MORE LIKE THISTaxes
There are seven federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Your taxable income and filing status determine which tax brackets and rates apply to you.
The U.S. federal tax rates will remain the same until 2025 as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, but the income thresholds that inform the tax brackets are generally adjusted each year to reflect the rate of inflation.
These adjustments can help prevent taxpayers from ending up in a higher tax bracket as their cost of living rises. The tax bracket adjustments can also lower taxes for those whose compensation has not kept up with inflation.
The 2023 tax brackets, as well as the tax brackets for 2022 and previous years, can be found on this page.
Tax brackets 2023
The 2023 tax tables below are for taxes due April 15, 2024. There are seven tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%, the same as in tax year 2022.
The income thresholds for the 2023 tax brackets were adjusted significantly — up about 7% from 2022 — due to the record-high inflation. This means that some people might be in a lower tax bracket than they were previously.
2023 tax brackets: single filers
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $11,000. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $11,001 to $44,725. | $1,100 plus 12% of the amount over $11,000. |
22% | $44,726 to $95,375. | $5,147 plus 22% of the amount over $44,725. |
24% | $95,376 to $182,100. | $16,290 plus 24% of the amount over $95,375. |
32% | $182,101 to $231,250. | $37,104 plus 32% of the amount over $182,100. |
35% | $231,251 to $578,125. | $52,832 plus 35% of the amount over $231,250. |
37% | $578,126 or more. | $174,238.25 plus 37% of the amount over $578,125. |
2023 tax brackets: married, filing jointly
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Taxes owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $22,000. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $22,001 to $89,450. | $2,200 plus 12% of the amount over $22,000. |
22% | $89,451 to $190,750. | $10,294 plus 22% of the amount over $89,450. |
24% | $190,751 to $364,200. | $32,580 plus 24% of the amount over $190,750. |
32% | $364,201 to $462,500. | $74,208 plus 32% of the amount over $364,200. |
35% | $462,501 to $693,750. | $105,664 plus 35% of the amount over $462,500. |
37% | $693,751 or more. | $186,601.50 + 37% of the amount over $693,750. |
2023 tax brackets: married, filing separately
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Taxes owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $11,000. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $11,001 to $44,725. | $1,100 plus 12% of the amount over $11,000. |
22% | $44,726 to $95,375. | $5,147 plus 22% of the amount over $44,725. |
24% | $95,376 to $182,100. | $16,290 plus 24% of the amount over $95,375. |
32% | $182,101 to $231,250. | $37,104 plus 32% of the amount over $182,100. |
35% | $231,251 to $346,875. | $52,832 plus 35% of the amount over $231,250. |
37% | $346,876 or more. | $93,300.75 plus 37% of the amount over $346,875. |
2023 tax brackets: head of household
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $15,700. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $15,701 to $59,850. | $1,570 plus 12% of the amount over $15,700. |
22% | $59,851 to $95,350. | $6,868 plus 22% of the amount over $59,850. |
24% | $95,351 to $182,100. | $14,678 plus 24% of the amount over $95,350. |
32% | $182,101 to $231,250. | $35,498 plus 32% of the amount over $182,100. |
35% | $231,251 to $578,100. | $51,226 plus 35% of the amount over $231,250. |
37% | $578,101 or more. | $172,623.50 plus 37% of the amount over $578,100. |
» Learn more: How to track the status of your refund
Tax brackets 2022
The 2022 tax tables below are for taxes that were due April 18, 2023. Taxpayers who applied for a tax extension by tax day have until Oct. 16, 2023, to file their 2022 returns.
