MA · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report

Income Tax Rate Changes

Mastercard Inc · 2026-10-29 · Importance 25 · Surprise 32

The effective income tax rate was 19.4% for the third quarter of 2026, down 2.1 percentage points from 21.5% in the comparable 2025 quarter. For the first nine months, the rate declined 0.8 percentage points to 19.6% from 20.4%. Adjusted effective tax rates fell 1.4 percentage points to 20.1% for the quarter and 0.7 percentage points to 19.8% for the nine months. The lower rates reflected higher net discrete tax benefits and other tax impacts in 2026; nine-month income tax expense was $3.141 billion, up 12%.

Key facts

• Mastercard’s effective income tax rate was 19.4% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 21.5% in the comparable 2025 period. source
• Mastercard’s adjusted effective income tax rate was 20.1% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 21.4% in the comparable 2025 period. source
• Mastercard’s effective income tax rate was 19.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared with 20.4% in the comparable 2025 period. source
• Mastercard’s adjusted effective income tax rate was 19.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared with 20.5% in the comparable 2025 period. source
• Mastercard attributed lower effective income tax rates in both the three- and nine-month periods of 2026 versus 2025 to higher net discrete tax benefits and other tax impacts in 2026. source