Tax Bracket Calculator — Free Online Federal Tax Estimator
Estimate your federal and state tax liability using 2024 US tax brackets. See your effective rate, marginal rate, and after-tax income at a glance. All calculations happen locally — nothing leaves your browser.
How to Use the Tax Bracket Estimator
- Select filing status — Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household.
- Enter your income — total taxable income before deductions.
- Add state tax rate — select your state's approximate rate.
- Review brackets — see which bracket you're in and how much tax each portion pays.
Understanding Tax Brackets
The US uses a progressive tax system. Your income is taxed in chunks — only the portion in each bracket is taxed at that rate. Being in the 22% bracket doesn't mean all your income is taxed at 22%.
Example: On $100,000 single income, the first $11,600 is taxed at 10% ($1,160), the next $35,550 at 12% ($4,266), and the remaining $52,850 at 22% ($11,627). Your marginal rate is 22% (the rate on your last dollar), but your effective rate is only 14.61%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your marginal rate is the tax rate on your last dollar earned — the bracket you're currently in. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income — the average rate across all brackets. Always plan around your marginal rate for additional income.
No — this shows federal income tax only. FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45% = 7.65%) is additional. For $100k, that's another $7,650. Total tax burden is typically 20-25% for middle-income earners.
The US uses a marginal tax system where each portion of your income is taxed at the rate for its bracket. For example, if you earn $50,000, the first $11,000 is taxed at 10%, the next $33,725 at 12%, and the remaining $5,275 at 22%. You don't pay 22% on your entire income — only on the portion that falls in that bracket. Use this calculator to see your effective and marginal rates.
Use Cases
Federal Tax Estimation
Estimate your federal income tax bracket to understand how much you owe and plan your finances accordingly.
Salary Negotiation Planning
Compare tax scenarios for salary negotiation to understand the actual take-home impact of different offer amounts.
Marginal vs Effective Rate
Understand the difference between marginal and effective tax rates to make better decisions about additional income.
Year-End Tax Strategy
Plan year-end tax strategy by understanding which bracket you are in and how deductions or income changes affect your rate.
Filing Status Comparison
Compare tax liability across different filing statuses (single, married, head of household) to choose the most advantageous option.