2022 tax brackets: single filers
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $10,275. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $10,276 to $41,775. | $1,027.50 plus 12% of the amount over $10,275. |
22% | $41,776 to $89,075. | $4,807.50 plus 22% of the amount over $41,775. |
24% | $89,076 to $170,050. | $15,213.50 plus 24% of the amount over $89,075. |
32% | $170,051 to $215,950. | $34,647.50 plus 32% of the amount over $170,050. |
35% | $215,951 to $539,900. | $49,335.50 plus 35% of the amount over $215,950. |
37% | $539,901 or more. | $162,718 plus 37% of the amount over $539,900. |
2022 tax brackets: married, filing jointly
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Taxes owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $20,550. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $20,551 to $83,550. | $2,055 plus 12% of the amount over $20,550. |
22% | $83,551 to $178,150. | $9,615 plus 22% of the amount over $83,550. |
24% | $178,151 to $340,100. | $30,427 plus 24% of the amount over $178,150. |
32% | $340,101 to $431,900. | $69,295 plus 32% of the amount over $340,100. |
35% | $431,901 to $647,850. | $98,671 plus 35% of the amount over $431,900. |
37% | $647,851 or more. | $174,253.50 plus 37% of the amount over $647,850. |
2022 tax brackets: married, filing separately
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Taxes owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $10,275. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $10,276 to $41,775. | $1,027.50 plus 12% of the amount over $10,275. |
22% | $41,776 to $89,075. | $4,807.50 plus 22% of the amount over $41,775. |
24% | $89,076 to $170,050. | $15,213.50 plus 24% of the amount over $89,075. |
32% | $170,051 to $215,950. | $34,647.50 plus 32% of the amount over $170,050. |
35% | $215,951 to $323,925. | $49,335.50 plus 35% of the amount over $215,950. |
37% | $323,926 or more. | $87,126.75 plus 37% of the amount over $323,925. |
2022 tax brackets: head of household
Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $14,650. | 10% of taxable income. |
12% | $14,651 to $55,900. | $1,465 plus 12% of the amount over $14,650. |
22% | $55,901 to $89,050. | $6,415 plus 22% of the amount over $55,900. |
24% | $89,051 to $170,050. | $13,708 plus 24% of the amount over $89,050. |
32% | $170,051 to $215,950. | $33,148 plus 32% of the amount over $170,050. |
35% | $215,951 to $539,900. | $47,836 plus 35% of the amount over $215,950. |
37% | $539,901 or more. | $161,218.50 plus 37% of the amount over $539,900. |
How income tax brackets work
You may hear people say that they are in the 12% tax bracket or the 22% bracket. This does not mean all of their income is taxed at that percentage; instead, that is the highest tax rate — the marginal rate — that applies to a portion of their income.
Track your finances
A NerdWallet account is the smartest way to track your savings, credit cards, and investments together in one place.
1. Federal income tax rates are progressive
The U.S. has a progressive tax system. Broadly, this means that the government decides how much tax you owe by dividing your taxable income into chunks — also known as tax brackets — and each chunk gets taxed at the corresponding tax rate. The progressive tax system also means that people with higher taxable incomes are subject to higher federal income tax rates, and people with lower taxable incomes are subject to lower federal income tax rates. The beauty of tax brackets is that no matter which bracket you’re in, you won’t pay that tax rate on your entire income.
Example #1: Let’s say you’re a single filer with $32,000 in taxable income. That puts you in the 12% tax bracket in 2022. But do you pay 12% on all $32,000? No. Actually, you pay only 10% on the first $10,275; you pay 12% on the rest. (Look at the tax brackets above to see the breakout.)
Example #2: If you had $50,000 of taxable income, you’d pay 10% on that first $10,275 and 12% on the chunk of income between $10,276 and $41,775. And then you’d pay 22% on the rest because some of your $50,000 of taxable income falls into the 22% tax bracket. The total bill would be about $6,600 — about 13% of your taxable income, even though you're in the 22% bracket. That 13% is your effective tax rate.
2. Income thresholds for tax brackets are updated annually
Several provisions in the tax code, including the income thresholds that inform the federal tax brackets, are adjusted annually to reflect the rate of inflation. This indexing aims to prevent taxpayers from experiencing "bracket creep," or the process of being pushed into a higher tax bracket because of inflation.
3. State income taxes may work differently than federal income taxes
States may handle taxes differently than the federal government. Your state might have different brackets, or it might altogether use a different system. Colorado, for example, levies a flat income tax rate of 4.4.% on taxable income, and some states, such as Wyoming, don't levy a state income tax at all.
» MORE: Income tax rates and brackets by state
What is a marginal tax rate?
The marginal tax rate is the tax rate paid on your last dollar of taxable income. This typically equates to your highest tax bracket.
For example, if you're a single filer in 2023 with $35,000 of taxable income, you would be in the 12% tax bracket. If your taxable income went up by $1, you would pay 12% on that extra dollar, too.
If you had $45,000 of taxable income, however, most of it would still fall within the 12% bracket, but the last few hundred dollars would land in the 22% tax bracket. Your marginal tax rate would then be 22%.
2022-2023 marginal tax rate calculator
What is an effective tax rate?
The percentage of your taxable income that you pay in taxes is called your effective tax rate. To determine your effective tax rate, divide your total tax owed (line 16) on Form 1040 by your total taxable income (line 15).
How to get into a lower tax bracket and pay a lower federal income tax rate
Two common ways of reducing your tax bill are credits and deductions.
Tax credits can reduce your tax bill on a dollar-for-dollar basis; they don't affect what bracket you're in.
Tax deductions, on the other hand, reduce how much of your income is subject to taxes. Generally, deductions lower your taxable income by the percentage of your highest federal income tax bracket. So if you fall into the 22% tax bracket, a $1,000 deduction could save you $220.
