How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (2024)

By Dr. James M. Dahle, WCI Founder

Understanding how your income is taxedand how the tax brackets work will aid your tax planning and make for more informed, reasonable discussions of tax policy.Now with 2023 right around the corner and with inflation still near 40-year highs, let's take a look at the new tax brackets and see how best you can plan for the new year.

Tax Brackets for 2023

For context, here were the tax brackets for 2022, via the IRS and The College Investor:

How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (3)

Here's how that will change for 2023. Thanks to inflation, these increases (of about 7%) are huge.

How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (4)

The standard deduction has also been raised for 2023. Here's what it was in 2022.

How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (5)

And here's what it'll be for 2023.

How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (6)

So, it's a big increase for both the tax bracket limits and the standard deductions, similar to how much the 2023 retirement contribution limits increased. Normally, the increases are slight from year to year, but because of inflation, it's much larger than normal. This means, unless you're an extremely high earner, you could be in a lower tax bracket in 2023 (and, thus, pay less in federal taxes).

People Don't Understand How Tax Brackets Work

One of the most interesting phenomena I've noticed over the years is that most people don't actually understand how tax brackets work, and they routinely overestimate how much they pay in taxes. For example, I put up a few Twitter polls a couple of years ago discussing tax brackets. Take a look:

Keep in mind, these are not opinion questions.

These questions actually have correct answers that can be easily calculated and, frankly, given how far apart the answers are from each other, pretty easily estimated. It's like asking “Is China closer to Vietnam, Switzerland, Cuba, or Tonga?” Yet only 27%-30% of people got the answers right. Sheer random chance would allow 25% of them to get it right. But what is more interesting is that 61%-73% of respondents OVERestimated the tax burden.

Why People Don't Get Tax Brackets

There are a few reasons why people can't answer those questions right. Well, not everyone. Rick Ferri was very proud to nail all three.

But most people couldn't estimate the right answer to the questions. I think I know why.

#1 People Don't Understand the Difference Between Marginal Tax Rates and Effective Tax Rates

Remember that your marginal tax rate, or tax bracket, is the rate at which your next dollar earned will be taxed. Your effective tax rate is the total tax paid divided by your total income. Your effective tax rate is always less than your marginal tax rate. Perhaps this is best illustrated by demonstrating how to come up with the right answer to the question.

If a married couple earns $100,000 in 2023 and takes no deductions besides the standard deduction, how much will they pay in federal income tax?

First, they subtract out the standard deduction of $27,700. That leaves $72,300. The first $22,000 is taxed at 10%, generating $2,200 in tax. That leaves $72,300 – $22,000 = $50,300. That $50,300 all falls within the 12% tax bracket and so is all taxed at 12%. $50,300 x 12% = $6,036. $2,200 + $6,036 = $8,236. $8,236/$100,000 = 8.23%. The numbers were different in 2022 when I last did this example (8.5% instead of 8.23% with owed taxes of $8,481 instead of $8,236), because of the new tax bracket limits. But you get my point.

How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (9)

There are two key points here. The first is that there is a 0% bracket. Some of your income is not taxed at all. That might be the standard deduction. It might be itemized deductions. There might be some above-the-line deductions. Whatever. But anything you get a deduction for isn't taxed at all. It's in the “0% bracket.” Some critics on Twitter started listing all these other deductions that could be taken. However, all of those would have LOWERED the tax due. This is, in essence, the MAXIMUM tax paid on that income, not the minimum. So most people still overestimated the tax due, even though I used the maximum tax possible in this situation.

The second is simply that being in the 12% bracket does not mean you pay 12% in taxes. You only pay taxes on the money in that bracket. You fill the brackets as you go. Otherwise, you would have paid $12,000 in taxes instead of $8,236. So if you knew someone making $100,000 was in the 12% bracket, you should know that the answer to the question MUST be less than 12%. There is no reason whatsoever to guess a number higher than that.

#2 People Don't Understand the Difference Between Taxes Withheld and Taxes Paid

Most people are employees. They don't actually calculate how much tax they owe and send it to the IRS each quarter like business owners do. It is just pulled out of their paycheck by their employer before they get it. The newer withholding tables are more accurate than the older ones, but most employees still have more withheld than they actually owe. That's why they get these huge tax refunds every spring. That is another phenomenon I find interesting—just how bizarrely happy people are to loan money interest-free to their government. But I think it contributes to the idea that people think they pay a lot more in taxes than they do.

#3 People Don't Know What Federal Income Tax Is

There are also a lot of people who don't know the difference between all of the taxes we pay. Don't get me wrong: there are a lot of taxes. There are state and local income taxes. There are payroll taxes like Social Security tax, Medicare tax, one of the two types of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) taxes, and unemployment tax. There are sales taxes and property taxes and gas taxes and inheritance taxes and estate taxes. I guess it should be no surprise that people cannot tell them apart. Several of these are also withheld from their paychecks (the state and local income taxes and payroll taxes like Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, and one of the two PPACA taxes). In fact, some of those payroll taxes (and the other PPACA tax) even show up on their federal income tax return, further confusing the situation.

Most people DO pay significantly more than 8.23% of a $100,000 income in taxes but not in federal income taxes. The federal income tax is quite progressive (44% of people pay no federal income tax at all while others have marginal tax rates as high as 37%). However, there are other taxes that are not progressive. My state income tax in Utah is a flat tax, at least once you get past the deductions. Medicare tax is a flat tax—2.9% on all wage income, half from the employer and half from the employee. Social Security tax is also flat—12.4% on all wage income, half from the employer and half from the employee (but only up to an income of $147,000 in 2022 and $160,200 in 2023). After that, it goes to 0% (at least for the employee), thus becoming a regressive tax at upper incomes.

