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"page_snippet": "For example, if you're a single filer in 2023 with $35,000 of taxable income, you would be in the 12% tax bracket. If your taxable income went up by $1, you would pay 12% on that extra dollar, too.Example: If you had $50,000 of taxable income in 2023 as a single filer, you\u2019d pay 10% on that first $11,000 and 12% on the chunk of income between $11,001 and $44,725. And then you\u2019d pay 22% on the rest because some of your $50,000 of taxable income falls into the 22% tax bracket. For example, if you're a single filer in 2023 with $35,000 of taxable income, you would be in the 12% tax bracket. If your taxable income went up by $1, you would pay 12% on that extra dollar, too.",
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Register for a NerdWallet account to access simple tax filing for a $50 flat fee, powered by\u00a0
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2023-2024 Tax Brackets and Federal Income Tax Rates
There are seven federal income tax brackets for 2023 and 2024. Your tax rate is determined by your income and tax filing status.
Sabrina Parys is a content management specialist on the taxes and investing team at NerdWallet, where she manages and writes content on personal income taxes. Her previous experience includes five years as a copy editor and associate editor in academic and educational publishing. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.
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Tina Orem is an editor at NerdWallet. Prior to becoming an editor, she covered small business and taxes at NerdWallet. She has been a financial writer and editor for over 15 years, and she has a degree in finance, as well as a master's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration. Previously, she was a financial analyst and director of finance for several public and private companies. Tina's work has appeared in a variety of local and national media outlets.
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There are seven federal income tax rates and brackets in 2023 and 2024: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Taxable income and filing status determine which federal tax rates apply to you, and how much in taxes you'll owe that year.
These federal tax rates will remain the same until 2025 as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. However, the IRS can adjust income thresholds for each federal tax bracket each year to reflect inflation
Inflation adjustments can help prevent taxpayers from ending up in a higher tax bracket as their cost of living rises, a scenario called \u201cbracket creep.\u201d Tax bracket adjustments can also lower taxes for those whose compensation has not kept up with inflation.
2023 tax brackets and income tax rates
Federal income tax returns for the 2023 tax year are due by April 15, 2024, or October 15, 2024, with a tax extension.
Tax brackets 2023
Tax rate
Single filers
Married filing jointly
Married filing separately
Head of household
10%
$0 to $11,000
$0 to $22,000
$0 to $11,000
$0 to $15,700
12%
$11,001 to $44,725
$22,001 to $89,450
$11,001 to $44,725
$15,701 to $59,850
22%
$44,726 to $95,375
$89,451 to $190,750
$44,726 to $95,375
$59,851 to $95,350
24%
$95,376 to $182,100
$190,751 to $364,200
$95,376 to $182,100
$95,351 to $182,100
32%
$182,101 to $231,250
$364,201 to $462,500
$182,101 to $231,250
$182,101 to $231,250
35%
$231,251 to $578,125
$462,501 to $693,750
$231,251 to $346,875
$231,251 to $578,100
37%
$578,126 or more
$693,751 or more
$346,876 or more
$578,101 or more
2023 tax rates and brackets for each filing status
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2024 tax brackets and income tax rates
There are seven income tax rates in 2024, ranging from 10% to 37%. The tax brackets apply to income earned in 2024, which is reported on tax returns filed in 2025.
Tax brackets 2024
Tax Rate
Single
Married filing jointly
Married filing separately
Head of household
10%
$0 to $11,600
$0 to $23,200
$0 to $11,600
$0 to $16,550
12%
$11,601 to $47,150
$23,201 to $94,300
$11,601 to $47,150
$16,551 to $63,100
22%
$47,151 to $100,525
$94,301 to $201,050
$47,151 to $100,525
$63,101 to $100,500
24%
$100,526 to $191,950
$201,051 to $383,900
$100,526 to $191,950
$100,501 to $191,950
32%
$191,951 to $243,725
$383,901 to $487,450
$191,951 to $243,725
$191,951 to $243,700
35%
$243,726 to $609,350
$487,451 to $731,200
$243,726 to $365,600
$243,701 to $609,350
37%
$609,351 or more
$731,201 or more
$365,601 or more
$609,350 or more
2024 tax rates and brackets for each filing status
The U.S. has a progressive tax system. Broadly, this means that the government decides how much tax you owe by dividing your taxable income into chunks \u2014 also known as tax brackets \u2014 and each chunk gets taxed at the corresponding tax rate. The highest tax rate, the marginal rate, applies to only a portion of your income.
