QuantCalc QuantCalc Federal tax engine docs

Federal tax / Later years

Federal tax engine: later tax years

The engine's rules are 2026's. For a later year it moves every federal dollar amount the way its statute moves it: 146 amounts in 45 rules (17 indexed, 19 fixed in law, 2 wage-indexed, 6 scheduled, 1 not established), each with its official source. The planner's later years, POST /api/federal-tax projection, the state API's computeFederal with a projection, the library and the website's copy of the engine all use this one projection (registry download).

How an amount moves

At a factor of 1 every indexed amount of a later year is its 2026 amount: the index levels reproduce every 2026 amount exactly (only the scheduled amounts move, and in 2027 the amounts indexed to the wage index — the Social Security wage base and the earnings-test exempt amounts — which read SSA's published 2025 index whatever the factor).

Two modes

"law" (the default) is the above. "inflation" is the convention of QuantCalc's planner before federal engine 2.0, kept for comparison: The planner's convention before 2.0, reproduced bit for bit: every amount in inflation_mode.fields (the ordinary and capital-gain bracket edges, the standard deduction and its §63(f) amounts, the IRMAA floors, the QCD limits) multiplied by the cumulative inflation factor, unrounded (the QCD limits rounded to the nearest $1,000, as before); the amounts the law fixes and the enacted schedules (the senior deduction's end, the SALT cap) are the law's in both modes. It reproduces the pre-2.0 planner's federal amounts bit for bit. The planner's one "Tax amounts in later years" setting chooses the mode for the federal and the state amounts together; the API fields stay separate (federalThresholdIndexing and stateThresholdIndexing on /api/simulate, projection.indexing on the tax APIs).

The index levels

The C-CPI-U level the IRS used for 2026 is not the level BLS publishes today: the statute reads the values published with the August 2025 index, some of which BLS has since revised. The engine recovers it from the Rev. Proc. 2025-32 figures: every level in the interval 177.1106 to 177.113807 reproduces every 2026 C-CPI-U amount with its statute's rounding, and the engine uses the midpoint 177.112203. The base years' levels are BLS's final values; the CPI-U (IRMAA) is never revised; the wage index is SSA's.

IndexBase yearLevel 2026 / level of the base year
C-CPI-U20161.302363
C-CPI-U20171.281224
C-CPI-U20241.023676
C-CPI-U19872.775480
AWI19923.045358
AWI20002.172196
C-CPI-U20251.000000
C-CPI-U20111.397312
CPI-U20181.280507
CPI-U2026the factor from 2027 on
C-CPI-U20221.107787
C-CPI-U20051.612351
C-CPI-U19952.057306
C-CPI-U20201.223032

A worked example

The single filer's 10% bracket in 2035 at 2.5% a year (factor 1.248863): the statute's base amount $9,525 (2016) times 1.302363 (the 2026 level over the 2016 level) times the factor is $15,492.15; the increase over $9,525 rounded down to a multiple of $25 gives $15,475 (the 2026 amount times the factor would be $15,485.90). Every table below shows its amounts for the same year and factor.

Every rule

fed-ordinary-brackets: indexed

ordinary brackets (all statuses) (§1(f)(3), §1(f)(7), §1(j)(3)(B)): 2026 see rule ord_mfj etc.. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment; §1(j)(3)(B): 'calendar year 2017' base for bracket edges above 12% end / above 22% begin, else 2016 base

