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Tax Comparisons 2026

Side-by-side comparisons of the most consequential 2026 tax decisions, with worked dollar examples that show exactly how much each choice changes your tax bill.

Capital Gains

Short-Term vs Long-Term Capital Gains 2026

→ $9K Difference on $100K Gain

Hold one extra day → 22% (ordinary) drops to 15% (LTCG). 2026 brackets, NIIT 3.8%, state stacking, tax-loss harvesting, crypto/NFT.

Income Tax

Federal vs State Income Tax 2026

→ $5,898 CA-vs-TX Gap on $100K Salary

7 federal brackets vs 51 state systems (9 no-tax, 12 flat, 30+ progressive). $100K compared TX/FL/IL/CA. SALT cap, reciprocity, filing mechanics.

Retirement

Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA

→ Tax-Now vs Tax-Later Decision

Pre-tax contributions + taxed withdrawals (Traditional) vs post-tax contributions + tax-free withdrawals (Roth). Income limits, RMDs, conversions.

Filing Status

Single vs Married Filing Jointly

→ Marriage Penalty or Bonus?

When MFJ saves taxes (most cases) and when it costs more (high-income dual earners). 2026 brackets compared, marriage penalty/bonus calculator.

Self-Employment

1099 Contractor vs W-2 Employee

→ $100K W-2 ≈ $138K 1099 Equivalent

Self-employment tax 15.3%, QBI deduction 20%, quarterly estimated payments, benefits & PTO valuation, when 1099 actually pays more.

Why Tax Comparisons Matter

Most tax decisions hinge on small differences with massive long-run impact. Holding a stock one extra day to qualify for long-term capital gains can save tens of thousands. Choosing Roth over Traditional in low-income years can save more in retirement than 30 years of investment returns. These pages show the math, not just the principle.

Use Our Calculators With These Comparisons

All comparisons use IRS 2026 brackets, deductions, and credits per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, plus state-level data verified against each state revenue department's 2026 tax forms. Last reviewed April 27, 2026.