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The progressive tax system also means that people with higher taxable incomes are subject to higher federal income tax rates, and people with lower taxable incomes are subject to lower federal income tax rates. The beauty of tax brackets is that no matter which bracket you\u2019re in, you won\u2019t pay that tax rate on your entire income.
Example: If you had $50,000 of taxable income in 2023 as a single filer, you\u2019d pay 10% on that first $11,000 and 12% on the chunk of income between $11,001 and $44,725. And then you\u2019d pay 22% on the rest because some of your $50,000 of taxable income falls into the 22% tax bracket. The total bill would be about $6,300 \u2014 about 13% of your taxable income, even though you're in the 22% bracket. That 13% is your effective tax rate.
2. State income taxes may work differently than federal income taxes
States may handle taxes differently than the federal government. Your state might have different brackets, or it might altogether use a different system. Colorado, for example, levies a flat income tax rate of 4.4% on taxable income, and some states, such as Wyoming, don't levy a state income tax at all.
The marginal tax rate is the tax rate paid on your last dollar of taxable income. This typically equates to your highest tax bracket.
For example, if you're a single filer in 2023 with $35,000 of taxable income, you would be in the 12% tax bracket. If your taxable income went up by $1, you would pay 12% on that extra dollar, too.
If you had $45,000 of taxable income, however, most of it would still fall within the 12% bracket, but the last few hundred dollars would land in the 22% tax bracket. Your marginal tax rate would then be 22%.
What is an effective tax rate?
The percentage of your taxable income that you pay in taxes is called your effective tax rate. To determine your effective tax rate, divide your total tax owed (line 16) on Form 1040 by your total taxable income (line 15).
How to reduce taxes owed
Two common ways of reducing your tax bill are credits and deductions.
Tax credits can reduce your tax bill on a dollar-for-dollar basis; 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. Deductions can reduce your taxable income and could kick you to a lower bracket, which means you pay a lower tax rate.
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"page_name": "Tax Calculator | Return & Refund Estimator 2023-2024 - NerdWallet",
"page_url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/taxes/tax-calculator",
"page_snippet": "Estimate your 2023-2024 federal taxes with our free income tax calculator and refund estimator. Input your income, deductions, and credits to determine your potential bill or refund.The standard deduction is a flat reduction in your adjusted gross income, the amount determined by Congress and meant to keep up with inflation. Nearly 90% of filers take it, because it makes the tax-prep process quick and easy[0]",
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We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn\u2019t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we\u2019re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward \u2014 and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.
Simple tax filing with a $50 flat fee for every scenario
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Federal Income Tax Calculator and Refund Estimator 2023-2024
Estimate your tax refund or bill our federal income tax calculator. The estimator will project your 2023-2024 federal taxes based on your income, deductions and credits.
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With NerdWallet Taxes powered by Column Tax, registered NerdWallet members pay one fee, regardless of your tax situation. Plus, you'll get free support from tax experts. Sign up for access today.
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Our free tax calculator will help you estimate how much you might expect to either owe in federal taxes or receive as a tax refund when filing your 2023 tax return in 2024.
It uses the information you provide \u2014 such as your income, filing status, age, taxes withheld, and additional deductions or credits you plan to claim \u2014 to arrive at a rough estimate.
Here's an overview of how to fill out the fields in our tax calculator:
Tax filing status: Choose from one of the four tax filing statuses available (single, head of household, married filing separately, or married filing jointly). Your filing status helps to determine which deductions and credits you can claim.
Income: In this calculator field, enter your expected total household income before taxes. Include wages, tips, commission, income earned from interest, dividends, investments, rental income, retirement distributions, unemployment compensation and Social Security benefits.
Age: Enter the age you will be on Jan. 1, 2024. Your age can have an effect on certain tax rules or deductions. For example, people aged 65 or older get a higher standard deduction.
Dependents: Enter your number of dependents. Dependents can make you eligible for various tax breaks, such as the child tax credit, head of household filing status and other deductions or credits.
