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Federal Income Tax Calculator - Estimator for 2023-2024 Taxes

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Overview of Federal Income Taxes

Income in America is taxed by the federal government, most state governments and many local governments. The federal income tax system is progressive, so the rate of taxation increases as income increases. Marginal tax rates range from 10% to 37%.

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Household Income
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Filing Status
401(k) Contribution
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IRA Contribution
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Itemized Deductions
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Number of State Personal Exemptions
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Your Income Taxes Breakdown

Tax Type Marginal 
Tax Rate
Effective 
Tax Rate
2023 
Taxes*
Federal
FICA
State
Local
Total Income Taxes
Income After Taxes
Retirement Contributions
Take-Home Pay

* These are the taxes owed for the 2023 - 2024 filing season.

Your 2023 Federal Income Tax Comparison

  • Your marginal federal income tax rate
  • Your effective federal income tax rate
  • Your federal income taxes

Total Estimated 2023 Tax Burden

Income Tax $
Sales Tax $
Fuel Tax $
Property Tax$
Total Estimated Tax Burden $
Percent of income to taxes = %
$
  • About This Answer

    Our income tax calculator calculates your federal, state and local taxes based on several key inputs: your household income, location, filing status and number of personal exemptions.

    How Income Taxes Are Calculated

    • First, we calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) by taking your total household income and reducing it by certain items such as contributions to your 401(k).
    • Next, from AGI we subtract exemptions and deductions (either itemized or standard) to get your taxable income. Exemptions can be claimed for each taxpayer as well as dependents such as one’s spouse or children.
    • Based on your filing status, your taxable income is then applied to the the tax brackets to calculate your federal income taxes owed for the year.
    • Your location will determine whether you owe local and / or state taxes.
    ...read more
  • Last Updated: January 1, 2024

    When Do We Update? - We regularly check for any updates to the latest tax rates and regulations.

    Customer Service - If you would like to leave any feedback, feel free to email info@smartasset.com.

    ...read more
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The Federal Income Tax: How Are You Taxed?

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Veni

The federal personal income tax that is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the largest source of revenue for the U.S. federal government. Nearly all working Americans are required to file a tax return with the IRS each year. In addition to this, most people pay taxes throughout the year in the form of payroll taxes that are withheld from their paychecks.

Income taxes in the U.S. are calculated based on tax rates that range from 10% to 37%. Taxpayers can lower their tax burden and the amount of taxes they owe by claiming deductions and credits.

Federal Income Tax: W-2 Employees

W-2 employees are workers that get W-2 tax forms from their employers. These forms report the annual salary paid during a specific tax year and the payroll taxes that were withheld. 

This means that employers withhold money from employee earnings to pay for taxes. These taxes include Social Security tax, income tax, Medicare tax and other state income taxes that benefit W-2 employees. 

Both employers and employees split the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes that pay for Social Security and Medicare programs. The FICA rate due every pay period is 15.3% of an employee’s wages. However, this tax payment is divided in half between the employer and the employee.

Federal Income Tax: 1099 Employees

Independent contractors, unlike W-2 employees, will not have any federal tax deducted from their pay. This means that because they are not considered employees, they are responsible for their own federal payroll taxes (also known as self-employment tax).

Both 1099 workers and W-2 employees must pay FICA taxes for Social Security and Medicare. But, whereas W-2 employees split the combined FICA tax rate of 15.3% with their employers, 1099 workers are responsible for the entire amount.

The IRS mandates employers to send 1099 forms to workers who are paid more than $600 during a tax year. 

A financial advisor can help you understand how taxes fit into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Calculating the Federal Income Tax Rate

The United States has a progressive income tax system. This means there are higher tax rates for higher income levels. These are called “marginal tax rates," meaning they do not apply to total income, but only to the income within a specific range. These ranges are referred to as brackets.

Income falling within a specific bracket is taxed at the rate for that bracket. The table below shows the tax brackets for the federal income tax, and it reflects the rates for the 2023 tax year, which are the taxes due in early 2024.

