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 directly reduce the amount of tax you owe; 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.
Single Filer
| 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 |
Married Filing Jointly
| Tax Rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax 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 |
Married Filing Separately
| 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 $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 |
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 |