401(k) contributions: Enter any pre-tax contributions you made to a traditional 401(k) account. The maximum 401(k) contribution is $23,000 in 2024 ($30,500 for those age 50 or older). These contributions may reduce your taxable income.
Traditional IRA: Enter contributions made to a traditional IRA. The IRA contribution limit is $7,000 in 2024 ($8,000 if age 50 or older). You can make a 2023 contribution until the tax-filing deadline in 2024; the 2023 contribution limit was $6,500 ($7,500 for those age 50 or older). An important note: Contributing to a traditional IRA may not have any immediate tax benefits if your income exceeds a threshold set by the IRS and you or your spouse are also covered by a 401(k).
Withheld: Enter how much your employer has withheld on your behalf, or how much you have paid in estimated taxes. If you're unsure, estimate. You will still get insights into how much you may owe.
Deductions: In the upper-right-hand corner of the tool, select either \u201cstandard deduction\u201d or \u201citemized deductions.\u201d Most Americans claim the standard deduction, which we\u2019ve pre-filled. If you\u2019re not one of them, change that number to the sum of your itemized deductions.(But exclude the 401(k) and traditional IRA contributions you previously entered.)
Tax credits: Enter how much you expect to claim in tax credits on your return. Common tax credits include the child tax credit, the child and dependent care credit, the earned income credit, the EV credit, and the American opportunity credit.
Other deductions and deferrals: In this field, enter any other contributions made throughout the year not accounted for elsewhere. In this section, you can also check whether you are legally blind \u2014 and if filing jointly, you can enter your spouse\u2019s age if 65 or older as well as if they are legally blind. This can increase the standard deduction amount you\u2019re entitled to.
How this income tax calculator works
To estimate your taxable income, the calculator takes the gross income entered into the \u201cincome field\u201d and then subtracts applicable tax deductions and adjustments, such as 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and your standard or itemized deductions. This, among other factors, determines taxable income.
Then, we apply the appropriate tax bracket and rate(s) based on taxable income and filing status to calculate what amount in taxes the government expects you to pay.
Federal income taxes
The United States taxes income progressively. Generally speaking, this means that your income is divided into portions called tax brackets, and each portion is taxed at a specific tax rate. High earners pay more in taxes, as portions of their income are subject to higher tax rates.
The calculator also takes into account tax credits, which can further reduce your tax bill.
If you have a simple tax situation and have filled out your W-4 correctly, taxes already withheld from your paychecks might cover that bill for the year. Likewise, if you\u2019re a freelancer or a taxpayer who must pay estimated taxes, payments you made during the year might also cover your bill.
If it turns out that your tax withholding, payments, or any credits you qualify for did not cover your liability, you may need to pay the rest at tax time. If you\u2019ve paid too much, you\u2019ll get a tax refund.
The tax calculator\u2019s default assumptions
This tax refund and return estimator assumes:
A standard deduction, but you may change to itemized deductions in the \u201cdeductions\u201d section.
Tax credit amounts entered are assumed to be nonrefundable. Although a handful of credits can result in a refund of the overage, we do not account for this in our calculations.
The rules for whether a traditional IRA contribution is tax-deductible are complex, so this calculator assumes your IRA contributions are not tax-deductible if you already contribute to a 401(k).\u00a0
Numbers entered in the \u201cwithheld\u201d field include taxes withheld by your employer and/or any estimated taxes you have paid.
Remember that each person\u2019s tax liability is influenced by their financial situation, as well as a number of other factors that may not be accounted for in this calculator. Quality tax software or a professional, such as a tax preparer or a CPA, can help you answer any questions about your specific tax situation. Note that this calculator does not take into account state income taxes, another type of income tax you may have to account for when filing your tax return.
Key income tax definitions
Form W-4: IRS Form W-4 is a tax document that employees submit to their employer upon being hired. The information an employee supplies on their W-4 helps employers calculate payroll taxes and how much tax to withhold on the employee\u2019s paycheck throughout the year. The W-4, therefore, plays a central role in determining a person\u2019s tax liability. A W-4 can be adjusted and reviewed as needed throughout the year.