Statute: §1(f)(3), §1(f)(7), §1(j)(3)(B). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: increase rounded to next lowest multiple of $50; $25 for MFS and for unmarried other than HOH/surviving spouse (§1(f)(7)(B) via §1(j)(3)(B)(ii)) (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ordinary_brackets.single.1single$12,400$9,525 (2016)$15,475the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.single.2single$50,400$38,700 (2016)$62,925the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.single.3single$105,700$82,500 (2017)$132,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.single.4single$201,775$157,500 (2017)$252,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.single.5single$256,225$200,000 (2017)$320,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.single.6single$640,600$500,000 (2017)$800,025the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfj.1joint$24,800$19,050 (2016)$30,950the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfj.2joint$100,800$77,400 (2016)$125,850the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfj.3joint$211,400$165,000 (2017)$264,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfj.4joint$403,550$315,000 (2017)$504,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfj.5joint$512,450$400,000 (2017)$640,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfj.6joint$768,700$600,000 (2017)$960,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfs.1separate$12,400$9,525 (2016)$15,475the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfs.2separate$50,400$38,700 (2016)$62,925the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfs.3separate$105,700$82,500 (2017)$132,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfs.4separate$201,775$157,500 (2017)$252,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfs.5separate$256,225$200,000 (2017)$320,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.mfs.6separate$384,350$300,000 (2017)$480,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.hoh.1head of household$17,700$13,600 (2016)$22,100the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.hoh.2head of household$67,450$51,800 (2016)$84,250the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.hoh.3head of household$105,700$82,500 (2017)$132,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.hoh.4head of household$201,750$157,500 (2017)$252,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.hoh.5head of household$256,200$200,000 (2017)$320,000the return and the planner
ordinary_brackets.hoh.6head of household$640,600$500,000 (2017)$800,000the return and the planner

The prompt's '$25' example is the MFS/single variant; the general rule is $50.

fed-standard-deduction: indexed

basic standard deduction (§63(c)(7)(B)(ii)): 2026 16,100 / 32,200 / 24,150. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2024 ($15,750 / $23,625 per §63(c)(7)(A))

Statute: §63(c)(7)(B)(ii). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: increase rounded to next lowest multiple of $50 (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
standard_deduction.singlesingle$16,100$15,750 (2024)$20,100the return and the planner
standard_deduction.mfsseparate$16,100$15,750 (2024)$20,100the return and the planner
standard_deduction.hohhead of household$24,150$23,625 (2024), the amount rounded$30,200the return and the planner
standard_deduction.mfjjoint$32,2002 × standard_deduction.single$40,200the return and the planner

fed-63f-aged-blind: indexed

§63(f) additional aged/blind (§63(c)(4), §63(f)): 2026 1,650 married / 2,050 unmarried. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 1987 (§63(c)(4))

Statute: §63(c)(4), §63(f). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: next lowest $50 (§1(f)(7)(A) names section 63(c)(4); the MFS $25 rule excludes 63(c)(4)) (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
addl_std_deduction.marriedmarried (joint, separate)$1,650$600 (1987)$2,050the return and the planner
addl_std_deduction.unmarriedunmarried (single, head of household)$2,050$750 (1987)$2,550the return and the planner

federal_tax.c:651 scales the blind amount by year_factor without the $50 rounding.

fed-ltcg-breakpoints: indexed

LTCG 0% / 15% maximum amounts (§1(j)(5)(C)): 2026 see rule ltcg. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2017

Statute: §1(j)(5)(C). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: next lowest multiple of $50 (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
cg_brackets.mfj.1joint$98,900$77,200 (2017)$123,500the return and the planner
cg_brackets.hoh.1head of household$66,200$51,700 (2017)$82,700the return and the planner
cg_brackets.single.1single$49,4500.5 × cg_brackets.mfj.1$61,750the return and the planner
cg_brackets.mfs.1separate$49,4500.5 × cg_brackets.mfj.1$61,750the return and the planner
cg_brackets.mfj.2joint$613,700$479,000 (2017)$766,400the return and the planner
cg_brackets.hoh.2head of household$579,600$452,400 (2017)$723,850the return and the planner
cg_brackets.single.2single$545,500$425,800 (2017)$681,300the return and the planner
cg_brackets.mfs.2separate$306,8500.5 × cg_brackets.mfj.2$383,200the return and the planner

fed-niit-thresholds: fixed in law

NIIT thresholds 250k/200k/125k (§1411(b)): 2026 250,000 / 200,000 / 125,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §1411(b).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
niit_threshold.singlesingle$200,000$200,000the return and the planner
niit_threshold.mfjjoint$250,000$250,000the return and the planner
niit_threshold.mfsseparate$125,000$125,000the return and the planner
niit_threshold.hohhead of household$200,000$200,000the return and the planner

No inflation clause in §1411 (existing rule niit).

fed-addl-medicare-thresholds: fixed in law

Additional Medicare thresholds (§3101(b)(2), §1401(b)(2)): 2026 250,000 / 200,000 / 125,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §3101(b)(2), §1401(b)(2).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
addl_medicare.singleunmarried (single, head of household)$200,000$200,000the return (API)
addl_medicare.mfjjoint$250,000$250,000the return (API)
addl_medicare.mfsseparate$125,000$125,000the return (API)
addl_medicare_withholdingevery return$200,000$200,000the return (API)

fed-ss-benefit-thresholds: fixed in law

SS benefit base / adjusted base (§86(c)): 2026 25k/32k/0; 34k/44k/0. No indexing provision.