In other words: Take all the tax deductions you can claim — they can reduce your taxable income and could kick you to a lower bracket, which means you pay a lower tax rate.
» Learn more: See the difference between tax credits and tax deductions
Tax brackets and rates for 2012-2021
Curious how federal income tax brackets and rates have changed over the years? Take a look back.
2021 tax brackets and rates
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,950 | $0 to $19,900 | $0 to $9,950 | $0 to $14,200 |
12% | $9,951 to $40,525 | $19,901 to $81,050 | $9,951 to $40,525 | $14,201 to $54,200 |
22% | $40,526 to $86,375 | $81,051 to $172,750 | $40,526 to $86,375 | $54,201 to $86,350 |
24% | $86,376 to $164,925 | $172,751 to $329,850 | $86,376 to $164,925 | $86,351 to $164,900 |
32% | $164,926 to $209,425 | $329,851 to $418,850 | $164,926 to $209,425 | $164,901 to $209,400 |
35% | $209,426 to $523,600 | $418,851 to $628,300 | $209,426 to $314,150 | $209,401 to $523,600 |
37% | $523,601 or more | $628,301 or more | $314,151 or more | $523,601 or more |
Tax brackets and rates for 2012-2020
Curious how federal income tax brackets and rates have changed over the years? Take a look back.
2020 tax brackets and rates
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,875 | $0 to $19,750 | $0 to $9,875 | $0 to $14,100 |
12% | $9,876 to $40,125 | $19,751 to $80,250 | $9,876 to $40,125 | $14,101 to $53,700 |
22% | $40,126 to $85,525 | $80,251 to $171,050 | $40,126 to $85,525 | $53,701 to $85,500 |
24% | $85,526 to $163,300 | $171,051 to $326,600 | $85,526 to $163,300 | $85,501 to $163,300 |
32% | $163,301 to $207,350 | $326,601 to $414,700 | $163,301 to $207,350 | $163,301 to $207,350 |
35% | $207,351 to $518,400 | $414,701 to $622,050 | $207,351 to $311,025 | $207,351 to $518,400 |
37% | $518,401 or more | $622,051 or more | $311,026 or more | $518,401 or more |
2019 tax brackets and rates
2019 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,700 | $0 to $19,400 | $0 to $9,700 | $0 to $13,850 |
12% | $9,701 to $39,475 | $19,401 to $78,950 | $9,701 to $39,475 | $13,851 to $52,850 |
22% | $39,476 to $84,200 | $78,951 to $168,400 | $39,476 to $84,200 | $52,851 to $84,200 |
24% | $84,201 to $160,725 | $168,401 to $321,450 | $84,201 to $160,725 | $84,201 to $160,700 |
32% | $160,726 to $204,100 | $321,451 to $408,200 | $160,726 to $204,100 | $160,701 to $204,100 |
35% | $204,101 to $510,300 | $408,201 to $612,350 | $204,101 to $306,175 | $204,101 to $510,300 |
37% | $510,301 or more | $612,351 or more | $306,176 or more | $510,301 or more |
2018 tax brackets and rates
2018 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,525 | $0 to $19,050 | $0 to $9,525 | $0 to $13,600 |
12% | $9,526 to $38,700 | $19,051 to $77,400 | $9,526 to $38,700 | $13,601 to $51,800 |
22% | $38,701 to $82,500 | $77,401 to $165,000 | $38,701 to $82,500 | $51,801 to $82,500 |
24% | $82,501 to $157,500 | $165,001 to $315,000 | $82,501 to $157,500 | $82,501 to $157,500 |
32% | $157,501 to $200,000 | $315,001 to $400,000 | $157,501 to $200,000 | $157,501 to $200,000 |
35% | $200,001 to $500,000 | $400,001 to $600,000 | $200,001 to $300,000 | $200,001 to $500,000 |
37% | $500,001 or more | $600,001 or more | $300,001 or more | $500,001 or more |
2017 tax brackets and rates
2017 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,325 | $0 to $18,650 | $0 to $9,325 | $0 to $13,350 |
15% | $9,326 to $37,950 | $18,651 to $75,900 | $9,326 to $37,950 | $13,351 to $50,800 |
25% | $37,951 to $91,900 | $75,901 to $153,100 | $37,951 to $76,550 | $50,801 to $131,200 |
28% | $91,901 to $191,650 | $153,101 to $233,350 | $76,551 to $116,675 | $131,201 to $212,500 |
33% | $191,651 to $416,700 | $233,351 to $416,700 | $116,676 to $208,350 | $212,501 to $416,700 |
35% | $416,701 to $418,400 | $416,701 to $470,700 | $208,351 to $235,350 | $416,701 to $444,550 |
