Wisconsin income tax at a glance
Wisconsin’s sliding-scale standard deduction is largest at low incomes and phases out completely by about $136,000 ($160,000 joint). Rates run from 3.5% to 7.65%. Head-of-household filers use the single schedule in this estimate.
| Tax structure | 4 brackets, 3.5% – 7.65% |
| Figures for tax year | 2026 |
| Starting point | Federal AGI |
| Standard deduction (single / joint) | $13,960 / $25,840 |
| Tax on $75,000 (single) | $2,944 (3.92%) |
| Rank at $75,000 | 17th highest of 42 |
| Local income taxes | None |
| State sales tax | 5% |
How Wisconsin calculates your income tax
Wisconsin starts from your federal adjusted gross income (AGI). The standard deduction is $13,960 for single filers and $25,840 for married couples filing jointly ($13,960 head of household). It phases out between $20,119 and $136,453 of income for single filers. You also get a personal exemption of $700 per taxpayer and a dependent exemption of $700 per dependent.
Tax from the Wisconsin brackets = Wisconsin income tax
Wisconsin income tax brackets (2026)
Married couples filing jointly get their own, wider brackets. Rates apply only to the slice of taxable income inside each bracket.
Single filers
| Rate | Taxable income | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | $0 – $15,110 | 3.5% of taxable income |
| 4.4% | $15,111 – $51,950 | $529 + 4.4% over $15,110 |
| 5.3% | $51,951 – $332,720 | $2,150 + 5.3% over $51,950 |
| 7.65% | Over $332,720 | $17,031 + 7.65% over $332,720 |
Married filing jointly
| Rate | Taxable income | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | $0 – $20,150 | 3.5% of taxable income |
| 4.4% | $20,151 – $69,260 | $705 + 4.4% over $20,150 |
| 5.3% | $69,261 – $443,630 | $2,866 + 5.3% over $69,260 |
| 7.65% | Over $443,630 | $22,708 + 7.65% over $443,630 |
Wisconsin standard deduction and exemptions
| Filing status | Standard deduction | Personal exemption | Per dependent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $13,960 | $700 | $700 |
| Married filing jointly | $25,840 | $1,400 | $700 |
| Head of household | $13,960 | $700 | $700 |
Amounts before any income-based phase-outs.
Wisconsin income tax on $50,000, $75,000 and $100,000
Estimated 2026 tax for W-2 wages with the standard deduction, no children and no pre-tax deductions. Change any of these in the calculator above.
| Wages | Filing status | WI tax | Effective | Federal tax | FICA | Take-home | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Single | $1,577 | 3.15% | $3,820 | $3,825 | $40,778 | $3,398 |
| $50,000 | Married jointly | $1,002 | 2.00% | $1,780 | $3,825 | $43,393 | $3,616 |
| $75,000 | Single | $2,944 | 3.92% | $7,670 | $5,738 | $58,649 | $4,887 |
| $75,000 | Married jointly | $2,320 | 3.09% | $4,640 | $5,738 | $62,302 | $5,192 |
| $100,000 | Single | $4,428 | 4.43% | $13,170 | $7,650 | $74,752 | $6,229 |
| $100,000 | Married jointly | $3,795 | 3.80% | $7,640 | $7,650 | $80,915 | $6,743 |
Step by step: $75,000 single filer in Wisconsin
- Gross wages: $75,000
- Standard deduction: −$7,374
- Exemptions: −$700
- Wisconsin taxable income: $66,926
- 3.5% on $15,110 = $528.85
- 4.4% on $36,840 = $1,620.96
- 5.3% on $14,976 = $793.71
- Wisconsin income tax: $2,944 — 3.92% of gross pay, with a marginal state rate of 5.3%.
- With $7,670 of federal income tax and $5,738 of FICA, total tax is $16,351 and take-home pay is about $58,649 ($2,256 every two weeks).
Local income taxes in Wisconsin
No local income taxes.
Sales tax and other Wisconsin taxes
The Wisconsin state sales tax rate is 5%, and local governments may add their own rates on top. Spending $30,000 a year on taxable goods would cost roughly $1,500 in state sales tax alone.
Compare Wisconsin with neighboring states
State income tax on $75,000 of wages for a single filer in Wisconsin and its neighbors. Moving to Iowa would cut state income tax on this salary by about $745 a year, while Minnesota would cost about $633 more.
| State | Type | Top rate | Tax on $75k | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | Graduated | 7.65% | $2,944 | — |
| Minnesota | Graduated | 9.85% | $3,577 | +$633 |
| Iowa | Flat | 3.8% | $2,198 | −$745 |
| Illinois | Flat | 4.95% | $3,568 | +$624 |
| Michigan | Flat | 4.25% | $2,937 | −$7 |
If you live in one of these states and work in another, you generally file a non-resident return in the work state and claim a credit at home for the tax paid. Wisconsin has reciprocity with IL, IN, KY and MI, so residents of those states working here (and vice versa) usually pay only their home state.
How to lower your Wisconsin income tax
- Pre-tax retirement savings. Putting $10,000 into a traditional 401(k) on a $75,000 salary cuts Wisconsin tax by about $594 on top of the federal savings.
- Claim state credits. Check the Wisconsin return for earned-income, child, education and renter or property-tax credits that this estimate doesn’t include.
- Watch residency and work location. Days worked in another state and the date you move in or out change how much each state can tax.
- Time large income. Bonuses, stock sales and Roth conversions all land on your state return too.
See all states side by side in the state income tax calculator, or check the federal side with the federal income tax calculator and your per-check withholding in the paycheck calculator.
Sources and updates
Rates, brackets and deductions are for tax year 2026. Source: official Wisconsin tax agency page, cross-checked with the Tax Foundation’s 2026 state income tax tables and 2026 state legislation. Data last reviewed November 4, 2026.
Wisconsin income tax FAQ
What is the Wisconsin state income tax rate?
Wisconsin has 4 brackets ranging from 3.5% to 7.65% (figures for 2026). The top rate starts at $332,720 of taxable income for single filers. A single filer earning $75,000 pays an effective rate of about 3.92%.
How much Wisconsin income tax do I pay on $75,000?
About $2,944 for a single filer and $2,320 for a married couple filing jointly, using the standard deduction. Including federal income tax and FICA, a single filer takes home about $58,649 a year.
What is the Wisconsin standard deduction?
The standard deduction is $13,960 for single filers and $25,840 for married couples filing jointly ($13,960 head of household). It phases out between $20,119 and $136,453 of income for single filers. You also get a personal exemption of $700 per taxpayer and a dependent exemption of $700 per dependent.
Does Wisconsin have local income taxes?
No local income taxes.
Is Wisconsin a high-tax state?
On a $75,000 salary Wisconsin ranks 17 of the 42 jurisdictions that tax wages (1 = highest), in the middle of the pack. Among its neighbors, Iowa is cheapest at $2,198.