US Federal Income Tax Calculator
Calculate your 2024 US federal income tax. Enter your filing status and gross income to see your tax broken down by bracket, effective rate, and marginal rate.
How US Federal Income Tax Works
The US federal income tax system uses a progressive bracket structure with 7 tax rates ranging from 10% to 37%. Your income is taxed at increasing rates as it passes through each bracket. Only the income within each bracket range is taxed at that bracket's rate -- a common misconception is that moving into a higher bracket means all income is taxed at the higher rate.
Tax Calculation Formula
Taxable Income = Gross Income - Deductions (standard or itemized) - Adjustments. Federal Tax = Sum of (income in each bracket x bracket rate). Your effective tax rate = Total federal tax / Gross income. Your marginal rate = the bracket your highest dollar of income falls into.
2024 Tax Brackets (Single Filer)
- 10%: $0 - $11,600
- 12%: $11,601 - $47,150
- 22%: $47,151 - $100,525
- 24%: $100,526 - $191,950
- 32%: $191,951 - $243,725
- 35%: $243,726 - $609,350
- 37%: Over $609,350
2024 Tax Brackets (Married Filing Jointly)
- 10%: $0 - $23,200
- 12%: $23,201 - $94,300
- 22%: $94,301 - $201,050
- 24%: $201,051 - $383,900
- 32%: $383,901 - $487,450
- 35%: $487,451 - $731,200
- 37%: Over $731,200
2024 Standard Deductions
- Single: $14,600
- Married Filing Jointly: $29,200
- Married Filing Separately: $14,600
- Head of Household: $21,900
- Additional for age 65+ or blind: $1,950 (single) / $1,550 (married)
Tax Calculation Example (Single, $85,000 Gross Income)
- Taxable income: $85,000 - $14,600 (standard deduction) = $70,400
- 10% on first $11,600 = $1,160
- 12% on $11,601-$47,150 = $4,266
- 22% on $47,151-$70,400 = $5,115
- Total federal tax: $10,541
- Effective tax rate: 12.4% (of gross income)
- Marginal tax rate: 22%
Common Tax-Reducing Strategies
- 401(k) contributions: Up to $23,000 ($30,500 if 50+) reduces taxable income directly
- Traditional IRA: Up to $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) may be tax-deductible
- HSA contributions: $4,150 individual / $8,300 family -- triple tax advantage (deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free medical withdrawals)
- SALT deduction: State/local taxes deductible up to $10,000 (itemized)
- Mortgage interest: Deductible on loans up to $750,000 (itemized)
- Charitable donations: Deductible up to 60% of AGI (itemized)
- Tax-loss harvesting: Offset capital gains with losses, plus $3,000 against ordinary income
Beyond Federal Tax: Other Taxes to Consider
- State income tax: 0% (TX, FL, WA, NV, etc.) to 13.3% (CA top rate). Nine states have no income tax.
- FICA taxes: Social Security 6.2% (up to $168,600) + Medicare 1.45% (no cap) = 7.65%
- Additional Medicare tax: 0.9% on income above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married)
- Net Investment Income Tax: 3.8% on investment income above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married)
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% on net self-employment income (Social Security + Medicare combined)
Important Notes
This calculator estimates federal income tax only and does not include state taxes, FICA taxes, or local taxes. Your actual tax liability may differ based on specific deductions, credits, and income sources. Tax filing deadline is April 15 (with automatic extension to October 15 via Form 4868). For complex situations involving self-employment income, capital gains, or multiple income sources, consider consulting a CPA or tax professional.