Statute: §86(c).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ss_base_amount.unmarriedunmarried (single, head of household)$25,000$25,000the return and the planner
ss_base_amount.mfjjoint$32,000$32,000the return and the planner
ss_adjusted_base_amount.unmarriedunmarried (single, head of household)$34,000$34,000the return and the planner
ss_adjusted_base_amount.mfjjoint$44,000$44,000the return and the planner

fed-capital-loss-limit: fixed in law

capital loss limit (§1211(b)): 2026 3,000 / 1,500 MFS. No indexing provision.

Statute: §1211(b).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
capital_loss_limitevery return$3,000$3,000the return and the planner
capital_loss_limit.mfsseparate$1,500$1,500the return and the planner

fed-oasdi-wage-base: wage-indexed

OASDI wage base (42 U.S.C. 430(b)): 2026 184,500. AWI ratio vs 1992 x $60,600 (42 USC 430(b)); only moves in a COLA year

Statute: 42 U.S.C. 430(b). Index: AWI (42 U.S.C. 430(b)): national average wage index ratio vs 1992 times $60,600; changes only in a year with a benefit COLA.

Rounding: nearest $300 (x.5 -> up) (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
oasdi_wage_baseevery return$184,500$60,600 (1992)$230,400the return (API)

SSA publishes it each October/November (FR notice); a projection must use the AWI path, not CPI.

fed-earnings-test-exempt: wage-indexed

earnings-test exempt amounts (42 U.S.C. 403(f)(8)(B)): 2026 24,480 / 65,160. AWI ratio vs 1992 (lower) / 2000 (higher), monthly amounts

Statute: 42 U.S.C. 403(f)(8)(B). Index: AWI (42 U.S.C. 403(f)(8)(B)): monthly exempt amounts, ratio vs 1992 (lower) / 2000 (higher).

Rounding: monthly amount to nearest $10 (x5 -> up); annual = 12x (the monthly amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
earnings_test.lower_monthlyevery return$2,040$670 (1992)$2,550the return (API)
earnings_test.higher_monthlyevery return$5,430$2,500 (2000)$6,780the return (API)

fed-se-floor: fixed in law

SE $400 floor (§1402(b)(2)): 2026 400. No indexing provision.

Statute: §1402(b)(2).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
se_floorevery return$400$400the return (API)

fed-se-rates: fixed in law

SE rates 12.4% / 2.9%, 92.35% factor (§1401(a)-(b), §1402(a)(12)): 2026 0.124 / 0.029 / 0.9235. No indexing provision.

Statute: §1401(a)-(b), §1402(a)(12).

A rate, not a dollar amount: it never moves.

fed-ftc-904j-ceiling: fixed in law

FTC no-1116 election ceiling (§904(j)(2)(B)): 2026 300 / 600 joint. No indexing provision.

Statute: §904(j)(2)(B).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ftc_904jevery return$300$300the return (API)
ftc_904j.mfjjoint$600$600the return (API)

fed-amt-exemption: indexed

AMT exemption (§55(d)(4)(B)): 2026 140,200 / 90,100 / 70,100. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2017 for $109,400 / $70,300; MFS = 50% of MFJ

Statute: §55(d)(4)(B). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $100 (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
amt_exemption.mfjjoint$140,200$109,400 (2017)$175,000the return (API)
amt_exemption.singleunmarried (single, head of household)$90,100$70,300 (2017)$112,500the return (API)
amt_exemption.mfsseparate$70,1000.5 × amt_exemption.mfj$87,500the return (API)

fed-amt-phaseout-threshold: indexed

AMT phase-out threshold (§55(d)(4)(A)(ii), (B) as amended by P.L. 119-21 §70107): 2026 1,000,000 MFJ / 500,000 other & MFS. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2025, first adjusted in 2027 (not adjusted before 2027); unmarried and MFS = 50% of the MFJ amount