39.6% | $418,401 or more | $470,701 or more | $235,351 or more | $444,551 or more |
2016 tax brackets and rates
2016 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,275 | $0 to $18,550 | $0 to $9,275 | $0 to $13,250 |
15% | $9,276 to $37,650 | $18,550 to $75,300 | $9,275 to $37,650 | $13,250 to $50,400 |
25% | $37,650 to $91,150 | $75,300 to $151,900 | $37,650 to $75,950 | $50,400 to $130,150 |
28% | $91,150 to $190,150 | $151,900 to $231,450 | $75,950 to $115,725 | $130,150 to $210,800 |
33% | $190,150 to $413,350 | $231,450 to $413,350 | $115,725 to $206,675 | $210,800 to $413,350 |
35% | $413,350 to $415,050 | $413,350 to $466,950 | $206,675 to $233,475 | $413,350 to $441,000 |
39.6% | $415,050 or more | $466,950 or more | $233,475 or more | $441,000 or more |
2015 tax brackets and rates
2015 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,225 | $0 to $18,450 | $0 to $9,225 | $0 to $13,150 |
15% | $9,226 to $37,450 | $18,451 to $74,900 | $9,226 to $37,450 | $13,151 to $50,200 |
25% | $37,451 to $90,750 | $74,901 to $151,200 | $37,451 to $75,600 | $50,201 to $129,600 |
28% | $90,751 to $189,300 | $151,201 to $230,450 | $75,601 to $115,225 | $129,601 to $209,850 |
33% | $189,301 to $411,500 | $230,451 to $411,500 | $115,226 to $205,750 | $209,851 to $411,500 |
35% | $411,501 to $413,200 | $411,501 to $464,850 | $205,751 to $232,425 | $411,501 to $439,000 |
39.6% | $413,201 or more | $464,851 or more | $232,426 or more | $439,001 or more |
2014 tax brackets and rates
2014 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $9,075 | $0 to $18,150 | $0 to $9,075 | $0 to $12,950 |
15% | $9,076 to $36,900 | $18,151 to $73,800 | $9,076 to $36,900 | $12,951 to $49,400 |
25% | $36,901 to $89,350 | $73,801 to $148,850 | $36,901 to $74,425 | $49,401 to $127,550 |
28% | $89,351 to $186,350 | $148,851 to $226,850 | $74,426 to $113,425 | $127,551 to $206,600 |
33% | $186,351 to $405,100 | $226,851 to $405,100 | $113,426 to $202,550 | $206,601 to $405,100 |
35% | $405,101 to $406,750 | $405,101 to $457,600 | $202,551 to $228,800 | $405,101 to $432,200 |
39.6% | $406,751 or more | $457,601 or more | $228,801 or more | $432,201 or more |
2013 tax brackets and rates
2013 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $8,925 | $0 to $17,850 | $0 to $8,925 | $0 to $12,750 |
15% | $8,926 to $36,250 | $17,851 to $72,500 | $8,926 to $36,250 | $12,751 to $48,600 |
25% | $36,251 to $87,850 | $72,501 to $146,400 | $36,251 to $73,200 | $48,601 to $125,450 |
28% | $87,851 to $183,250 | $146,401 to $223,050 | $73,201 to $111,525 | $125,451 to $203,150 |
33% | $183,251 to $398,350 | $223,051 to $398,350 | $111,526 to $199,175 | $203,151 to $398,350 |
35% | $398,351 to $400,000 | $398,351 to $450,000 | $199,176 to $225,000 | $398,351 to $425,000 |
39.6% | $400,001 or more | $450,001 or more | $225,001 or more | $425,001 or more |
2012 tax brackets and rates
2012 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Tax rate | Single | Married, filing jointly | Married, filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | $0 to $8,700 | $0 to $17,400 | $0 to $8,700 | $0 to $12,400 |
15% | $8,701 to $35,350 | $17,401 to $70,700 | $8,701 to $35,350 | $12,401 to $47,350 |
25% | $35,351 to $85,650 | $70,701 to $142,700 | $35,351 to $71,350 | $47,351 to $122,300 |
28% | $85,651 to $178,650 | $142,701 to $217,450 | $71,351 to $108,725 | $122,301 to $198,050 |
33% | $178,651 to $388,350 | $217,451 to $388,350 | $108,726 to $194,175 | $198,051 to $388,350 |
35% | $388,351 or more | $388,351 or more | $194,1756 or more | $388,351 or more |
Tax tools
Estimate your tax bill
How to file your taxes for free
Learn more about the IRS Free File program
Compare the best tax software
How to find a tax preparer near you
More tax articles
Learn about capital gains taxes
Fill out your W-4 the right way
How to fill out an income tax return (Form 1040)