2023 - 2024 Income Tax Brackets

Single Filers
Taxable IncomeRate
$0 - $11,00010%
$11,000 - $44,72512%
$44,725 - $95,37522%
$95,375 - $182,10024%
$182,100 - $231,25032%
$231,250 - $578,12535%
$578,125+37%
Married, Filing Jointly
Taxable IncomeRate
$0 - $22,00010%
$22,000 - $89,45012%
$89,450 - $190,75022%
$190,750 - $364,20024%
$364,200 - $462,50032%
$462,500 - $693,75035%
$693,750+37%
Married, Filing Separately
Taxable IncomeRate
$0 - $11,00010%
$11,000 - $44,72512%
$44,725 - $95,37522%
$95,375 - $182,10024%
$182,100 - $231,25032%
$231,250 - $346,87535%
$346,875+37%
Head of Household
Taxable IncomeRate
$0 - $15,70010%
$15,700 - $59,85012%
$59,850 - $95,35022%
$95,350 - $182,10024%
$182,100 - $231,25032%
$231,250 - $578,10035%
$578,100+37%

You’ll notice that the brackets vary depending on whether you are single, married or a head of household. These different categories are called filing statuses. Married persons can choose to file separately or jointly. While it often makes sense to file jointly, filing separately may be the better choice in certain situations.

Based on the rates in the table above, a single filer with an income of $50,000 would have a top marginal tax rate of 22%. However, that taxpayer would not pay that rate on all $50,000. The rate on the first $11,000 of taxable income would be 10%, then 12% on the next $33,725, then 22% on the final $5,275 falling in the third bracket. This is because marginal tax rates only apply to income that falls within that specific bracket. Based on these rates, this hypothetical $50,000 earner owes $6,307.50, which is an effective tax rate of about 12.7%.

Tax Withholding Estimator: Calculating Taxable Income Using Exemptions and Deductions

Federal tax rates apply only to taxable income. This is different than your total income, otherwise known as gross income. Taxable income is always lower than gross income since the U.S. allows taxpayers to deduct certain income from their gross income to determine taxable income.

To calculate taxable income, you begin by making certain adjustments from gross income to arrive at adjusted gross income (AGI). Once you have calculated adjusted gross income, you can subtract any deductions for which you qualify (either itemized or standard) to arrive at taxable income.

Note that there are no longer personal exemptions at the federal level. Prior to 2018, taxpayers could claim a personal exemption, which lowered taxable income. The tax plan signed in late 2017 eliminated the personal exemption, though.

Deductions are somewhat more complicated. Many taxpayers claim the standard deduction, which varies depending on filing status, as shown in the table below.

2023 - 2024 Federal Standard Deductions

Filing StatusStandard Deduction Amount
Single$13,850
Married, Filing Jointly$27,700
Married, Filing Separately$13,850
Head of Household$20,800

Some taxpayers, however, may choose to itemize their deductions. This means subtracting certain eligible expenses and expenditures. Possible deductions include those for student loan interest payments, contributions to an IRA, moving expenses and health-insurance contributions for self-employed persons. The most common itemized deductions also include:

  • Deduction for state and local taxes paid: Also known as the SALT deduction, it allows taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 of any state and local property taxes plus either their state and local income taxes or sales taxes.
  • Deduction for mortgage interest paid: Interest paid on the mortgages of up to two homes, with it being limited to your first $1 million of debt. Homes purchased after Dec. 15, 2017 have this lowered to the first $750,000 of the mortgage.
  • Deduction for charitable contributions
  • Deduction for medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of AGI

Keep in mind that most taxpayers don’t itemize their deductions. If the standard deduction is larger than the sum of your itemized deductions (as it is for many taxpayers), you'll receive the standard deduction.

Once you have subtracted deductions from your adjusted gross income, you have your taxable income. If your taxable income is zero, that means you do not owe any income tax.

How to Calculate Federal Tax Credits

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Unlike adjustments and deductions, which apply to your income, tax credits apply to your tax liability, which means the amount of tax that you owe.

For example, if you calculate that you have tax liability of $1,000 based on your taxable income and your tax bracket, and you are eligible for a tax credit of $200, that would reduce your liability to $800. In other words, you would only owe $800 to the federal government.

Tax credits are only awarded in certain circumstances, however. Some credits are refundable, which means you can receive payment for them even if you don’t owe any income tax. By contrast, nonrefundable tax credits can reduce your liability no lower than zero. The list below describes the most common federal income tax credits.