Statute: §55(d)(4)(A)(ii), (B) as amended by P.L. 119-21 §70107. Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $100 (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
amt_phaseout.mfjjoint$1,000,000$1,000,000 (2025)$1,248,900the return (API)
amt_phaseout.singleunmarried (single, head of household)$500,0000.5 × amt_phaseout.mfj$624,450the return (API)
amt_phaseout.mfsseparate$500,0000.5 × amt_phaseout.mfj$624,450the return (API)

Phase-out rate 50% (was 25%) from 2026.

fed-amt-28-breakpoint: indexed

AMT 28% breakpoint (§55(d)(3)): 2026 244,500 / 122,250 MFS. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2011 ($175,000)

Statute: §55(d)(3). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $100 (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
amt_breakpoint.allevery return$244,500$175,000 (2011)$305,400the return (API)
amt_breakpoint.mfsseparate$122,2500.5 × amt_breakpoint.all$152,700the return (API)

fed-qbi-threshold: indexed

QBI threshold (§199A(e)(2)(B)): 2026 201,750 / 201,775 MFS / 403,500 MFJ. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2017 ($157,500; joint 200%)

Statute: §199A(e)(2)(B). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: as §1(f)(7): next lowest $50 ($25 MFS) (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
qbi_threshold.singleunmarried (single, head of household)$201,750$157,500 (2017)$252,000the return (API)
qbi_threshold.mfsseparate$201,775$157,500 (2017)$252,000the return (API)
qbi_threshold.mfjjoint$403,5002 × qbi_threshold.single$504,000the return (API)

Unchanged by OBBBA.

fed-qbi-phase-in-range: fixed in law

QBI phase-in range (§199A(b)(3)(B), (d)(3)): 2026 75,000 / 150,000 joint. No indexing provision.

Statute: §199A(b)(3)(B), (d)(3).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
qbi_phase_inevery return$75,000$75,000the return (API)
qbi_phase_in.mfjjoint$150,000$150,000the return (API)

fed-qbi-minimum: indexed

QBI minimum deduction / active-QBI floor (§199A(i)(3)): 2026 400 / 1,000. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2025, from taxable years beginning after 2026

Statute: §199A(i)(3). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $5 (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
qbi_minimumevery return$400$400 (2025)$500the return (API)
qbi_minimum_active_floorevery return$1,000$1,000 (2025)$1,250the return (API)

fed-salt-cap: scheduled

SALT cap (§164(b)(7)(A)): 2026 40,400 (2026). 101% of prior year 2027-2029; $10,000 from 2030

Statute: §164(b)(7)(A).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
salt_capevery return$40,4002027: $40,804; 2028: $41,212.04; 2029: $41,624.16; 2030: $10,000$10,000the return (API)

Statute gives no rounding; 2027 = 40,804 by arithmetic (not quoted).

fed-salt-phasedown-threshold: scheduled

SALT phase-down threshold (§164(b)(7)(B)): 2026 505,000 (2026). 101% of prior year after 2026; phase-down applies only to years before 2030

Statute: §164(b)(7)(B).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
salt_thresholdevery return$505,0002027: $510,050; 2028: $515,150.50; 2029: $520,302.01; 2030: $0$0the return (API)

fed-salt-floor: fixed in law

SALT floor (§164(b)(7)(B)(iii)): 2026 10,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §164(b)(7)(B)(iii).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
salt_floorevery return$10,000$10,000the return (API)

fed-senior-deduction: scheduled

senior deduction (§151(d)(5)(C)): 2026 6,000; phase-out 6% over 75,000 / 150,000. none (fixed amount and thresholds)

Statute: §151(d)(5)(C).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
senior_deductionevery return$6,0002027: $6,000; 2028: $6,000; 2029: $0$0the return and the planner

Fixed in law AND expires after 2028.

fed-tips-cap: scheduled

tips cap (§224(b), (h)): 2026 25,000; phase-out 150k/300k. No indexing provision.

Statute: §224(b), (h).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
tips_capevery return$25,0002027: $25,000; 2028: $25,000; 2029: $0$0the return (API)

Fixed amount; expires after 2028.

fed-overtime-cap: scheduled

overtime cap (§225(b), (g)): 2026 12,500 / 25,000 joint; phase-out 150k/300k. No indexing provision.