Income
Gross income: Gross income refers to the sum of all taxable income made by an individual throughout the year. Gross income can include wages, tips, income from investments, interest, or dividends, business earnings, retirement distributions, unemployment compensation and a certain percentage of Social Security benefits.
Adjusted gross income (AGI): Your adjusted gross income is your gross income minus certain adjustments known as \u201cabove-the-line deductions.\u201d These subtractions include eligible contributions made to a retirement account, such as a traditional 401(k), eligible contributions made to a health savings account, as well as any deductible student loan interest payments.\u00a0
Taxable income: Your taxable income is your AGI after the standard deduction or itemized deductions are applied. This is the number the IRS uses to determine your tax liability.\u00a0
Deductions: A tax deduction is a type of tax benefit that reduces taxable income by the deduction amount, thereby lowering the amount of income considered taxable. There are two categories of tax deductions: above-the-line and below-the-line.
Above-the-line deductions: Contributions to a retirement account, health savings account contributions or student loan interest payments are deductions or "adjustments" subtracted from your gross income to determine your adjusted gross income.\u00a0
Below-the-line deductions: Below-the-line deductions are subtracted from your AGI to arrive at taxable income. There are two types: the standard deduction or itemized deductions. The IRS allows you to take either one, but you cannot take both.
Standard deduction: The standard deduction is a flat reduction in adjusted gross income that most taxpayers qualify for. The exact amount you can reduce your AGI by is determined by your tax filing status, and certain people, such as those 65 or older, get a higher standard deduction. The standard deduction amounts are adjusted each year to keep up with the pace of inflation.
Itemized deductions:Itemized deductions are individual IRS-approved deductions that taxpayers can subtract from their AGI to lower their taxable income. Common examples of itemized deductions include qualified charitable contributions, the SALT deduction for property taxes, sales tax or state and local tax, and the mortgage interest deduction. Those who itemize do so because the value of their individual deductions exceeds the benefit of their allotted standard deduction.
Tax credit: A tax credit is a type of tax benefit that allows those who qualify for it to lower their tax bill by the value of the tax credit. Eligibility for tax credits can depend on income, tax-filing status, and other qualifications. Credits can be refundable, nonrefundable, or partially refundable.
Tax dependent: A tax dependent is a qualifying child or relative whose specific relationship to the taxpayer allows them to be claimed on that person's tax return. The IRS has several rules that can help taxpayers determine whether someone is a dependent.
Tax filing status: The IRS recognizes five different types of tax-filing statuses that people can use to fill out their tax forms and file their tax returns: single, head of household, qualified widow/er, married filing jointly, and married filing separately. Choosing the right status is important because it can have an impact on tax liability, which credits and deductions can be used, and other tax considerations.
Tax withholding: Tax withholding is a term used to describe the various taxes that are taken out of an employee's paycheck. How much federal and state tax an employer withholds largely depends on earnings and how the Form W-4 is filled out. If too little is withheld, this could result in a tax bill. If too much is withheld, this could result in a tax refund.
Tax rates and brackets: There are seven federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Your taxable income and filing status determine which tax brackets and rates apply to you.
Marginal tax rate: The marginal tax rate is the tax rate paid on your highest dollar of taxable income. This typically equates to your top tax bracket.
Effective tax rate: Effective tax rate refers to the percentage of your income that you pay in taxes.
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Frequently asked questions about how taxes are calculated
When should I itemize deductions vs. taking the standard deduction?
Deciding how to take your deductions \u2014 that is, how much to subtract from your adjusted gross income, thus reducing your taxable income \u2014 can make a huge difference in your tax bill. But making that decision isn\u2019t always easy.
The standard deduction is a flat reduction in your adjusted gross income, the amount determined by Congress and meant to keep up with inflation. Nearly 90% of filers take it, because it makes the tax-prep process quick and easy
. People 65 or older are eligible for a higher standard deduction. Here are the standard deduction amounts for the 2023 tax year.
Filing status
2023 standard deduction
Single
$13,850.
Married, filing separately
$13,850.
Married, filing jointly; qualified widow/er
$27,700.
Head of household
$20,800.
