This article contains the latest information on federal income tax brackets for the years 2020 and 2021. Also known as tax tables or rate schedules, this information can be used to figure out the incremental federal taxes owed on each additional dollar of income.
For example, individuals in the 24% tax bracket owe $0.24 in federal income taxes for each dollar of incremental income. Later in this article, we'll provide an example demonstrating how these tables are used.
Income Tax Rates in 2020 and 2021
For the years 2003 through 2012, there were a total of six federal income tax brackets. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 added a seventh bracket (39.6%) in 2013. The remaining six rates were unchanged at 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%. Starting in 2018, there remains seven tax brackets, with the new values of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. As the tables below demonstrate, income taxes in the United States are progressive; as income increases, the rate of tax increases too.
We offer an income tax calculator that can be used to estimate taxes owed for the years 2017 through 2021. To calculate the actual tax due, it's necessary to use the appropriate 1040 tax form.
2021 Income Tax Rates
The tables that follow provide the 2021 income tax brackets.
Unmarried Individuals - Rate Schedule X (2021)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $9,950 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
9,950 | 40,525 | 995.00 + 12% | 9,950 |
40,525 | 86,375 | 4,664.00 + 22% | 40,525 |
86,375 | 164,925 | 14,751.00 + 24% | 86,375 |
164,925 | 209,425 | 33,603.00 + 32% | 164,925 |
209,425 | 523,600 | 47,843.00 + 35% | 209,425 |
523,600 | - | 157,804.00 + 37% | 523,600 |
Married Filing Jointly or Surviving Spouses - Rate Schedule Y-1 (2021)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $19,900 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
19,900 | 81,050 | 1,990.00 + 12% | 19,900 |
81,050 | 172,750 | 9,328.00 + 22% | 81,050 |
172,750 | 329,850 | 29,502.00 + 24% | 172,750 |
329,850 | 418,850 | 67,206.00 + 32% | 329,850 |
418,850 | 628,300 | 95,686.00 + 35% | 418,850 |
628,300 | - | 168,993.50+ 37% | 628,300 |
Married Filing Separately - Rate Schedule Y-2 (2021)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $9,950 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
9,950 | 40,525 | 995.00 + 12% | 9,950 |
40,525 | 86,375 | 4,664.00 + 22% | 40,525 |
86,375 | 164,925 | 14,751.00 + 24% | 86,375 |
164,925 | 209,425 | 33,603.00 + 32% | 164,925 |
209,425 | 314,150 | 47,843.00 + 35% | 209,425 |
314,150 | - | 84,496.75 + 37% | 314,150 |
Head of Household - Rate Schedule Z (2021)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $14,200 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
14,200 | 54,200 | 1,420.00 + 12% | 14,200 |
54,200 | 86,350 | 6,220.00 + 22% | 54,200 |
86,350 | 164,900 | 13,293.00 + 24% | 86,350 |
164,900 | 209,400 | 32,145.00 + 32% | 164,900 |
209,400 | 523,600 | 46,385.00 + 35% | 209,400 |
523,600 | - | 156,355.00 + 37% | 523,600 |
2020 Income Tax Rates
The tables that follow provide the 2020 income tax brackets.
Unmarried Individuals - Rate Schedule X (2020)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $9,875 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
9,875 | 40,125 | 987.50 + 12% | 9,875 |
40,125 | 85,525 | 4,617.50 + 22% | 40,125 |
85,525 | 163,300 | 14,605.50 + 24% | 85,525 |
163,300 | 207,350 | 33,271.50 + 32% | 163,300 |
207,350 | 518,400 | 47,367.50 + 35% | 207,350 |
518,400 | - | 156,235.00 + 37% | 518,400 |
Married Filing Jointly or Surviving Spouses - Rate Schedule Y-1 (2020)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $19,750 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
19,750 | 80,205 | 1,975.00 + 12% | 19,750 |
80,205 | 171,050 | 9,235.00 + 22% | 80,250 |
171,050 | 326,600 | 29,211.00 + 24% | 171,050 |
326,600 | 414,700 | 66,543.00 + 32% | 326,600 |
414,700 | 622,050 | 94,735.00 + 35% | 414,700 |
622,050 | - | 167,307.50 + 37% | 622,050 |
Married Filing Separately - Rate Schedule Y-2 (2020)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $9,875 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
9,875 | 40,125 | 987.50 + 12% | 9,875 |
40,125 | 85,525 | 4,605.50 + 22% | 40,125 |
85,525 | 163,300 | 14,605.50 + 24% | 85,525 |
163,300 | 207,350 | 33,271.50 + 32% | 163,300 |
207,350 | 311,025 | 47,367.50 + 35% | 207,350 |
311,025 | - | 83,653.75 + 37% | 311,025 |
Head of Household - Rate Schedule Z (2020)
Taxable income is over - | But not over - | The tax is: | Of the amount over - |
$0 | $14,100 | $0 + 10% | $0 |
14,100 | 53,700 | 1,410.00 + 12% | 14,100 |
53,700 | 85,500 | 6,162.00 + 22% | 53,700 |
85,500 | 163,300 | 13,158.00 + 24% | 85,500 |
163,300 | 207,300 | 31,830.00 + 32% | 163,300 |
207,350 | 518,400 | 45,926.00 + 35% | 207,350 |
518,400 | - | 154,793.50 + 37% | 518,400 |
Example Calculation of Taxes Owed
Finally, we are going to provide an example demonstrating how to use these tax rate schedules to calculate federal income taxes owed. In this example, let's assume the individual's tax filing status is Unmarried, and taxable income is $100,000 in 2021.
Looking at the above tables we see that $100,000 for Unmarried Individuals means it's necessary to use Rate Schedule X. This individual falls into the 24% tax bracket because $100,000 is between $86,375 and $164,925. Using the 24% row in the above table, it's possible to calculate the federal income taxes owed as follows:
$14,751.00 + 24% x ($100,000 - $86,375)
$14,751.00 + 0.24 x $13,625
$14,751.00 + $3,270.00 = $18,021.00
In this example, a Single filer with $100,000 of taxable income in 2021 would owe $18,021.00 in federal income taxes.
Additional Resources
- This article provides a brief overview of the most common federal income tax forms individuals will use when completing a tax return. This includes the three versions of Form 1040, as well as Schedules A and B.
Moneyzine EditorDecember 5th, 2023 - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a wealth of information when it comes to federal income tax forms. To help round out this section of this website, we've taken some of the most common income tax forms and grouped them together by topic in this article.Moneyzine EditorOctober 4th, 2023
In casual conversation, the term tax return is used rather loosely for two related, but entirely different topics. Sometimes the term is used when talking about filling out an income tax form. The same term is also used when talking about a refund.Moneyzine EditorNovember 21st, 2023