Statute: §225(b), (g).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
overtime_capevery return$12,5002027: $12,500; 2028: $12,500; 2029: $0$0the return (API)
overtime_cap.mfjjoint$25,0002027: $25,000; 2028: $25,000; 2029: $0$0the return (API)

Fixed amount; expires after 2028.

fed-170p-cap: fixed in law

§170(p) non-itemizer charity (§170(p)): 2026 1,000 / 2,000 joint. No indexing provision.

Statute: §170(p).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
charity_170pevery return$1,000$1,000the return (API)
charity_170p.mfjjoint$2,000$2,000the return (API)

fed-charity-floor-rate: fixed in law

charity 0.5% floor (§170(b)(1)(I)): 2026 0.5% of contribution base. No indexing provision.

Statute: §170(b)(1)(I).

A rate, not a dollar amount: it never moves.

fed-irmaa-floors: indexed

IRMAA income floors (42 U.S.C. 1395r(i)(5)): 2026 109k..500k single / 218k..750k MFJ. CPI-U (not chained) Sept-Aug average vs Aug 2006 (Aug 2018 base for 2020+); the $500,000 tier is frozen, then indexed after 2027 from Aug 2026

Statute: 42 U.S.C. 1395r(i)(5). Index: CPI-U (all items, U.S. city average; not chained), the average of the 12 months ending August of the year before; base the 12 months ending August 2018 (tiers 1-4) and August 2026 (the $500,000 tier, held at $500,000 through 2027).

Rounding: nearest multiple of $1,000 (the amount).

joint returns: twice the individual amounts, 150 percent of the $500,000 tier (1395r(i)(3)(C)(ii)); a married individual filing separately who lived with the spouse: each individual amount reduced by the individual threshold (1395r(i)(3)(C)(iii)), so the surcharge starts above the threshold and the top tier at $500,000 less it.

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
irmaa.single.1single$109,000$85,000 (2018)$136,000the planner
irmaa.single.2single$137,000$107,000 (2018)$171,000the planner
irmaa.single.3single$171,000$133,500 (2018)$213,000the planner
irmaa.single.4single$205,000$160,000 (2018)$256,000the planner
irmaa.single.5single$500,000$500,000 (2026), held through 2027$609,000the planner
irmaa.mfj.1joint$218,0002 × irmaa.single.1$272,000the planner
irmaa.mfj.2joint$274,0002 × irmaa.single.2$342,000the planner
irmaa.mfj.3joint$342,0002 × irmaa.single.3$426,000the planner
irmaa.mfj.4joint$410,0002 × irmaa.single.4$512,000the planner
irmaa.mfj.5joint$750,0001.5 × irmaa.single.5$913,500the planner
irmaa.mfs.1separate$109,000irmaa.single.1$136,000the planner
irmaa.mfs.2separate$391,000irmaa.single.5 − irmaa.single.1$473,000the planner

Premium-year floors apply to MAGI from 2 years earlier.

fed-qcd-limits: indexed

QCD annual limit / split-interest (§408(d)(8)(G)): 2026 111,000 / 55,000. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2022, taxable years after 2023

Statute: §408(d)(8)(G). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $1,000 (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
qcd_limitevery return$111,000$100,000 (2022)$138,000the planner
qcd_split_interestevery return$55,000$50,000 (2022)$69,000not yet read (a later 2.0 wave)

rmd.c:127 and federal_tax.c:1039 round to nearest $1,000 - consistent with the statute.

fed-senior-phaseout-thresholds: fixed in law

senior phase-out thresholds (§151(d)(5)(C)(iii)): 2026 75,000 / 150,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §151(d)(5)(C)(iii).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
senior_phaseout.unmarriedunmarried (single, head of household)$75,000$75,000the return and the planner
senior_phaseout.mfjjoint$150,000$150,000the return and the planner

fed-ctc: indexed

CTC per child (§24(i)(2)-(3)): 2026 2,200. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2024, taxable years after 2025

Statute: §24(i)(2)-(3). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: next lowest multiple of $100 (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ctcevery return$2,200$2,200 (2024)$2,800the return (API)

Engine 2.1.0 (fed/2.1): Schedule 8812 in backend/src/federal_tax.c (FedWorkParams.ctc_per_child); frontend/js/calc/constants-2026.js also carries it for the site pages. Provenance rules ctc, ctc_8812.

fed-6654-110pct-trigger: fixed in law

estimated-tax 110% AGI trigger (§6654(d)(1)(C)): 2026 150,000 / 75,000 MFS. No indexing provision.