  • The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable credit for taxpayers with income below a certain level. The 2024 credit can be up to $7,830 for taxpayers with three or more children ($7,430 for tax year 2023), or lower amounts for taxpayers with two, one or no children.
  • The Child and Dependent Care Credit is a nonrefundable credit of up to $3,000 for one child or $6,000 for two or more children related to childcare expenses incurred while working or looking for work.
  • The Adoption Credit is a nonrefundable credit equal to certain expenses related to the adoption of a child.
  • The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a partially refundable credit of up to $2,500 per year for enrollment fees, tuition, course materials and other qualified expenses for your first four years of post-secondary education.

There are numerous other credits, including credits for the installation of energy-efficient equipment, a credit for foreign taxes paid and a credit for health insurance payments in some situations.

Calculating Your Tax Refund

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Whether or not you get a tax refund depends on the amount of taxes you paid during the year. This is because they were withheld from your paycheck. However, it also depends on your tax liability and whether or not you received any refundable tax credits.

When you file your tax return, if the amount of taxes you owe (your tax liability) is less than the amount that was withheld from your paycheck during the course of the year, you will receive a refund for the difference. This is the most common reason people receive a tax refund.

If you paid no taxes during the year and owe no taxes, but are eligible for one or more refundable tax credits, you will also receive a refund equal to the refundable amount of the credits.

Paying Your Taxes

If you aren’t getting a tax refund and instead owe money come tax day, there may be a way to lessen the sting. For starters, you should still file your taxes on time. Otherwise, you will also have to pay a fee for filing late.

If you don’t think you can afford your full tax bill, then you should pay as much as you can and contact the IRS. The agency may be able to offer you a few payment options to help you pay off your bill. For example, the IRS may offer a short-term extension or temporarily delay collection. You may also have the option to pay your remaining bill over multiple installments. You will likely still pay any interest charges on overdue balances, but in some cases, the IRS may even waive penalties or fees. Again, you should call the agency at the number above to discuss your options.

As you pay your tax bill, another thing to consider is using a tax-filing service that lets you pay your taxes by credit card. That way you can at least get valuable credit card rewards and points when you pay your bill. The IRS has authorized three payment processors to collect tax payments by credit card: PayUSAtax, Pay1040 and ACI Payments, Inc. However, it’s important to keep in mind that all three processors charge fees of nearly 2% of your payment for credit card transactions. Double check that any rewards you earn are worth that extra cost, though.

The cheapest way to pay a tax bill is still via a check or via IRS Direct Pay, which allows you to pay your bill directly from a savings or checking account. All major tax filing services will provide you with instructions for both of these payment options.

State and Local Income Taxes

Many states, as well as some cities and counties, have their own income taxes. These are collected in addition to the federal income tax. States that have a state income tax require that you file a separate state tax return, as they have their own rules. If you're curious about a particular state’s tax system and rules, visit one of our state tax pages.

Places with the Lowest Tax Burden

SmartAsset’s interactive map highlights the counties with the lowest tax burden. Scroll over any county in the state to learn about taxes in that specific area.

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Rank County Income Tax Sales Tax Property Tax Fuel Tax

Methodology

Where you live can have a big impact on both which types of taxes you have to pay each year and how much money you spend on them. SmartAsset calculated the amount of money a specific person would pay in income, sales, property and fuel taxes in each county in the country and ranked the lowest to highest tax burden.

To better compare income tax burdens across counties, we used the national median household income. We then applied relevant deductions and exemptions before calculating federal, state and local income taxes.

In order to determine sales tax burden we estimated that 35% of take-home (after-tax) pay is spent on taxable goods. We multiplied the average sales tax rate for a county by the household income less income tax. This product is then multiplied by 35% to estimate the sales tax paid.

We divided each county's median property tax paid by median property value to determine the median property tax rate by county. We then applied this rate to a hypothetical $250,000 property in each county to calculate a representative property tax paid.

For fuel taxes, we first distributed statewide vehicle miles traveled down to the county level using the number of vehicles in each county. We then calculated the total number of licensed drivers within each county. The countywide miles were then distributed amongst the licensed drivers in the county, which gave us the miles driven per licensed driver. Using the nationwide average fuel economy, we calculated the average gallons of gas used per driver in each county and multiplied that by the fuel tax.

We then added the dollar amount for income, sales, property and fuel taxes to rank the counties. For each of the more than 3300 counties in the nation we determined the tax burden a person who makes the national median household income with a $250,000 house who spends 35% of take-home pay on taxable goods and drives a weighted number of miles per year.

Sources: ESRI, US Census Bureau 2013 American Community Survey, MIT Living Wage Calculator, Kiplinger, government sources