The United States has a progressive tax system, meaning people with higher incomes pay higher tax rates. The tax code splits taxpayers across seven federal tax brackets.
Here are the tax brackets and rates that apply to the 2017 tax year and relate to the tax return you’ll file by April 17, 2018.
2017 Federal Income Tax Brackets
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $9,325 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $9,326 to $37,950 | $932.50 plus 15% of the amount over $9,325 |
| 25% | $37,951 to $91,900 | $5,226.25 plus 25% of the amount over $37,950 |
| 28% | $91,901 to $191,650 | $18,713.75 plus 28% of the amount over $91,900 |
| 33% | $191,651 to $416,700 | $46,643.75 plus 33% of the amount over $191,650 |
| 35% | $416,701 to $418,400 | $120,910.25 plus 35% of the amount over $416,700 |
| 39.6% | $418,401 or more | $121,505.25 plus 39.6% of the amount over $418,400 |
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $18,650 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $18,651 to $75,900 | $1,865.00 plus 15% of the amount over $18,650 |
| 25% | $75,901 to $153,100 | $10,452.50 plus 25% of the amount over $75,900 |
| 28% | $153,101 to $233,350 | $29,752.50 plus 28% of the amount over $153,100 |
| 33% | $233,351 to $416,700 | $52,222.50 plus 33% of the amount over $233,350 |
| 35% | $416,701 to $470,700 | $112,728.00 plus 35% of the amount over $416,700 |
| 39.6% | $470,701 or more | $131,628.00 plus 39.6% of the amount over $470,700 |
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $9,325 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $9,326 to $37,950 | $932.50 plus 15% of the amount over $9,325 |
| 25% | $37,951 to $76,550 | $5,226.25 plus 25% of the amount over $37,950 |
| 28% | $76,551 to $116,675 | $14,876.25 plus 28% of the amount over $76,550 |
| 33% | $116,676 to $208,350 | $26,111.25 plus 33% of the amount over $116,675 |
| 35% | $208,351 to $235,350 | $56,364.00 plus 35% of the amount over $208,350 |
| 39.6% | $235,351 or more | $65,814.00 plus 39.6% of the amount over $235,350 |
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $13,350 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $13,351 to $50,800 | $1,335.00 plus 15% of the amount over $13,350 |
| 25% | $50,801 to $131,200 | $6,952.50 plus 25% of the amount over $50,800 |
| 28% | $131,201 to $212,500 | $27,052.50 plus 28% of the amount over $131,200 |
| 33% | $212,501 to $416,700 | $49,816.50 plus 33% of the amount over $212,500 |
| 35% | $416,701 to $444,550 | $117,202.50 plus 35% of the amount over $416,700 |
| 39.6% | $444,551 or more | $126,950.00 plus 39.6% of the amount over $444,550 |
Looking for the 2018 tax brackets? Those rates won't affect the return you file this year, but you can dig into the changes with our full breakdown of the new tax law.
2017 Federal Income Tax Brackets
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $9,325 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $9,326 to $37,950 | $932.50 plus 15% of the amount over $9,325 |
| 25% | $37,951 to $91,900 | $5,226.25 plus 25% of the amount over $37,950 |
| 28% | $91,901 to $191,650 | $18,713.75 plus 28% of the amount over $91,900 |
| 33% | $191,651 to $416,700 | $46,643.75 plus 33% of the amount over $191,650 |
| 35% | $416,701 to $418,400 | $120,910.25 plus 35% of the amount over $416,700 |
| 39.6% | $418,401 or more | $121,505.25 plus 39.6% of the amount over $418,400 |
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $18,650 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $18,651 to $75,900 | $1,865.00 plus 15% of the amount over $18,650 |
| 25% | $75,901 to $153,100 | $10,452.50 plus 25% of the amount over $75,900 |
| 28% | $153,101 to $233,350 | $29,752.50 plus 28% of the amount over $153,100 |
| 33% | $233,351 to $416,700 | $52,222.50 plus 33% of the amount over $233,350 |
| 35% | $416,701 to $470,700 | $112,728.00 plus 35% of the amount over $416,700 |
| 39.6% | $470,701 or more | $131,628.00 plus 39.6% of the amount over $470,700 |
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $9,325 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $9,326 to $37,950 | $932.50 plus 15% of the amount over $9,325 |
| 25% | $37,951 to $76,550 | $5,226.25 plus 25% of the amount over $37,950 |
| 28% | $76,551 to $116,675 | $14,876.25 plus 28% of the amount over $76,550 |
| 33% | $116,676 to $208,350 | $26,111.25 plus 33% of the amount over $116,675 |
| 35% | $208,351 to $235,350 | $56,364.00 plus 35% of the amount over $208,350 |
| 39.6% | $235,351 or more | $65,814.00 plus 39.6% of the amount over $235,350 |
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $13,350 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $13,351 to $50,800 | $1,335.00 plus 15% of the amount over $13,350 |
| 25% | $50,801 to $131,200 | $6,952.50 plus 25% of the amount over $50,800 |
| 28% | $131,201 to $212,500 | $27,052.50 plus 28% of the amount over $131,200 |
| 33% | $212,501 to $416,700 | $49,816.50 plus 33% of the amount over $212,500 |
| 35% | $416,701 to $444,550 | $117,202.50 plus 35% of the amount over $416,700 |
| 39.6% | $444,551 or more | $126,950.00 plus 39.6% of the amount over $444,550 |
Looking for the 2018 tax brackets? Those rates won't affect the return you file this year, but you can dig into the changes with our full breakdown of the new tax law.
2017 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Expand the filing status that applies to you.Looking for the 2018 tax brackets? Those rates won't affect the return you file this year, but you can dig into the changes with our full breakdown of the new tax law.
How tax brackets work
Being in the 25% tax bracket doesn’t mean you pay 25% on everything you make. The progressive tax system means that people with higher taxable incomes are subject to higher tax rates, and people with lower taxable incomes are subject to lower tax rates.
The government decides how much tax you owe by dividing your taxable income into chunks — also known as tax brackets — and each chunk gets taxed at the corresponding rate. The beauty of this is that no matter which bracket you’re in, you won’t pay that rate on your entire income.
Being in the 25% tax bracket doesn’t mean you pay 25% on everything you make.
For example, let’s say you’re a single filer with $32,000 in taxable income. That puts you in the 15% tax bracket in 2017. But do you pay 15% on all $32,000? No. Actually, you pay only 10% on the first $9,325; you pay 15% on the rest. (Look at the tax brackets above to see the breakout.)
If you had $50,000 of taxable income, you’d pay 10% on that first $9,325 and 15% on the chunk of income between $9,326 and $37,950. And then you’d pay 25% on the rest, because some of your $50,000 of taxable income falls into the 25% tax bracket. The total bill would be about $8,200 — about 16% of your taxable income, even though you’re in the 25% bracket.
Now, this is the deal only for federal income taxes; your state might have different brackets, a flat income tax or even no income tax at all.
How to get into a lower tax bracket
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. Deductions lower your taxable income by the percentage of your highest federal income tax bracket. So if you fall into the 25% tax bracket, a $1,000 deduction saves you $250.
In other words: Maximize your tax deductions — they can reduce your taxable income and could kick you to a lower bracket.
Next steps
If you’re ready to file, we can help you choose tax software and find the fastest way to get your refund. You can also use our federal tax calculator to estimate where your income and potential refund falls.
In the longer term, taking steps to reduce your taxable income can go hand in hand with saving for retirement and estate planning to leave more for your heirs.
Past years' brackets
Curious how federal income tax brackets and rates have changed over the years? Take a look back.Tax tools