People who itemize tend to do so because their deductions add up to more than the standard deduction, saving them money. The IRS allows you to deduct a litany of expenses from your income, but record-keeping is key \u2014 you need to be able to prove, usually with receipts, that the expenses you\u2019re deducting are valid. This means effort, but it might also mean savings.
How do deductions and credits work?
Both reduce your tax bill but in different ways. Tax credits directly reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar for dollar. A tax credit valued at $1,000, for instance, lowers your tax bill by $1,000.
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. For example, if you fall into the 25% tax bracket, a $1,000 deduction saves you $250.
Don\u2019t get too excited\u2014 this could be a sign that you\u2019re having too much tax withheld from your paycheck and living on less of your earnings all year. You can use Form W-4 to reduce your withholding easily now so you don\u2019t have to wait for the government to give you your money back later.
Oh no! I can\u2019t pay this estimated tax bill! What do I do?
\n Taxable income typically includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and tips, but can be complex as the IRS classifies other types of earnings as taxable income as well. Learn more about determining your taxable income\n
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\n The marginal tax rate is the tax you pay on each additional dollar of your income. The federal marginal tax rate increases as income increases, and is based on the progressive tax method used in the United States. Use our tax percentage calculator to find yours.\n
\n Lowering your tax bracket involves reducing your taxable income. You can do this by contributing more to retirement accounts like a 401(k) or a traditional IRA (a Roth IRA doesn\u2019t affect your taxable income) and taking advantage of deductions for homeowners, combined with charitable contributions. Always make financial decisions with your overall financial health in mind, not just tax considerations. Learn more about income tax rates and use the federal income tax rate calculator to find yours.\n
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\n Moving up in a tax bracket means your income has increased, but it doesn't mean all your income is taxed at the higher rate. In the U.S., we have a progressive tax system, so different parts of your income are taxed at different rates. Only the income in the higher bracket is taxed at that rate. The rest is taxed at the lower rates. So, a higher tax bracket doesn't mean a higher rate on all your income. See the current federal income tax brackets.\n
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\n Federal tax brackets change yearly due to inflation adjustments, a process known as \"indexing for inflation.\" This prevents \"bracket creep,\" where inflation, not real income increase, pushes people into higher tax brackets or reduces the value of credits or deductions. These adjustments ensure income isn't taxed more heavily from one year to the next due to inflation. Learn more about federal tax brackets.\n
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\n Yes, state and federal tax brackets differ. Federal brackets are set by the IRS for all U.S. taxpayers, while each state sets its own brackets. Some states have a progressive system like the federal one, other states tax all income at the same rate, and some states have no income tax. Understanding both federal and state tax brackets is key when planning for taxes. Learn which states have the highest and lowest tax rates.\n
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\n Tax brackets are updated annually by the IRS. This is done to account for inflation and is known as \"indexing for inflation.\" It helps ensure that you're not pushed into a higher tax bracket or lose the value of credits or deductions due to inflation rather than an actual increase in income. So, you can expect to see slight adjustments to the tax brackets each year. \n
\n The federal income tax system is progressive, which means different tax rates apply to different portions of your total income. \u201cTax bracket\u201d refers to the highest tax rate charged on your income.\r\n\r\n
\n Tax tables like the one above show the federal tax brackets to help you understand the amount of tax you owe based on your filing status, income, and deductions and credits.
\n Income comes in various forms, including wages, salaries, interest, tips and commissions. Nontaxable income won\u2019t be taxed, whether or not it is entered on your tax return.
