Updated October 8, 2026 · Sourced from the IRS, SSA, and CMS
The 2026-2027 money numbers
You have googled the same number three times this year and gotten three different answers. One page with the figures everyone looks up: tax brackets, retirement and HSA limits, Social Security, and Medicare costs. Every number is tied to a named source, and a 2027 cell says "Not yet announced" instead of guessing. Share it, cite it, print it.
Free consultation. No obligation to enroll.

- Licensed agent · NC Life & Health
- One local person, not a call center
- Meet at home, nearby, or by phone
- Free consultation. No obligation.
Federal income tax
The brackets slice your income into layers, each taxed at its own rate. The standard deduction comes off before any bracket math.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction, single | $16,100 | Not yet announced | 65 or older: $18,150 |
| Standard deduction, married filing jointly | $32,200 | Not yet announced | Both spouses 65 or older: $35,500 |
| Senior bonus deduction (65+, 2025-2028) | $6,000 | Not yet announced | Separate from the 65+ standard deduction add-on |
Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-70 (tax year 2026 inflation adjustments).
2026 federal tax brackets
Find your filing status and read down. Only the dollars inside each layer face that layer's rate. 2027 brackets land in October.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | Not yet announced | |
| 12% | $12,401 to $50,400 | Not yet announced | |
| 22% | $50,401 to $105,700 | Not yet announced | |
| 24% | $105,701 to $201,775 | Not yet announced | |
| 32% | $201,776 to $256,225 | Not yet announced | |
| 35% | $256,226 to $640,600 | Not yet announced | |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Not yet announced |
2026 federal tax brackets, married filing jointly
Same layers, wider. These apply to taxable income for tax year 2026.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $24,800 | Not yet announced | |
| 12% | $24,801 to $100,800 | Not yet announced | |
| 22% | $100,801 to $211,400 | Not yet announced | |
| 24% | $211,401 to $403,550 | Not yet announced | |
| 32% | $403,551 to $512,450 | Not yet announced | |
| 35% | $512,451 to $768,700 | Not yet announced | |
| 37% | Over $768,700 | Not yet announced |
Retirement accounts
Employee limits cover 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b) plans. The IRA limit covers traditional and Roth IRAs combined: one bucket, not one per account.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b), under 50 | $24,500 | Not yet announced | |
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b), age 50+ | $32,500 | Not yet announced | Includes the $8,000 catch-up |
| 401(k), ages 60 to 63 | $35,750 | Not yet announced | Includes the $11,250 super catch-up |
| IRA (traditional + Roth combined), under 50 | $7,500 | Not yet announced | |
| IRA (traditional + Roth combined), age 50+ | $8,600 | Not yet announced | Includes the $1,100 catch-up |
Source: IRS 2026 retirement plan and IRA contribution limits.
Health savings accounts
HSA money gets three tax breaks: tax-free in, tax-free growth, tax-free out for medical costs. You must be in a qualifying high-deductible health plan to contribute.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSA, self-only coverage | $4,400 | Not yet announced | |
| HSA, family coverage | $8,750 | Not yet announced | |
| HSA catch-up, age 55+ | $1,000 | Not yet announced | Adds to your coverage limit |
Source: IRS Publication 969.
Social Security
The wage base is the most earnings Social Security taxes in a year. The cost-of-living adjustment moves benefits each January.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxable earnings cap (wage base) | $184,500 | Not yet announced | 6.2% each from worker and employer up to the cap |
| Cost-of-living adjustment | 2.8% | Not yet announced | SSA announces the next adjustment each October |
Source: SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet.
Medicare
Part D figures for 2027 are final. Part B numbers stay projected until CMS announces the real ones in November.
| Figure | 2026 (final) | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 / month | ~$209.50 / month | Projection, 2026 Medicare Trustees Report |
| Part B annual deductible | $283 | ~$292 | Projection, 2026 Medicare Trustees Report |
| Part D standard deductible (max) | $615 | $700 | Final, CMS CY2027 Rate Announcement, April 6, 2026 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 | Final. Once you hit the cap, covered drugs cost $0 the rest of the year |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 | Not yet announced | Most people pay no Part A premium |
| Medicare Advantage average premium | See note | ~$12 / month | CMS projection, September 28, 2026. National average; your plan's actual premium is what matters |
IRMAA: higher income means higher Medicare premiums
The income-related surcharge starts at $109,000 single or $218,000 filing jointly (2026 surcharge year). It looks at your return from two years back, so a big Roth conversion or property sale can raise premiums two years later. If your income dropped since then, you can appeal with Form SSA-44. See the full 2026 IRMAA table.
When the 2027 numbers land
The IRS publishes the 2027 tax brackets and contribution limits in October. Social Security announces the 2027 wage base and COLA in October too. CMS finalizes the 2027 Part B premium and deductible in November. This page updates as each one lands, and the date at the top always says when.
These are national reference figures. Your plan's premiums and your own tax situation are what matter, so treat this page as the starting point, not the answer. The 2027 Medicare numbers get their own page with more detail on each figure.
Medicare help in your community

Christian BrinkleyNC Life & Health · Greensboro, NC
Want these numbers applied to your situation?
Bring your latest tax return, your plan's Annual Notice of Change, or just your questions. We will run the numbers for your household before December 7. The review is free, no obligation. Call or text (919) 408-6671.
Free consultation in person or by phone. It’s me who answers. Calls and appointments 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday, Eastern time.
Reference sources: IRS Revenue Procedure for tax year 2026; SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet; CMS CY2027 Rate Announcement (April 6, 2026); CMS 2027 MA/Part D landscape press release (September 28, 2026); 2026 Medicare Trustees Report (projections). Page last updated October 8, 2026.