What is the AMT exemption for 2026?

The 2026 AMT exemption is $88,100 for single filers and $137,000 for married filing jointly. This amount is subtracted from your AMTI before the 26%/28% rates apply, and it phases out as income rises.

What are the AMT tax rates?

AMT has just two rates: 26% on the AMT base up to $239,100 and 28% on the portion above $239,100. These apply to AMTI after the exemption, producing the tentative minimum tax.

When does the AMT exemption phase out?

The exemption is reduced by 25 cents for every dollar of AMTI above $626,350 (single) or $1,252,700 (joint). At high enough income the exemption reaches zero, so the full AMT base is taxed at 26%/28%.

Will I actually owe AMT?

You owe AMT only if your tentative minimum tax exceeds your regular federal income tax. The AMT owed is that difference. If your regular tax is already higher, the AMT owed is zero — most taxpayers fall in this group.

AMT Calculator — Gera Tools

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This calculator estimates your 2026 federal Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) — a parallel tax system that ensures high-income taxpayers with many deductions still pay a minimum amount. It applies the exemption and phase-out, computes the tentative minimum tax, and compares it with your regular tax.

How it works

The AMT recomputes your tax on a broader base (AMTI) with fewer deductions, using its own exemption and rates:

exemption = max(0, base exemption - 0.25 * max(0, AMTI - phaseout threshold))
AMT base  = max(0, AMTI - exemption)
TMT       = 26% * min(AMT base, 239,100) + 28% * max(0, AMT base - 239,100)
AMT owed  = max(0, TMT - regular federal tax)

For 2026 the base exemption is $88,100 (single) or $137,000 (joint). The exemption phases out at 25% of AMTI above $626,350 (single) or $1,252,700 (joint). You owe AMT only when the tentative minimum tax exceeds your regular tax.

Example

A single filer with AMTI of $300,000 and regular tax of $55,000: AMTI is below the $626,350 phase-out, so the full $88,100 exemption applies. The AMT base is 300,000 - 88,100 = $211,900, which is under the $239,100 break, so the tentative minimum tax is 211,900 * 26% = $55,094. Since that exceeds the $55,000 regular tax, the AMT owed is about $94 extra.

Notes

Estimate only — not tax advice. Uses 2026 AMT figures: exemption $88,100 single / $137,000 joint, 26%/28% rates with the 28% threshold at $239,100, and a 25% exemption phase-out above $626,350 (single) / $1,252,700 (joint). Calculating true AMTI requires adding back many preference items on IRS Form 6251, which this simplified tool does not do. Verify with the IRS at irs.gov.