Statute: §6654(d)(1)(C).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
est_high_agievery return$150,000$150,000the return (API)
est_high_agi.mfsseparate$75,000$75,000the return (API)

fed-6654-de-minimis: fixed in law

estimated-tax penalty de minimis (§6654(e)(1)): no addition to tax when the year's tax less withholding is under $1,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §6654(e)(1).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
est_de_minimisevery return$1,000$1,000the return (API)

fed-tax-table-ceiling: not established

Tax Table ceiling (§3 (tables authorised), i1040 line 16): 2026 100,000. administrative (IRS instructions), not statutory

Statute: §3 (tables authorised), i1040 line 16.

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
tax_table_ceilingevery return$100,000$100,000the return (API)

Administrative. §3 lets the Secretary prescribe tables but sets no ceiling. Not indexed in practice (it has stayed $100,000), but no source commits to that.

fed-tips-overtime-phaseout: fixed in law

tips and overtime deduction phase-out thresholds (§224(b)(2), §225(b)(2)): $150,000 / $300,000 joint, fixed amounts (the deductions themselves end after 2028: rules fed-tips-cap, fed-overtime-cap)

Statute: §224(b)(2), §225(b)(2).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
tips_overtime_phase_out.mfjjoint$300,000$300,000the return (API)
tips_overtime_phase_outevery return$150,000$150,000the return (API)

fed-ftc-adjustment-exception: fixed in law

Form 1116 adjustment exception: no rate-differential adjustment when foreign capital-gain distributions plus foreign qualified dividends are under $20,000 (i1116). An instructions figure the statute does not index; held at $20,000.

Statute: §904(b)(2)(B) (the instructions' exception).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ftc_adjustment_exceptionevery return$20,000$20,000the return (API)

Administrative: printed in the Form 1116 instructions; no statute indexes it. Held at $20,000 in both modes.

fed-pal-allowance: fixed in law

Rental real estate special allowance (§469(i)(2), (3)(A), (5)(A)): 2026 25,000, reduced by 50% of MAGI over 100,000; married filing separately and living apart all year 12,500 / 50,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §469(i)(2), (3)(A), (5)(A).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
pal_allowanceevery return$25,000$25,000the return (API)
pal_allowance.mfsseparate$12,500$12,500the return (API)
pal_phaseoutevery return$100,000$100,000the return (API)
pal_phaseout.mfsseparate$50,000$50,000the return (API)

Fixed since the Tax Reform Act of 1986: §469 has no inflation clause. The 50 percent phase-out rate is a rate (FedWorkParams.pal_phaseout_rate, not a dollar amount). Provenance rules passive_loss_469, form_8582.

fed-elderly-credit: fixed in law

Credit for the elderly or the disabled (§22(c)(2)(A), (d)): 2026 initial amounts 5,000 (single, or joint with one qualified spouse) / 7,500 (joint, both qualified) / 3,750 (married filing separately); AGI thresholds 7,500 / 10,000 / 5,000. No indexing provision.

Statute: §22(c)(2)(A), (d).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
elderly_initialevery return$5,000$5,000the return (API)
elderly_initial.bothjoint$7,500$7,500the return (API)
elderly_initial.mfsseparate$3,750$3,750the return (API)
elderly_agiunmarried (single, head of household)$7,500$7,500the return (API)
elderly_agi.mfjjoint$10,000$10,000the return (API)
elderly_agi.mfsseparate$5,000$5,000the return (API)

Unchanged since 1983: §22 has no inflation clause. The 15 percent credit rate is a rate (FedWorkParams.elderly_rate). Provenance rule elderly_credit_22.

fed-savers-cap: scheduled

Saver's credit contribution cap (§25B(a), (d)(1)(B)): 2026 2,000 per person. From 2027 retirement contributions no longer count (§25B(d)(1)(B) as amended by Pub. L. 119-21 §70116(a)); the cap is 0 for the engine's (retirement) contributions.

