Your tax bracket reflects the rate you’re taxed, based on your income, and there are currently seven of these ranges. The U.S. uses a progressive tax system; as income rises, so does the tax rate that applies to each layer of income reported on your return.
If you are wondering what the tax brackets for 2025 are, that’s an important question, as the income ranges used to determine your bracket are adjusted periodically by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reflect the impact of inflation.
The tax brackets 2025 filers are assigned to correspond to these federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Income ranges used for 2025 tax brackets apply to returns filed in 2026.
Table of Contents
Key Points
• Federal tax brackets for 2025 and 2026 vary by filing status and income level.
• The seven federal tax brackets for 2025 and 2026 are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.
• Tax brackets are not a flat rate but increase as you earn more.
• Different layers of income may be assessed at different rates, with the marginal rate being the highest and the effective rate being the average you are taxed at.
• It’s important to pay the correct amount of tax; underreporting income is a common tax filing mistake.
2025 Tax Brackets
To find out what tax bracket you are in, check the following table. It illustrates 2025 federal tax brackets and tax rates, based on your filing status.
| 2025 Tax Brackets | ||||
| Tax Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widow(er) | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
| 10% | $0 to $11,925 | $0 to $23,850 | $0 to $11,925 | $0 to $17,000 |
| 12% | $11,926 to $48,475 | $23,851 to $96,950 | $11,926 to $48,475 | $17,001 to $64,850 |
| 22% | $48,476 to $103,350 | $96,951 to $206,700 | $48,476 to $103,350 | $64,851 to $103,350 |
| 24% | $103,351 to $197,300 | $206,701 to $394,600 | $103,351 to $197,300 | $103,351 to $197,300 |
| 32% | $197,301 to $250,525 | $394,601 to $501,050 | $197,301 to $250,525 | $197,301 to $250,500 |
| 35% | $250,526 to $626,350 | $501,051 to $751,600 | $250,526 to $375,800 | $250,501 to $626,350 |
| 37% | $626,351 or more | $751,601 or more | $375,801 or more | $626,351 or more |
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2026 Tax Brackets
While tax rates for the brackets are the same for 2025 and 2026, the income ranges used to determine tax brackets differ. Here’s a look at 2026 tax brackets so you can see how they compare to federal tax brackets in 2025. The amounts have been adjusted to reflect the impact of inflation.
Knowing how tax brackets work can help you gain a better picture of your income (gross vs. net), which impacts your spending and your savings. This can help you keep an eye on your budget. Using a money tracker can be a smart move, too. This tax bracket knowledge may be especially important for self-employed people who pay taxes quarterly vs. having an employer withhold taxes for them.
| 2026 Tax Brackets | ||||
| Tax Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widow(er) | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $24,800 | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,401 to $50,400 | $24,801 to $100,800 | $12,401 to $50,400 | $17,701 to $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,401 to $105,700 | $100,801 to $211,400 | $50,401 to $105,700 | $67,451 to $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 to $201,775 | $211,401 to $403,550 | $105,701 to $201,775 | $105,701 to $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,776 to $256,225 | $403,551 to $512,450 | $201,776 to $256,225 | $201,776 to $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,226 to $640,600 | $512,451 to $768,700 | $256,226 to $384,350 | $256,201 to $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,601 or more | $768,701 or more | $384,351 or more | $640,601 or more |
The federal government uses a progressive tax system to determine how much individual taxpayers owe. This type of system functions by taking a larger percentage of income from higher earners than lower earners, based on the concept of ability to pay.
Tax brackets assign a tax rate to a specific range of income. Each income range is subject to a different tax rate ranging from 10% to 37% for the 2025 and 2026 tax years. There are seven tax rates, as mentioned, with individual tax brackets for five filing statuses:
• Single
• Married filing jointly
• Married filing separately
• Head of household
• Qualifying widow(er)
Some overlap exists across different filing statuses. For instance, single filers and married couples who file separately have identical tax bracket income ranges up to the 35% tax rate. At that point, the range of incomes diverges.
What are the income tax brackets for 2025 at the state level? It varies.
Forty-one states and the District of Columbia assess an income tax. Among them, 14 states use a flat tax rate that applies to all income levels, while the remaining 27 and the District of Columbia use graduated tax rates assigned to different tax brackets.
Also, note that there are different types of taxes. Tax brackets and tax rates for individuals are not the same as tax rates for corporations.
If you need help tracking your money on an everyday basis (not just at tax time), you might try an online budget planner tool.
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What Is a Marginal Tax Rate?
A marginal tax rate is the tax rate you pay on the last dollar of income earned. In other words, it reflects the highest tax bracket you’re assigned to based on your income and filing status.
So if you’re looking at 2025 tax brackets, a single filer reporting income of $100,500 would have a marginal tax rate of 22%. That represents the upper limit of what they’d pay in taxes but not what they would pay on their entire earnings (more on this below).
