How do you understand tax brackets?
Tax brackets show you the tax rate you will pay on each portion of your taxable income. For example, if you are single, the lowest tax rate of 10% is applied to the first $11,000 of your taxable income in 2023.
Income is actually divided into different levels, or "brackets", that have different tax rates. Each dollar of income is only taxed at the rate of the bracket it falls into. Think of these brackets like a series of buckets. Each bucket holds a certain amount of money and is taxed at a certain rate.
Key takeaways
A higher tax bracket typically means you'll pay more in taxes, while the inverse is true for a lower tax bracket. However, how much you end up paying will depend on your personal financial situation and how you structure your assets.
For 2022, the tax brackets are as follows for single filers: 10% tax rate for income between $0 and $10,275. 12% tax rate for income between $10,276 to $41,775. 22% tax rate for income between $41,776 to $89,075. 24% tax rate for income between $89,076 to $170,050.
Tax brackets and marginal tax rates are based on taxable income, not gross income.
WHAT ARE TAX BRACKETS? For beginners, a tax bracket refers to a range of incomes subject to a certain income tax rate, according to Investopedia. Tax brackets result in a progressive tax system, in which taxation progressively increases as an individual's income grows (talk about “more money, more problems”).
The U.S. currently has seven federal income tax brackets, with rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. If you're one of the lucky few to earn enough to fall into the 37% bracket, that doesn't mean that the entirety of your taxable income will be subject to a 37% tax. Instead, 37% is your top marginal tax rate.
| 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. |
If you make $60,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $13,653. That means that your net pay will be $46,347 per year, or $3,862 per month.
Increasing your retirement contributions, delaying appreciated asset sales, batching itemized deductions, selling losing investments, and making tax-efficient investment choices can help you avoid moving into a higher tax bracket.
What salary puts you in a higher tax bracket?
| Tax rate | Single filers | Married filing separately |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $9,950 | $0 – $9,950 |
| 12% | $9,951 – $40,525 | $9,951 – $40,525 |
| 22% | $40,526 – $86,375 | $40,526 – $86,375 |
| 24% | $86,376 – $164,925 | $86,376 – $164,925 |
If you claimed 0 and still owe taxes, chances are you added “married” to your W4 form. When you claim 0 in allowances, it seems as if you are the only one who earns and that your spouse does not. Then, when both of you earn, and the amount reaches the 25% tax bracket, the amount of tax sent is not enough.
This means that an individual making $60,000 annually pays a total of $5,096 in income taxes for this year. You can further reduce this amount by maximizing tax savings, typically done through taking tax credits and other tax deductions or income adjustments you may qualify for.
If you make $70,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $17,665. That means that your net pay will be $52,335 per year, or $4,361 per month. Your average tax rate is 25.2% and your marginal tax rate is 41.0%.
Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.
| Tax Rate | Married Filing Jointly or Qualified Widow(er) | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 - $22,000 | $0 - $15,700 |
| 12% | $22,000 - $89,450 | $15,700 - $59,850 |
| 22% | $89,450 - $190,750 | $59,850 - $95,350 |
| 24% | $190,750 - $364,200 | $95,350 - $182,100 |
If you make <b>$65,000</b> a year living in the region of <b>California</b>, <b>USA</b>, you will be taxed <b> $15,631</b>. That means that your net pay will be <b>$49,369</b> per year, or <b>$4,114</b> per month. Your average tax rate is <b>24.1%</b> and your marginal tax rate is <b>40.7%</b>.
Yes, getting a raise affects taxes. The more money you earn, the more taxes you will have to pay, increasing your tax bill. For example, if the income tax is 10% and you earn $5,000, your tax bill is $500. If you get a raise to $8,000, your tax bill is now $800.
You can't claim the EIC unless your investment income is $11,000 or less. If your investment income is more than $11,000, you can't claim the credit. Use Worksheet 1 in this chapter to figure your investment income.
For individual filers, calculating federal taxable income starts by taking all income minus “above the line” deductions and exemptions, like certain retirement plan contributions, higher education expenses, student loan interest, and alimony payments, among others.
How much money do you have to make to owe taxes?
The minimum income amount depends on your filing status and age. In 2023, for example, the minimum for Single filing status if under age 65 is $13,850. If your income is below that threshold, you generally do not need to file a federal tax return.
You may be in line for a smaller tax refund this year if your income rose in 2023. Earning a lot of interest in a bank account could also lead to a smaller refund. A smaller refund isn't necessarily terrible, since it means you got paid sooner rather than loaning the IRS money for no good reason.
Once you turn 50, and especially after age 65, you can qualify for extra tax breaks. Older people get a bigger standard deduction, and they can earn more before they have to file a tax return at all. Workers over 50 can also defer or avoid taxes on more money using retirement and health savings accounts.
So far in 2024, the average federal income tax refund is $3,011, an increase of just under 5% from 2023. It's not entirely unexpected: To adjust for inflation, the IRS raised both the standard deduction and tax brackets by about 7%.
| Income level | Average refund | % of income |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 to $49,999 | $2,845.81 | 5.7% to 11.4% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | $2,830.10 | 3.8% to 5.7% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | $3,347.69 | 3.3% to 4.5% |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | $4,436.36 | 2.2% to 4.4% |