\n Taxable income typically includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and tips, but can be complex as the IRS classifies other types of earnings as taxable income as well. Learn more about determining your taxable income\n
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\n The marginal tax rate is the tax you pay on each additional dollar of your income. The federal marginal tax rate increases as income increases, and is based on the progressive tax method used in the United States. Use our tax percentage calculator to find yours.\n
\n Lowering your tax bracket involves reducing your taxable income. You can do this by contributing more to retirement accounts like a 401(k) or a traditional IRA (a Roth IRA doesn\u2019t affect your taxable income) and taking advantage of deductions for homeowners, combined with charitable contributions. Always make financial decisions with your overall financial health in mind, not just tax considerations. Learn more about income tax rates and use the federal income tax rate calculator to find yours.\n
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\n Moving up in a tax bracket means your income has increased, but it doesn't mean all your income is taxed at the higher rate. In the U.S., we have a progressive tax system, so different parts of your income are taxed at different rates. Only the income in the higher bracket is taxed at that rate. The rest is taxed at the lower rates. So, a higher tax bracket doesn't mean a higher rate on all your income. See the current federal income tax brackets.\n
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\n Federal tax brackets change yearly due to inflation adjustments, a process known as \"indexing for inflation.\" This prevents \"bracket creep,\" where inflation, not real income increase, pushes people into higher tax brackets or reduces the value of credits or deductions. These adjustments ensure income isn't taxed more heavily from one year to the next due to inflation. Learn more about federal tax brackets.\n
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\n Yes, state and federal tax brackets differ. Federal brackets are set by the IRS for all U.S. taxpayers, while each state sets its own brackets. Some states have a progressive system like the federal one, other states tax all income at the same rate, and some states have no income tax. Understanding both federal and state tax brackets is key when planning for taxes. Learn which states have the highest and lowest tax rates.\n
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\n Tax brackets are updated annually by the IRS. This is done to account for inflation and is known as \"indexing for inflation.\" It helps ensure that you're not pushed into a higher tax bracket or lose the value of credits or deductions due to inflation rather than an actual increase in income. So, you can expect to see slight adjustments to the tax brackets each year. \n
\n The federal income tax system is progressive, which means different tax rates apply to different portions of your total income. \u201cTax bracket\u201d refers to the highest tax rate charged on your income.\r\n\r\n
\n Tax tables like the one above show the federal tax brackets to help you understand the amount of tax you owe based on your filing status, income, and deductions and credits.
\n Income comes in various forms, including wages, salaries, interest, tips and commissions. Nontaxable income won\u2019t be taxed, whether or not it is entered on your tax return.
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"page_name": "Tax Calculator | Return & Refund Estimator 2023-2024 - NerdWallet",
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"page_snippet": "Estimate your 2023-2024 federal taxes with our free income tax calculator and refund estimator. Input your income, deductions, and credits to determine your potential bill or refund.The standard deduction is a flat reduction in your adjusted gross income, the amount determined by Congress and meant to keep up with inflation. Nearly 90% of filers take it, because it makes the tax-prep process quick and easy[0]",
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Federal Income Tax Calculator and Refund Estimator 2023-2024
Estimate your tax refund or bill our federal income tax calculator. The estimator will project your 2023-2024 federal taxes based on your income, deductions and credits.
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Our free tax calculator will help you estimate how much you might expect to either owe in federal taxes or receive as a tax refund when filing your 2023 tax return in 2024.
It uses the information you provide \u2014 such as your income, filing status, age, taxes withheld, and additional deductions or credits you plan to claim \u2014 to arrive at a rough estimate.
Here's an overview of how to fill out the fields in our tax calculator:
Tax filing status: Choose from one of the four tax filing statuses available (single, head of household, married filing separately, or married filing jointly). Your filing status helps to determine which deductions and credits you can claim.
Income: In this calculator field, enter your expected total household income before taxes. Include wages, tips, commission, income earned from interest, dividends, investments, rental income, retirement distributions, unemployment compensation and Social Security benefits.
Age: Enter the age you will be on Jan. 1, 2024. Your age can have an effect on certain tax rules or deductions. For example, people aged 65 or older get a higher standard deduction.
Dependents: Enter your number of dependents. Dependents can make you eligible for various tax breaks, such as the child tax credit, head of household filing status and other deductions or credits.
401(k) contributions: Enter any pre-tax contributions you made to a traditional 401(k) account. The maximum 401(k) contribution is $23,000 in 2024 ($30,500 for those age 50 or older). These contributions may reduce your taxable income.
Traditional IRA: Enter contributions made to a traditional IRA. The IRA contribution limit is $7,000 in 2024 ($8,000 if age 50 or older). You can make a 2023 contribution until the tax-filing deadline in 2024; the 2023 contribution limit was $6,500 ($7,500 for those age 50 or older). An important note: Contributing to a traditional IRA may not have any immediate tax benefits if your income exceeds a threshold set by the IRS and you or your spouse are also covered by a 401(k).
