The federal income tax brackets are a fickle thing. Between political meddling and inflation, something changes almost every year. Of course, knowing about these tax changes in advance, makes it easier for you to plan your taxes and hopefully save money.
There are two things that can happen to the tax brackets every year: the tax rates may change and the tax brackets can be adjusted for inflation.
When the tax rates change, you can blame Congress for messing with the tax laws (unless it’s in your favor).
Otherwise, the federal tax brackets are indexed to inflation. This prevents inflation creep from pushing you into a higher tax bracket. The IRS looks at the CPI data (Consumer Price Index) over a twelve month period. If inflation is high enough, the IRS will make adjustments to the income limits for each bracket.
Each October, the IRS announces the inflation adjustments to the federal income tax brackets for next year, along with many other tax credits and deductions. This gives you a two month head start to plan for next year.
You can plan ahead on your own with tax tools, a spreadsheet, or a good accountant. I use TurboTax to simplify the process. A little extra planning helps lower your taxable income before you file your taxes each year.
Before we get to the tax tables, here’s one last reminder. Don’t be too concerned if your income rose this year and you find yourself in a higher bracket. Based on how the tax brackets work, your tax bill might go up but so does your after tax income.
| Choose the Tax Year | |||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
2015 Federal Income Tax Brackets
These tax tables are for the 2015 tax year, with taxes due in April 2016.
Single Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $9,225 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $9,225 – $37,450 | 15% | $923 plus 15% of the amount over $9,225 |
| $37,450 – $90,750 | 25% | $5,156 plus 25% of the amount over $37,450 |
| $90,750 – $189,300 | 28% | $18,481 plus 28% of the amount over $90,750 |
| $189,300 – $411,500 | 33% | $46,075 plus 33% of the amount over $189,300 |
| $411,500 – $413,200 | 35% | $119,401 plus 35% of the amount over $411,500 |
| Over $413,200 | 39.6% | $119,996 plus 39.6% of the amount over $413,200 |
Married, Filing Jointly Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $18,450 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $18,450 – $74,900 | 15% | $1,845 plus 15% of the amount over $18,450 |
| $74,900 – $151,200 | 25% | $10,313 plus 25% of the amount over $74,900 |
| $151,200 – $230,450 | 28% | $29,388 plus 28% of the amount over $151,200 |
| $230,450 – $411,500 | 33% | $51,578 plus 33% of the amount over $230,450 |
| $411,500 – $464,850 | 35% | $111,324 plus 35% of the amount over $411,500 |
| Over $464,850 | 39.6% | $129,997 plus 39.6% of the amount over $464,850 |
Head of Household Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $13,150 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $13,150 – $50,200 | 15% | $1,315 plus 15% of the amount over $13,150 |
| $50,200 – $129,600 | 25% | $6,873 plus 25% of the amount over $50,200 |
| $129,600 – $209,850 | 28% | $26,723 plus 28% of the amount over $129,600 |
| $209,850 – $411,500 | 33% | $49,193 plus 33% of the amount over $209,850 |
| $411,500 – $439,000 | 35% | $115,737 plus 35% of the amount over $411,500 |
| Over $439,000 | 39.6% | $125,362 plus 39.6% of the amount over $439,000 |
Married, Filing Separately Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $9,225 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $9,225 – $37,450 | 15% | $923 plus 15% of the amount over $9,225 |
| $37,450 – $75,600 | 25% | $5,156 plus 25% of the amount over $37,450 |
| $75,600 – $115,225 | 28% | $14,694 plus 28% of the amount over $75,600 |
| $115,225 – $205,750 | 33% | $25,789 plus 33% of the amount over $115,225 |
| $205,750 – $232,425 | 35% | $55,662 plus 35% of the amount over $205,750 |
| Over $232,425 | 39.6% | $64,989 plus 39.6% of the amount over $232,425 |
2015 Standard Deduction
The 2015 standard deductions are based off the 2013 numbers and adjusted for inflation.
| Filing Status | Standard Deduction |
| Single | $6,300 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $12,600 |
| Head of Household | $9,250 |
| Married, Filing Separately | $6,300 |
Other 2015 Tax Changes
There were several other tax changes made due to the inflation adjustment. Some of the more important changes are highlighted below with links to the respective pages:
- the 2015 401k limits were raised.
- the 2015 IRA limits stayed the same though, deduction and income limits were adjusted for inflation.
- the 2015 limits on other retirement plans were raised.
- the Saver’s Credit was adjusted for inflation.
- the dividend and capital gains taxes are tied to your tax brackets.
Alternative Minimum Tax
The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exemption is finally tied to the inflation index. The 2015 AMT exemption for single filers is $53,600, for those married filing jointly is $83,400, and for married filing separately is $41,700.
Student Loan Interest Deduction
The student loan interest deduction allows you to deduct up to $2,500 in paid interest every year. This deduction has a phase-out period based on your modified adjustable gross income. The phase-out will begin for single filers at $65,000 and for married filing jointly at $130,000. The phase-out will end for single filers at $80,000 and for married filing jointly at $160,000.
