: No wage income tax. Hall tax on dividends/interest phased out 2021. Sales tax 7-9.75% (highest in US).
• Washington: No income tax. State capital gains tax 7% above $250k (new in 2022). Property tax ~0.9%. Sales tax 6.5-10.4%.
• Nevada: No income tax. Heavy gaming tax revenue. Property tax 0.5-0.8% (lowest among no-income-tax states). Sales tax 6.85-8.375%.
• Wyoming: No income tax. Severance taxes on energy production. Property tax 0.6%. Sales tax 5.5-6%.
• South Dakota: No income tax. Property tax ~1.2%. Sales tax 4.5-7.5%.
• Alaska: No income tax. Permanent Fund dividend paid to residents ($1,000-$3,000/yr). Heavy oil revenue.
• New Hampshire: No wage income tax. 5% interest/dividends tax (phasing out). No general sales tax. Heavy property tax (~2%).

For most relocators, the choice between Texas and other no-income-tax states comes down to property tax structure (Texas leans heavier), sales tax (Texas mid-range), and lifestyle. Florida and Texas are the two largest no-income-tax states for population and offer the most economic opportunity. Tennessee is a close third for relocators.

$60,000 single earner, no pre-tax deductions:

• Federal income tax: ~$5,460 (effective 9.1%)
• FICA: $4,590 (7.65%)
• Texas state tax: $0
• Take-home: ~$49,950 (83% of gross)

$120,000 married filing jointly, single earner, 5% 401(k) ($6k), $3k HSA:

• Taxable wages after pre-tax: $111,000
• Federal income tax after standard deduction: ~$8,150 (effective 7.3% on adjusted)
• FICA: $8,721 (7.65% of $114k FICA wages)
• Texas state tax: $0
• Take-home: ~$94,130 (78.4% of gross)

$250,000 single earner, 10% 401(k) ($25k), $4,300 HSA:

• Taxable wages after pre-tax: $220,700
• Federal income tax after standard deduction: ~$42,800 (effective 17.1% on adjusted)
• FICA: $14,840 (SS wage base capped at $176,100 × 6.2% + Medicare on full + 0.9% surtax over $200k)
• Texas state tax: $0
• Take-home: ~$163,060 (65.2% of gross)

The higher you earn, the larger the absolute dollar advantage of being in Texas vs. an income-tax state. A $250k single earner saves ~$22,000/year compared to California, ~$15,000 vs. New York, ~$12,500 vs. Illinois. Over a decade, that compounds into serious wealth-building money.