About PlainTaxData

Our Mission

We believe tax information should be free, accessible, and easy to understand. Most tax websites bury the numbers you need behind sign-up walls, upsells, and confusing interfaces. PlainTaxData exists because finding basic federal tax information — brackets, deductions, contribution limits — should not require creating an account or wading through advertisements.

Our mission is to present federal income tax reference data plainly — no account required, no AI-generated filler, no hidden agendas. We source every number directly from IRS publications and present them in a clean, ad-light format that makes it easy to find the specific figure you need.

Whether you are a taxpayer checking your bracket, a financial planner comparing year-over-year changes, a student learning about the US tax system, or a journalist referencing official rates, PlainTaxData gives you the data directly from IRS source documents.

Our Data Sources

All data on PlainTaxData comes from official Internal Revenue Service publications and announcements. We do not use third-party estimates or projections — every number traces back to a specific IRS document.

• Tax brackets and rate schedules — IRS Revenue Procedures published annually with inflation-adjusted bracket thresholds for all filing statuses (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household). IRS inflation adjustments
• Standard deductions — IRS Publication 501 (Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information), which provides the standard deduction amounts for each filing status, including additional amounts for age 65+ and blind filers.
• Capital gains tax rates — IRS Revenue Procedures and Publication 550 (Investment Income and Expenses), covering the 0%, 15%, and 20% long-term capital gains rate thresholds, plus the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) threshold.
• Retirement contribution limits — IRS annual announcements (e.g., IR-2024-285) for 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), and HSA contribution limits, including catch-up contribution amounts for taxpayers aged 50 and over.
• Tax credits (EITC, CTC) — IRS Publications 596 (Earned Income Credit) and 972 (Child Tax Credit), providing income thresholds, phase-out ranges, and maximum credit amounts.
• Filing deadlines — IRS-published calendar of key tax dates including filing deadlines, extension deadlines, estimated tax payment due dates, and special provisions for disaster-affected areas.

How We Process the Data

Our methodology is straightforward: we extract the official numbers from IRS source documents and present them in structured, comparable formats.

Bracket tables: Federal income tax brackets are extracted from the annual Revenue Procedure and organized by filing status and tax year. Each bracket shows the rate, the income range it applies to, and the tax owed at each level. We present brackets for the current tax year alongside prior years for comparison.

Tax estimator: Our free tax calculator applies the current year's bracket schedule, standard deduction, and FICA rates to estimate federal income tax. The estimator uses 2026 brackets and deduction amounts. It is designed for quick estimates — not as a replacement for professional tax preparation software or CPA review.

Occupation-based estimates: We cross-reference BLS occupation wage data (via WageDex) with the current year's tax brackets to show estimated federal tax burden for common occupations. These estimates assume Single filing status, standard deduction only, and no additional credits or deductions.

Data Currency

PlainTaxData currently reflects the 2026 tax year (for returns filed in 2027). Tax brackets, standard deductions, and contribution limits are updated each year when the IRS publishes its annual inflation adjustment Revenue Procedure, typically in October or November of the prior year.

We update the site within days of the IRS publishing new annual figures. The tax estimator uses the most current bracket schedule and deduction amounts. If mid-year legislative changes affect tax rates (which is rare but has occurred), we update as soon as the IRS publishes official guidance.

Historical bracket data for prior tax years is maintained for reference and comparison. Each table clearly indicates which tax year it applies to.

Editorial Independence & AI Disclosure

Content on PlainTaxData is AI-assisted and human-edited. Raw data from IRS publications, Revenue Procedures, and Treasury Department sources is transformed into readable reference tables by our automated pipeline, then validated against the source before publication. The PlainTaxData editorial team, operating under Kiznis Studio, is responsible for editorial standards, methodology, and corrections.

We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from tax preparation firms, software vendors, advisors, or any covered entity. Our only revenue source is contextual display advertising served by Google AdSense — advertisers do not influence which tax data we publish or how we present it, and they do not receive preferential placement.

Limitations and Disclaimers

PlainTaxData is an informational resource, not a tax advisory service. The content on this site does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Users should understand these important limitations:

• Federal only: PlainTaxData covers federal income tax only. State and local income taxes, which vary significantly by jurisdiction, are not included. Your total tax burden depends on where you live and may be substantially higher than the federal amount shown.
• Estimates, not tax returns: Our tax calculator provides rough estimates based on simplified assumptions (standard deduction, no itemized deductions, no credits beyond standard). Actual tax liability depends on your complete financial picture including itemized deductions, tax credits, self-employment income, investment gains, and other factors.
• Tax law changes frequently: Congress can change tax rates, brackets, deductions, and credits through legislation at any time. While we update promptly, always verify against current IRS publications before making tax decisions.
• Individual situations vary: Tax situations are highly individual. The same income can result in very different tax outcomes depending on filing status, dependents, deductions, credits, and other factors. Always consult a qualified tax professional (CPA, Enrolled Agent, or tax attorney) for advice specific to your circumstances.
• Not affiliated with the IRS: PlainTaxData is not affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service or any government agency. For official tax guidance, visit irs.gov.

Contact

For corrections, feedback, or inquiries about PlainTaxData, reach out to us at hello@plaintaxdata.com. We welcome reports of outdated figures, broken links, or suggestions for additional tax reference data we should include.

If you notice a discrepancy between our data and the current IRS publication, please include the specific IRS document number so we can verify and correct the data promptly.