Estate Taxes
Estate taxes were also tied to the inflation index last year. For 2014, the estate tax exclusion will be $5,430,000. Any amount over that will be taxed at 40%. If your net worth is hovering near this amount, I recommend talking with an estate tax attorney. They can help you build a solid estate plan that makes sure most of your estate goes where you want it to go and not to the government.
Previous Year Federal Tax Brackets
2014 Tax Brackets
These tables are for the 2014 tax year, with taxes due April 2015.
Single Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $9,075 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $9,075 – $36,900 | 15% | $908 plus 15% of the amount over $9,075 |
| $36,900 – $89,350 | 25% | $5,081 plus 25% of the amount over $36,900 |
| $89,350 – $186,350 | 28% | $18,194 plus 28% of the amount over $89,350 |
| $186,350 – $405,100 | 33% | $45,354 plus 33% of the amount over $186,350 |
| $405,100 – $406,750 | 35% | $117,541 plus 35% of the amount over $405,100 |
| Over $406,750 | 39.6% | $118,189 plus 39.6% of the amount over $406,750 |
Married, Filing Jointly Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $18,150 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $18,150 – $73,800 | 15% | $1,815 plus 15% of the amount over $18,150 |
| $73,800 – $148,850 | 25% | $10,163 plus 25% of the amount over $73,800 |
| $148,850 – $226,850 | 28% | $28,925 plus 28% of the amount over $148,850 |
| $226,850 – $405,100 | 33% | $50,765 plus 33% of the amount over $226,850 |
| $405,100 – $457,600 | 35% | $109,588 plus 35% of the amount over $405,100 |
| Over $457,600 | 39.6% | $127,963 plus 39.6% of the amount over $457,600 |
Head of Household Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $12,950 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $12,950 – $49,400 | 15% | $1,295 plus 15% of the amount over $12,950 |
| $49,400 – $127,550 | 25% | $6,763 plus 25% of the amount over $49,400 |
| $127,550 – $206,600 | 28% | $26,300 plus 28% of the amount over $127,550 |
| $206,600 – $405,100 | 33% | $48,434 plus 33% of the amount over $206,600 |
| $405,100 – $432,200 | 35% | $113,939 plus 35% of the amount over $405,100 |
| Over $432,200 | 39.6% | $123,424 plus 39.6% of the amount over $432,200 |
Married, Filing Separately Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | The Tax Is: |
| $0 – $9,075 | 10% | 10% of the amount over $0 |
| $9,075 – $36,900 | 15% | $908 plus 15% of the amount over $9,075 |
| $36,900 – $74,425 | 25% | $5,081 plus 25% of the amount over $36,900 |
| $74,425 – $113,425 | 28% | $14,463 plus 28% of the amount over $74,425 |
| $113,425 – $202,550 | 33% | $25,383 plus 33% of the amount over $113,425 |
| $202,550 – $228,800 | 35% | $54,794 plus 35% of the amount over $202,550 |
| Over $228,800 | 39.6% | $63,981 plus 39.6% of the amount over $228,800 |
2013 Tax Brackets
These tax tables are for the 2013 tax year, with taxes due in April 2014.
| Tax Rate | Single | Married, Filing Jointly | Married, Filing Separately | Head of Household |
| 10% | $0 – $8,925 | $0 – $17,850 | $0 – $8,925 | $0 – $12,750 |
| 15% | $8,925 – $36,250 | $17,850 – $72,500 | $8,925 – $36,250 | $12,750 – $48,600 |
| 25% | $36,250 – $87,850 | $72,500 – $146,400 | $36,250 – $73,200 | $48,600 – $125,450 |
| 28% | $87,850 – $183,250 | $146,400 – $223,050 | $73,200 – $111,525 | $125,450 – $203,150 |
| 33% | $183,250 – $398,350 | $223,050 – $398,350 | $111,525 – $199,175 | $203,150 – $398,350 |
| 35% | $398,350 – $400,000 | $398,350 – $450,000 | $199,175 – $225,000 | $398,350 – $425,000 |
| 39.6% | Over $400,000 | Over $450,000 | Over $225,000 | Over $425,000 |
2012 Tax Brackets
These tax tables are for the 2012 tax year, with taxes due in April 2013.
| Tax Rate | Single | Married, Filing Jointly | Married, Filing Separately | Head of Household |
| 10% | $0 – $8,700 | $0 – $17,400 | $0 – $8,700 | $0 – $12,400 |
| 15% | $8,700 – $35,350 | $17,400 – $70,700 | $8,700 – $35,350 | $12,400 – $47,350 |
| 25% | $35,350 – $85,650 | $70,700 – $142,700 | $35,350 – $71,350 | $47,350 – $122,300 |
| 28% | $85,650 – $178,650 | $142,700 – 217,450 | $71,350 – $108,725 | $122,300 – $198,050 |
| 33% | $178,650 – $388,350 | $217,450 – $388,350 | $108,725 – $194,175 | $198,050 – $388,350 |
| 35% | Over $388,350 | Over $388,350 | Over $194,175 | Over $388,350 |
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