Withheld: Enter how much your employer has withheld on your behalf, or how much you have paid in estimated taxes. If you're unsure, estimate. You will still get insights into how much you may owe.
Deductions: In the upper-right-hand corner of the tool, select either \u201cstandard deduction\u201d or \u201citemized deductions.\u201d Most Americans claim the standard deduction, which we\u2019ve pre-filled. If you\u2019re not one of them, change that number to the sum of your itemized deductions.(But exclude the 401(k) and traditional IRA contributions you previously entered.)
Tax credits: Enter how much you expect to claim in tax credits on your return. Common tax credits include the child tax credit, the child and dependent care credit, the earned income credit, the EV credit, and the American opportunity credit.
Other deductions and deferrals: In this field, enter any other contributions made throughout the year not accounted for elsewhere. In this section, you can also check whether you are legally blind \u2014 and if filing jointly, you can enter your spouse\u2019s age if 65 or older as well as if they are legally blind. This can increase the standard deduction amount you\u2019re entitled to.
How this income tax calculator works
To estimate your taxable income, the calculator takes the gross income entered into the \u201cincome field\u201d and then subtracts applicable tax deductions and adjustments, such as 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and your standard or itemized deductions. This, among other factors, determines taxable income.
Then, we apply the appropriate tax bracket and rate(s) based on taxable income and filing status to calculate what amount in taxes the government expects you to pay.
Federal income taxes
The United States taxes income progressively. Generally speaking, this means that your income is divided into portions called tax brackets, and each portion is taxed at a specific tax rate. High earners pay more in taxes, as portions of their income are subject to higher tax rates.
The calculator also takes into account tax credits, which can further reduce your tax bill.
If you have a simple tax situation and have filled out your W-4 correctly, taxes already withheld from your paychecks might cover that bill for the year. Likewise, if you\u2019re a freelancer or a taxpayer who must pay estimated taxes, payments you made during the year might also cover your bill.
If it turns out that your tax withholding, payments, or any credits you qualify for did not cover your liability, you may need to pay the rest at tax time. If you\u2019ve paid too much, you\u2019ll get a tax refund.
The tax calculator\u2019s default assumptions
This tax refund and return estimator assumes:
A standard deduction, but you may change to itemized deductions in the \u201cdeductions\u201d section.
Tax credit amounts entered are assumed to be nonrefundable. Although a handful of credits can result in a refund of the overage, we do not account for this in our calculations.
The rules for whether a traditional IRA contribution is tax-deductible are complex, so this calculator assumes your IRA contributions are not tax-deductible if you already contribute to a 401(k).\u00a0
Numbers entered in the \u201cwithheld\u201d field include taxes withheld by your employer and/or any estimated taxes you have paid.
Remember that each person\u2019s tax liability is influenced by their financial situation, as well as a number of other factors that may not be accounted for in this calculator. Quality tax software or a professional, such as a tax preparer or a CPA, can help you answer any questions about your specific tax situation. Note that this calculator does not take into account state income taxes, another type of income tax you may have to account for when filing your tax return.
Key income tax definitions
Form W-4: IRS Form W-4 is a tax document that employees submit to their employer upon being hired. The information an employee supplies on their W-4 helps employers calculate payroll taxes and how much tax to withhold on the employee\u2019s paycheck throughout the year. The W-4, therefore, plays a central role in determining a person\u2019s tax liability. A W-4 can be adjusted and reviewed as needed throughout the year.
Income
Gross income: Gross income refers to the sum of all taxable income made by an individual throughout the year. Gross income can include wages, tips, income from investments, interest, or dividends, business earnings, retirement distributions, unemployment compensation and a certain percentage of Social Security benefits.
Adjusted gross income (AGI): Your adjusted gross income is your gross income minus certain adjustments known as \u201cabove-the-line deductions.\u201d These subtractions include eligible contributions made to a retirement account, such as a traditional 401(k), eligible contributions made to a health savings account, as well as any deductible student loan interest payments.\u00a0
Taxable income: Your taxable income is your AGI after the standard deduction or itemized deductions are applied. This is the number the IRS uses to determine your tax liability.\u00a0
Deductions: A tax deduction is a type of tax benefit that reduces taxable income by the deduction amount, thereby lowering the amount of income considered taxable. There are two categories of tax deductions: above-the-line and below-the-line.
