US Income Tax Calculator 2024
Estimate your 2024 US federal income tax by filing status with a full bracket-by-bracket breakdown. See your effective tax rate, marginal rate, and monthly take-home pay — plus a plain-English guide to how the progressive tax system works.
Federal Tax Breakdown
Tax by Bracket
How the US Federal Income Tax System Works
The United States uses a progressive marginal tax system. This means your income is divided into brackets, and each portion is taxed at a progressively higher rate. Critically — and this is the most common misconception — moving into a higher bracket does not mean all of your income is taxed at that higher rate. Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate.
2024 Federal Tax Brackets
For the 2024 tax year, here are the seven federal income tax brackets:
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,600 | $0 – $23,200 | $0 – $16,550 |
| 12% | $11,601 – $47,150 | $23,201 – $94,300 | $16,551 – $63,100 |
| 22% | $47,151 – $100,525 | $94,301 – $201,050 | $63,101 – $100,500 |
| 24% | $100,526 – $191,950 | $201,051 – $383,900 | $100,501 – $191,950 |
| 32% | $191,951 – $243,725 | $383,901 – $487,450 | $191,951 – $243,700 |
| 35% | $243,726 – $609,350 | $487,451 – $731,200 | $243,701 – $609,350 |
| 37% | Over $609,350 | Over $731,200 | Over $609,350 |
Worked Example: $75,000 Single Filer
Gross income: $75,000. Standard deduction (single, 2024): $14,600. Taxable income: $75,000 − $14,600 = $60,400.
- 10% on first $11,600 = $1,160
- 12% on next $35,550 ($11,601–$47,150) = $4,266
- 22% on remaining $13,250 ($47,151–$60,400) = $2,915
- Total federal tax: $8,341
- Effective tax rate: $8,341 ÷ $75,000 = 11.1%
- Marginal rate (top bracket reached): 22%
Notice: the effective rate (11.1%) is much lower than the marginal rate (22%). This is the progressive system working — only the income above $47,150 is taxed at 22%.
Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing
The standard deduction is a flat amount that reduces your taxable income without needing to track individual expenses. For 2024:
- Single: $14,600
- Married Filing Jointly: $29,200
- Head of Household: $21,900
You should only itemize (enter a custom deduction) if your eligible deductions exceed the standard deduction. Common itemized deductions include mortgage interest, state/local taxes (capped at $10,000), charitable contributions, and large medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of AGI.
What This Calculator Does NOT Include
This calculates federal income tax only. Your actual total tax burden includes several additional items:
- FICA taxes: Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45%), totaling 7.65% for employees. Self-employed pay double (15.3%).
- State income tax: Ranges from 0% (Texas, Florida, etc.) to over 13% (California). Use our state-specific calculators for a full picture.
- Other federal taxes: Capital gains tax, net investment income tax (3.8% over thresholds), and alternative minimum tax (AMT) for high earners.
- Pre-tax deductions: 401(k), HSA, and FSA contributions reduce your taxable income further and are not reflected here.
How to Reduce Your Tax Bill Legally
- Max your 401(k): Contributing up to the $23,000 limit (2024) directly reduces taxable income.
- Contribute to an HSA: If you have a high-deductible health plan, HSA contributions are triple tax-advantaged.
- Harvest tax losses: Offset capital gains by selling investments at a loss in the same year.
- Time income and deductions: If you expect a lower-income year, accelerate deductions into the current year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your marginal rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of taxable income — the top bracket you reach. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by your total income. Because the US uses a progressive system, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate. A $75,000 single filer has a 22% marginal rate but only an ~11% effective rate.
This calculator uses 2024 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction amounts as published by the IRS. Tax brackets are adjusted for inflation each year.
For 2024: $14,600 for single filers, $29,200 for married filing jointly, and $21,900 for head of household. These amounts are adjusted for inflation annually. Most taxpayers benefit more from the standard deduction than from itemizing.
Itemize only if your eligible deductions (mortgage interest, state/local taxes up to $10,000, charitable contributions, qualifying medical expenses) exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 doubled the standard deduction, roughly 90% of filers now use the standard deduction.
No. This calculator covers federal income tax only. Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages) are separate and total 7.65% for employees. Self-employed individuals pay the full 15.3%. These are not income taxes and are not affected by your filing status or deductions.
No. State income tax varies significantly: nine states have no income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming), while California tops out at 13.3%. Your total tax burden can be significantly higher than the federal estimate shown here.
Married Filing Jointly generally results in lower taxes when one spouse earns significantly more than the other. However, when both spouses earn similar high incomes, the "marriage penalty" can push combined income into higher brackets. Use this calculator to compare both scenarios.
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