Note that marginal tax rates (and tax bracket income ranges) apply to all your taxable income for the year. Taxable income is any income you receive that is not specifically exempted from taxation by law, including:
• Wages (which are typically paid on an hourly basis)
• Salaries (which are typically paid in equal increments on a regular basis, such as biweekly)
• Tips
• Business income
• Royalties
• Fringe benefits
• Self-employment earnings
• Side hustle or gig work earnings
• Interest earned on savings accounts
• Earnings from the sale of virtual currencies
If you rent out a home you own, you’re also subject to taxes on investment property. It’s important to report all your income to the IRS, because negative consequences can follow if you don’t. Underreporting income is one of the biggest tax filing mistakes to avoid.
What Is an Effective Tax Rate?
Your effective tax rate is the percentage of tax owed on your taxable income for the year. It reflects the average tax rate you pay, based on how each layer of your income is taxed at different brackets. This concept may be confusing, especially if it’s the first time you are filing taxes.
It’s not unusual for your marginal tax rate and effective tax rate to differ. For example, a single filer with no dependents and a gross income of $100,500 (which is above the average salary in the U.S.) would have a 22% marginal tax rate for 2025.
But that would apply to the income that falls into the $48,476 to $103,350 bracket for their income. The first $48,475 would be taxed at a lower rate (the first $11,925 at 10%, and the amount between $11,926 and $48,475 at 12%). Their effective tax rate would be 16% after accounting for the standard deduction of $15,750 for a single filer. The standard deduction is a set amount you subtract from your taxable income, based on your filing status.
How to Reduce Taxes Owed
Landing in a lower tax bracket can help trim down what you owe. Here are a few strategies to reduce the amount of tax you have to pay.
• Claim credits. Tax credits reduce your taxes owed on a dollar-for-dollar basis. So if you owe $500 in taxes, you might use a $500 tax credit to cancel that out. Some of the most common tax credits include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and the Retirement Savers’ Credit.
• Use deductions. Deductions reduce your taxable income, which could automatically put you into a lower tax bracket. The IRS allows you to claim deductions for a variety of expenses, including student loan interest, interest on home equity loans or lines of credit if you use your loan for home improvement, traditional IRA contributions, and charitable donations.
• Check your withholding. Your withholding is the amount of money you tell your employer to hold back for taxes. If you always owe taxes, you may need to adjust your withholding to make sure you’re paying the right amount each year. “It’s a good idea to check your pay stubs periodically to ensure that the deductions being taken out are accurate and align with your financial goals,” says Brian Walsh, CFP® and Head of Advice & Planning at SoFi. “To make sure the appropriate amount of taxes are being withheld from each paycheck, you may also want to revisit your W-4 annually and make any adjustments as your circumstances change.”
• Defer compensation. This is another way to reduce taxes for the year. If you’re a freelancer, for example, you might hold off on invoicing clients in December and wait until January so you can carry that income over to the next year’s tax return.
If you’re preparing for tax season, talking to a financial advisor or tax professional can help you figure out the best approach to reduce what you owe, based on your situation.
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The Takeaway
Understanding how the federal tax brackets work can help you prepare your return with minimal stress. Taxes in the U.S. work on a progressive basis vs. a flat rate, and the more you earn, the more you typically pay. Knowing how the system operates and at what rate you are being taxed is an important part of managing your money and growing your wealth.
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FAQ
What are the 2025 federal income tax brackets?
The 2025 tax brackets assign seven tax rates based on your income and filing status. The tax rates for 2025 include 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, and the same levels are expected for 2026. The federal tax brackets for 2025 apply to returns filed in 2026. Your income plays a key role in determining at what percentage you are taxed.
What is the list of federal tax brackets?
The IRS maintains a list of tax rates and federal tax brackets for 2025, 2026 (both of which are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%), and beyond. If you know your taxable income for the year, you can estimate your marginal tax rate. You’ll need to calculate your taxes owed after deductions and credits to find your effective tax rate.
How do I know what tax bracket I am in?
Your income and filing status determine your tax bracket. Calculating your taxable income for the year can help you figure out which tax bracket you fall into.
How much federal tax should I pay on $50,000?
Assuming you’re a single filer with $50,000 in taxable income in 2025, you’d pay these tax rates: 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on $36,550, and 22% on the remaining $1,525. In total, your estimated federal tax due would be about $5,914.
How much federal tax would you pay on $100,000?
Assuming you’re a single filer with $100,000 in taxable income in 2025, you’d pay 10% on $11,925; 12% on $36,550 ($48,475 – $11,925); and 22% on $51,525 ($100,000 – $48,475). That would equal $16,914.
What tax bracket is $60,000 for married filing jointly?
Based on 2025 tax brackets, a married couple filing a joint return with $60,000 in taxable income would be in the 12% tax bracket, with the first $24,800 of their income taxed at 10%.
About the author
Rebecca Lake
Rebecca Lake has been a finance writer for nearly a decade, specializing in personal finance, investing, and small business. She is a contributor at Forbes Advisor, SmartAsset, Investopedia, The Balance, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates and CreditCards.com. Read full bio.
photo credit: TinaFields
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