Above-the-line deductions: Contributions to a retirement account, health savings account contributions or student loan interest payments are deductions or "adjustments" subtracted from your gross income to determine your adjusted gross income.\u00a0
Below-the-line deductions: Below-the-line deductions are subtracted from your AGI to arrive at taxable income. There are two types: the standard deduction or itemized deductions. The IRS allows you to take either one, but you cannot take both.
Standard deduction: The standard deduction is a flat reduction in adjusted gross income that most taxpayers qualify for. The exact amount you can reduce your AGI by is determined by your tax filing status, and certain people, such as those 65 or older, get a higher standard deduction. The standard deduction amounts are adjusted each year to keep up with the pace of inflation.
Itemized deductions:Itemized deductions are individual IRS-approved deductions that taxpayers can subtract from their AGI to lower their taxable income. Common examples of itemized deductions include qualified charitable contributions, the SALT deduction for property taxes, sales tax or state and local tax, and the mortgage interest deduction. Those who itemize do so because the value of their individual deductions exceeds the benefit of their allotted standard deduction.
Tax credit: A tax credit is a type of tax benefit that allows those who qualify for it to lower their tax bill by the value of the tax credit. Eligibility for tax credits can depend on income, tax-filing status, and other qualifications. Credits can be refundable, nonrefundable, or partially refundable.
Tax dependent: A tax dependent is a qualifying child or relative whose specific relationship to the taxpayer allows them to be claimed on that person's tax return. The IRS has several rules that can help taxpayers determine whether someone is a dependent.
Tax filing status: The IRS recognizes five different types of tax-filing statuses that people can use to fill out their tax forms and file their tax returns: single, head of household, qualified widow/er, married filing jointly, and married filing separately. Choosing the right status is important because it can have an impact on tax liability, which credits and deductions can be used, and other tax considerations.
Tax withholding: Tax withholding is a term used to describe the various taxes that are taken out of an employee's paycheck. How much federal and state tax an employer withholds largely depends on earnings and how the Form W-4 is filled out. If too little is withheld, this could result in a tax bill. If too much is withheld, this could result in a tax refund.
Tax rates and brackets: There are seven federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Your taxable income and filing status determine which tax brackets and rates apply to you.
Marginal tax rate: The marginal tax rate is the tax rate paid on your highest dollar of taxable income. This typically equates to your top tax bracket.
Effective tax rate: Effective tax rate refers to the percentage of your income that you pay in taxes.
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Frequently asked questions about how taxes are calculated
When should I itemize deductions vs. taking the standard deduction?
Deciding how to take your deductions \u2014 that is, how much to subtract from your adjusted gross income, thus reducing your taxable income \u2014 can make a huge difference in your tax bill. But making that decision isn\u2019t always easy.
The standard deduction is a flat reduction in your adjusted gross income, the amount determined by Congress and meant to keep up with inflation. Nearly 90% of filers take it, because it makes the tax-prep process quick and easy
. People 65 or older are eligible for a higher standard deduction. Here are the standard deduction amounts for the 2023 tax year.
Filing status
2023 standard deduction
Single
$13,850.
Married, filing separately
$13,850.
Married, filing jointly; qualified widow/er
$27,700.
Head of household
$20,800.
People who itemize tend to do so because their deductions add up to more than the standard deduction, saving them money. The IRS allows you to deduct a litany of expenses from your income, but record-keeping is key \u2014 you need to be able to prove, usually with receipts, that the expenses you\u2019re deducting are valid. This means effort, but it might also mean savings.
How do deductions and credits work?
Both reduce your tax bill but in different ways. Tax credits directly reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar for dollar. A tax credit valued at $1,000, for instance, lowers your tax bill by $1,000.
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. For example, if you fall into the 25% tax bracket, a $1,000 deduction saves you $250.
Don\u2019t get too excited\u2014 this could be a sign that you\u2019re having too much tax withheld from your paycheck and living on less of your earnings all year. You can use Form W-4 to reduce your withholding easily now so you don\u2019t have to wait for the government to give you your money back later.
Oh no! I can\u2019t pay this estimated tax bill! What do I do?