Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2024 US federal income tax from taxable income and filing status.
Example
A single filer with $50,000 of taxable income pays 10% on the first $11,600 ($1,160), 12% on $11,600–$47,150 ($4,266), and 22% on the remaining $2,850 ($627) — about $6,053 in federal tax. That is a 12.1% effective rate, a 22% marginal rate, and roughly $43,947 after tax.
How it works
Enter your taxable income and pick a filing status; the tool applies the 2024 progressive federal brackets to compute tax, your effective and marginal rates, and after-tax income. Results update live.
Good to know
The Income Tax Calculator estimates your 2024 US federal income tax from a single figure — your taxable income — and your filing status (Single, Married filing jointly, or Head of Household). It runs the progressive 2024 bracket schedule and instantly returns four numbers: total estimated tax, your effective rate, your marginal rate, and your after-tax income. It is built for anyone doing back-of-the-envelope planning: checking whether a raise pushes you into a higher bracket, comparing filing statuses, or sanity-checking what a payroll tool or accountant told you.
Use it when you already know (or can estimate) your taxable income — that is gross income after the standard or itemized deduction and any above-the-line adjustments, not your salary. A common reason to reach for it is a "what if" question: enter your current taxable income, note the tax, then add the amount of a bonus or side income to see how much of that extra money is actually taxed at your top rate.
Reading the results: the effective rate (total tax divided by taxable income) is what you actually pay overall and will always be lower than the marginal rate, which is the rate on your last dollar. The on-screen bars show the split between tax and take-home so you can see the proportion at a glance. The marginal rate is the figure to watch for decisions about extra income, deductions, or retirement contributions, since those affect dollars at the top of your stack.
One important caveat: this covers federal ordinary-income tax only. It deliberately excludes state and local tax, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), tax credits, the Alternative Minimum Tax, and the lower rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. Because of credits and payroll taxes especially, your real tax bill or paycheck withholding can differ substantially — treat the output as an educational estimate, not a filing figure.
Frequently asked questions
What income should I enter?
Enter taxable income — your gross income after subtracting the standard or itemized deductions and any above-the-line adjustments. The tool applies brackets directly to that figure, so do not subtract deductions again.
Why is my marginal rate higher than my effective rate?
Brackets are progressive: only the income within each tier is taxed at that tier's rate. Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar, while the effective rate is total tax divided by income, which is always lower.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are educational estimates — consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.
People also ask
What are the 2024 federal income tax brackets?
For 2024 there are seven rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. The income thresholds for each rate differ by filing status, and the brackets are progressive, so each rate applies only to the income that falls within its tier.
How do I find my taxable income to enter here?
Taxable income is your total income minus above-the-line adjustments and then either the standard deduction or your itemized deductions. The 2024 standard deduction is $14,600 for single filers, $29,200 for married filing jointly, and $21,900 for head of household.
Does this calculator include Social Security and Medicare taxes?
No. It estimates only federal income tax. FICA taxes — 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage cap) and 1.45% for Medicare — are separate and are not included in the result.
Why does a raise sometimes feel like it barely increases my take-home pay?
Because additional income is taxed at your marginal rate, the highest bracket your income reaches, and it can also reduce credits or trigger other phase-outs. Only the portion of the raise within a higher bracket is taxed at that higher rate, not your entire income.
What is the difference between the effective rate and the marginal rate?
The effective rate is your total tax divided by your taxable income, reflecting your overall average. The marginal rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of income, so it equals the top bracket your income reaches and is always equal to or higher than the effective rate.
Does the standard deduction get subtracted automatically by this tool?
No. The calculator applies the brackets directly to whatever amount you enter, so you should subtract your deduction yourself first and enter taxable income. Entering gross income without removing deductions will overstate the tax.
Is the calculator accurate for state income tax?
No, it covers federal tax only and ignores state and local income taxes entirely. State rules vary widely, with some states having no income tax and others using their own brackets, so you would need a separate calculation for those.
How is tax on capital gains handled here?
It is not. The tool uses ordinary-income brackets, which do not apply to long-term capital gains or qualified dividends. Those are generally taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income, so this calculator can overstate tax on that kind of income.
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