Statute: §25B(a), (d)(1)(B).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
savers_capevery return$2,0002027: $0$0the return (API)

§25B(d)(1)(B) counts IRA contributions and elective deferrals only "in the case of any taxable year beginning before January 1, 2027"; SECURE 2.0 §103 (26 U.S.C. 6433) replaces them with the Saver's Match from 2027. The credit itself continues for ABLE contributions by the designated beneficiary, with a $2,100 cap from 2027 (§70116(b)); ABLE contributions are not an engine input. Provenance rule savers_credit_25b.

fed-savers-agi: indexed

Saver's credit AGI tops (§25B(b)): 2026 joint 48,500 (50%) / 52,500 (20%) / 80,500 (10%); head of household 75% and all others 50% of the joint amounts. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment, base 2005 for $30,000 / $32,500 / $50,000, increase rounded to the nearest $500

Statute: §25B(b)(1)-(3). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $500 (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
savers_agi.mfj.50joint$48,500$30,000 (2005)$60,500the return (API)
savers_agi.mfj.20joint$52,500$32,500 (2005)$65,500the return (API)
savers_agi.mfj.10joint$80,500$50,000 (2005)$100,500the return (API)
savers_agi.hoh.50head of household$36,3750.75 × savers_agi.mfj.50$45,375the return (API)
savers_agi.hoh.20head of household$39,3750.75 × savers_agi.mfj.20$49,125the return (API)
savers_agi.hoh.10head of household$60,3750.75 × savers_agi.mfj.10$75,375the return (API)
savers_agi.other.50every return$24,2500.5 × savers_agi.mfj.50$30,250the return (API)
savers_agi.other.20every return$26,2500.5 × savers_agi.mfj.20$32,750the return (API)
savers_agi.other.10every return$40,2500.5 × savers_agi.mfj.10$50,250the return (API)

§25B(b)(2): the head-of-household and other amounts are 75% / 50% of the joint amounts AS ADJUSTED (Notice 2025-67: 36,375 = 0.75 x 48,500), so they are derived, not separately rounded. A qualifying surviving spouse is in the 'others' column (Form 8880). Indexed after 2026 as the statute says; from 2027 the credit applies only to ABLE contributions, so the engine's credit is 0 there (rule fed-savers-cap). Engine layout: FedWorkParams.savers_agi[3 x s + b], s = joint / head of household / other, b = the 50% / 20% / 10% band top.

fed-eitc-amounts: indexed

EITC earned income and phaseout amounts (§32(b)(2)): 2026 earned income amounts 8,680 / 13,020 / 18,290 / 18,290 (0 / 1 / 2 / 3+ children); phaseout begins 10,860 / 23,890 (others), 18,140 / 31,160 (joint). C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3), base 1995 for the (b)(2)(A) amounts and 2008 for the $5,000 joint increase, the sum rounded to the nearest $10

Statute: §32(b)(2), (j). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: nearest multiple of $10 (the joint amount after the (b)(2)(B) increase) (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
eitc_earned.0every return$8,680$4,220 (1995)$10,840the return (API)
eitc_earned.1every return$13,020$6,330 (1995)$16,260the return (API)
eitc_earned.2every return$18,290$8,890 (1995)$22,840the return (API)
eitc_earned.3every return$18,290$8,890 (1995)$22,840the return (API)
eitc_threshold.mfj.0joint$18,140$8,816.32 (1995)$22,650the return (API)
eitc_threshold.mfj.1joint$31,160$15,146.32 (1995)$38,920the return (API)
eitc_threshold.mfj.2joint$31,160$15,146.32 (1995)$38,920the return (API)
eitc_threshold.mfj.3joint$31,160$15,146.32 (1995)$38,920the return (API)
eitc_threshold.0every return$10,860$5,280 (1995)$13,570the return (API)
eitc_threshold.1every return$23,890$11,610 (1995)$29,830the return (API)
eitc_threshold.2every return$23,890$11,610 (1995)$29,830the return (API)
eitc_threshold.3every return$23,890$11,610 (1995)$29,830the return (API)

