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.
May 2026 source review
Decision guides tied to current tax-year assumptions
Each comparison starts with the tax decision a filer is actually trying to make, then points to the calculator that converts it into dollars. Baselines are reviewed against IRS 2026 brackets, standard deductions, capital-gain rules, FICA thresholds, and state revenue data before being linked here.
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 TaxFederal 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.
RetirementTraditional 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 StatusSingle 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-Employment1099 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
- Federal Income Tax Calculator — see your full federal liability
- Capital Gains Tax Calculator — short-term vs long-term comparison built-in
- Marriage Tax Calculator — single vs MFJ in seconds
- 1099 Tax Calculator — self-employment + QBI
- All 22 Calculators — full LevyIO toolkit
All comparisons use IRS 2026 brackets, deductions, and credits, plus state-level data verified against each state revenue department's 2026 tax forms. Last reviewed May 21, 2026.