Your tax rate depends on your income. In the U.S., the more income you earn, the higher your tax rate gets on every extra dollar of earnings. That marginal rate doesn't apply to all of your income -- only the income with certain brackets.
Below, you'll see the tax brackets for 2021. The set that applies to you depends on your tax filing status.
If you file as a single taxpayer, the following brackets apply:
|
Bracket for Singles |
Tax is this amount plus this percentage |
Of the amount over |
|
$0 to $9,950 |
$0 plus 10% |
$0 |
|
$9,950 to $40,525 |
$995 plus 12% |
$9,950 |
|
$40,525 to $86,375 |
$4,664 plus 22% |
$40,525 |
|
$86,375 to $164,925 |
$14,751 plus 24% |
$86,375 |
|
$164,925 to $209,425 |
$33,603 plus 32% |
$164,925 |
|
$209,425 to $523,600 |
$47,843 plus 35% |
$209,425 |
|
Above $523,600 |
$157,804.25 plus 37% |
$523,600 |
DATA SOURCE: IRS.
Those who qualify as head of household have higher income thresholds apply to each tax bracket, resulting in lower tax. To qualify as a head of household, the requirements include that you be unmarried and provide both housing and financial support for a child, parent, or other relative who lives with you for greater than half of the year. The financial support you provide must generally be more than half of all support the child or other relative received during the year.
|
Bracket for Head of Household |
Tax is this amount plus this percentage |
Of the amount over |
|
$0 to $14,200 |
$0 plus 10% |
$0 |
|
$14,200 to $54,200 |
$1,420 plus 12% |
$14,200 |
|
$54,200 to $86,350 |
$6,220 plus 22% |
$54,200 |
|
$86,350 to $164,900 |
$13,293 plus 24% |
$86,350 |
|
$164,900 to $209,400 |
$32,145 plus 32% |
$164,900 |
|
$209,400 to $523,600 |
$46,385 plus 35% |
$209,400 |
|
Above $523,600 |
$156,355 plus 37% |
$523,600 |
DATA SOURCE: IRS.
Most married taxpayers file jointly. If you were married but your spouse passed away recently, then you're also allowed to use these brackets as a surviving spouse.
|
Bracket for married filing jointly |
Tax is this amount plus this percentage |
Of the amount over |
|
$0 to $19,900 |
$0 plus 10% |
$0 |
|
$19,900 to $81,050 |
$1,990 plus 12% |
$19,900 |
|
$81,050 to $172,750 |
$9,328 plus 22% |
$81,050 |
|
$172,750 to $329,850 |
$29,502 plus 24% |
$172,750 |
|
$329,850 to $418,850 |
$67,206 plus 32% |
$329,850 |
|
$418,850 to $628,300 |
$95,686 plus 35% |
$418,850 |
|
Above $628,300 |
$168,993.50 plus 37% |
$628,300 |
DATA SOURCE: IRS.
Some married taxpayers choose to file separate returns. These are the brackets that apply.
|
Bracket for married filing separately |
Tax is this amount plus this percentage |
Of the amount over |
|
$0 to $9,950 |
$0 plus 10% |
$0 |
|
$9,950 to $40,525 |
$995 plus 12% |
$9,950 |
|
$40,525 to $86,375 |
$4,664 plus 22% |
$40,525 |
|
$86,375 to $164,925 |
$14,751 plus 24% |
$86,375 |
|
$164,925 to $209,425 |
$33,603 plus 32% |
$164,925 |
|
$209,425 to $314,150 |
$47,843 plus 35% |
$209,425 |
|
Above $314,150 |
$84,496.75 plus 37% |
$314,150 |
DATA SOURCE: IRS.
Finally, there are some trusts that get taxed as separate legal entities. The same is true of estates of someone who passes away.
|
Bracket for trusts and estates |
Tax is this amount plus this percentage |
Of the amount over |
|
$0 to $2,650 |
$0 plus 10% |
$0 |
|
$2,650 to $9,550 |
$265 plus 24% |
$2,600 |
|
$9,550 to $13,050 |
$1,921 plus 35% |
$9,450 |
|
Above $13,050 |
$3,146 plus 37% |
$12,950 |
DATA SOURCE: IRS.