§32(j)(2)(A) rounds the (b)(2)(A) amount 'after being increased under subparagraph (B)': the joint phaseout amount is ONE rounded amount, 11,610 x I(2025)/I(1995) + 5,000 x I(2025)/I(2008) (2026: 23,885.33 + 7,275.29 = 31,160.61 -> 31,160; childless 18,137.86 -> 18,140, not 10,860 + 7,280 or + 7,270). Both terms move by the same factor after 2026, so each joint amount is carried as a 1995-base amount whose base_amount is the statute amount plus 5,000 x I(1995) / I(2008) (the CPI-U Sep-Aug averages of the registry's months; I(1995) / I(2008) = 0.70726...). The maximum credit (credit percentage x earned income amount) and the completed phaseout amount (threshold + maximum / phaseout percentage) follow from these and are not separate parameters. Provenance rules eitc (Rev. Proc. 2025-32 §4.06), eitc_pct, eitc_rules_32. Engine layout: FedWorkParams.eitc_threshold[4 x j + k], j = 0 joint / 1 other, k = qualifying children 0-3. FedWorkParams.eitc_max (the credit percentage x the earned income amount, rounded to the dollar as Rev. Proc. 2025-32 prints it) and eitc_completed (threshold + maximum / phaseout percentage, rounded to the dollar) are not separate amounts of the law: scripts/check_federal_tax_indexing.mjs re-derives both from these amounts and the engine's §32(b)(1) percentages, and the projection must recompute them the same way.

fed-eitc-investment-limit: indexed

EITC disqualified (investment) income limit (§32(i)(1)): 2026 12,200. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3), base 2020 for $10,000, rounded down to a multiple of $50

Statute: §32(i)(1), (j)(1)(B)(iii), (j)(2)(B). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: next lowest multiple of $50 (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
eitc_inv_limitevery return$12,200$10,000 (2020)$15,250the return (API)

Provenance rules eitc, eitc_rules_32 (Pub 596 Worksheet 1).

fed-ctc-refundable: indexed

Refundable child tax credit per child (§24(h)(5), (i)(1)): 2026 1,700. C-CPI-U, §1(f)(3), base 2017 for $1,400, increase rounded down to a multiple of $100

Statute: §24(h)(5), (i)(1), (i)(3). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: next lowest multiple of $100 (the increase).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ctc_refundableevery return$1,700$1,400 (2017)$2,200the return (API)

2026: 1,400 x I(2025)/I(2017) = 1,793.71, increase 393.71 rounded down to 300. Provenance rules ctc, ctc_8812.

fed-ctc-fixed: fixed in law

Child tax credit amounts fixed in law (§24(h)(3), (h)(4)(A), (h)(6)): 2026 other-dependent credit 500; phase-out threshold 400,000 joint / 200,000 others; refundable-credit earned income floor 2,500. No indexing provision.

Statute: §24(h)(3), (h)(4)(A), (h)(6).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ctc_other_dependentevery return$500$500the return (API)
ctc_thresholdevery return$200,000$200,000the return (API)
ctc_threshold.mfjjoint$400,000$400,000the return (API)
ctc_earned_floorevery return$2,500$2,500the return (API)

§24(i) indexes only the $2,200 (rule fed-ctc) and the $1,400 refundable amount (rule fed-ctc-refundable). The $50 per $1,000 phase-out and the 15 percent refundable rate are rates. Provenance rule ctc_statute.

fed-ebl-threshold: indexed

The excess business loss threshold (§461(l)(3)(A)(ii)(II), (C)): 2026 256,000 / 512,000 joint. C-CPI-U, the §1(f)(3) cost-of-living adjustment with 2024 for 2016 (P.L. 119-21 §70601(b)), base $250,000 (200 percent joint), the amount rounded to the nearest $1,000.

Statute: §461(l)(3)(C). Index: C-CPI-U.

Rounding: "rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000" (the amount).

AmountReturn2026Base (year) / schedule / formula2035 at 2.5%Read by
ebl_thresholdevery return$256,000$250,000 (2024)$320,000the return (API)
ebl_threshold.mfjjoint$512,0002 × ebl_threshold$640,000the return (API)

Federal engine 2.3 (B2): read by POST /api/federal-tax's refusal of an excess business loss (the limit itself is not modelled).

Limits of an estimate