How District of Columbia taxes your paycheck in 2026
District of Columbia uses graduated brackets running from 4% up to 10.75%. On top of that, every District of Columbia worker pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security (on the first $184,500 of 2026 wages) and 1.45% Medicare with no cap. This calculator applies all of it at once, so the take-home figure is the real one.
District of Columbia income tax brackets, 2026
Applied to taxable income — that is, your wages after the District of Columbia standard deduction. Single filer figures shown.
| Rate | Taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| 4% | $0 – $10,000 |
| 6% | $10,000 – $40,000 |
| 6.5% | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| 8.5% | $60,000 – $250,000 |
| 9.25% | $250,000 – $500,000 |
| 9.75% | $500,000 – $1,000,000 |
| 10.75% | $1,000,000 and above |
Standard deduction: $16,100 single / $32,200 married.
What District of Columbia state tax costs at different salaries
Single filer, District of Columbia state income tax only — federal tax and FICA are on top of these figures.
| Annual salary | District of Columbia income tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,834 | 3.67% |
| $75,000 | $3,429 | 4.57% |
| $100,000 | $5,532 | 5.53% |
| $150,000 | $9,782 | 6.52% |
How District of Columbia compares with neighbouring states
State income tax owed by a single filer on a $75,000 salary — District of Columbia against the states around it:
| State | Tax on $75,000 | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $2,303 | 3.07% |
| Maryland | $3,199 | 4.27% |
| District of Columbia (this state) | $3,429 | 4.57% |
| Virginia | $3,498 | 4.66% |
| Delaware | $3,609 | 4.81% |
District of Columbia ranks third-lowest of these 5 at that salary, costing about $1,126 a year more than Pennsylvania. Where you physically work usually decides which state withholds, so a short commute across a border can change your take-home meaningfully.
Why your effective District of Columbia rate isn't 10.75%
On a $75,000 salary the headline rate is 10.75%, but the real bite is about 4.57%. Two things cause the gap. First, the brackets are marginal — only income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. Second, District of Columbia shelters the first $16,100 of income before any tax applies.
District of Columbia's shelter is close to the $16,100 federal standard deduction, so state and federal taxable income land in a similar place.
No local income tax in District of Columbia. No city or county levies its own income tax, so the figure above is your complete state and local income tax picture.
Federal taxes on top
Every District of Columbia worker also pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. Those rules are identical in all 50 states — see the main paycheck calculator for how FICA, the wage base, pre-tax deductions and FICA-exempt occupations work.
Nearby states
Compare District of Columbia with Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania — or see the full list of all 50 states and DC.