At any rate, people may not realize that the federal tax brackets only apply to federal income tax.

#4 People Think Everything Taken Out of Their Paycheck Is Tax

Even worse, some people just assume everything taken out of their paycheck before they get it is a tax. Including their retirement account contributions, their share of any life or health insurance premiums, or even court-ordered child support. Sorry, those are good things to pay, but they're not taxes, much less federal income taxes.

I think it is important to understand how our taxes, especially the largest one for most of us—the federal income tax—work. Knowing how they work will help you to better manage your own finances and to actually have intelligent discussions with others about government and tax policies.

What do you think? Why do you suppose most people couldn't answer the questions above correctly? Why is the tax code so mysterious to US citizens? Comment below!

[This updated post was originally published in 2020.]

How Tax Brackets Work [2023 Tax Brackets] | White Coat Investor (2024)

FAQs

How much tax will i pay in 2023? ›

This was then followed by the news that the basic rate of income tax would be reduced from 20% to 19% from April 2023. This means the change will be implemented a year earlier than promised by previous chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, in his spring statement, in which he pledged to do this by April 2024.

Will tax bands change in 2023? ›

The 2022/2023 personal allowance and higher tax band have remained the same as the previous 2021/2022 tax year. In the budget the government decided to maintain the higher rate tax threshold at the same level as the previous year.

Do tax brackets include investment income? ›

Most investment income is taxable. But your exact tax rate will depend on several factors, including your tax bracket, the type of investment, and (with capital assets, like stocks or property) how long you own them before selling.

What is the 40 tax bracket 2023? ›

What is the higher rate of income tax? The higher rate of income tax is 40%, and is paid on earnings between £50,271 and £150,000 a year. The top of this band will fall to £125,140 from April 2023. Once you earn over £100,000 a year, you start losing your tax-free personal allowance.

How much tax will i pay in 2023 2024? ›

As part of the Spring Statement 2022 announcement, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced that in 2024 when the rate of inflation is predicted to be back in control, the basic rate of income tax will be cut to 19%, which is expected to benefit over 30 million people.

Is tax going up in 2023? ›

Finance Act 2021 also included an increase in diverted profits tax to 31% from 1 April 2023 to maintain its current six percentage point differential with the main corporation rate. A reduction in the bank corporation tax surcharge to 3% from 1 April 2023 was enacted in Finance Act 2022.

Will the standard deduction change in 2023? ›

It depends on your filing status, whether you're 65 or older and/or blind, and whether another taxpayer can claim you as a dependent on their tax return. It's also adjusted annually for inflation, so your 2022 standard deduction is larger than it was for 2021, and your 2023 amount will be higher than your 2022 amount.

What is the tax slab for 2022 2023? ›

Tax Slabs for AY 2022-23
Existing Tax RegimeNew Tax Regime u/s 115BAC
Income Tax SlabIncome Tax RateIncome Tax Slab
Up to ₹ 2,50,000NilUp to ₹ 2,50,000
₹ 2,50,001 - ₹ 5,00,0005% above ₹ 2,50,000₹ 2,50,001 - ₹ 5,00,000
₹ 5,00,001 - ₹ 10,00,000₹ 12,500 + 20% above ₹ 5,00,000₹ 5,00,001 - ₹ 7,50,000
4 more rows

What is the personal tax allowance for 2022 to 2023? ›

What's your 2022-23 personal allowance? Your Personal Allowance for the 2022-2023 tax year is £12,570. This means that if you earn under £12,570, you don't pay any income tax at all.

How much tax do I pay on investment income? ›

This article has been updated for the 2022 tax year. The capital gains tax rate is 0%, 15% or 20% on most assets held for longer than a year. Capital gains taxes on assets held for a year or less correspond to ordinary income tax brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% or 37%.

What tax rate do you pay on investments? ›

Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends are generally taxed at special capital gains tax rates of 0 percent, 15 percent, and 20 percent depending on your taxable income. (Some types of capital gains may be taxed as high as 25 percent or 28 percent.)

How much investment income is tax free? ›

The statutory threshold amounts are: Married filing jointly — $250,000, Married filing separately — $125,000, Single or head of household — $200,000, or.

What salary can you earn before paying 40% tax? ›

The total figure is your non-savings income, and is the amount you have to pay tax on. The first £37,700 (£50,270 minus the personal allowance of £12,570) is subject to the 20% basic tax rate. Anything over this amount is taxed at 40%, and anything over £150,000 is taxed at 45%.

How does the 40% tax band work? ›

The 40% tax bracket is also known as the Higher Rate tax band and, if your income is within the boundaries of that tax band, you are liable to pay 40% tax on any earnings that are over the threshold. In the 2022/2023 tax year the higher rate 40% tax threshold starts at £50271 and stops at £150,000.

How much tax do I pay on $40 K salary? ›

If you make $40,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $7,507. That means that your net pay will be $32,493 per year, or $2,708 per month.

How are tax rates changing in 2023? ›

When it comes to federal income tax rates and brackets, the tax rates themselves aren't changing from 2022 to 2023. The same seven tax rates in effect for the 2022 tax year – 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37% – still apply for 2023.

Will taxes be lower in 2023? ›

The seven tax rates remain the same for the 2023 tax year. Instead, the IRS adjusted the income values in each bracket to give filers more breathing room amid high inflation.

What is the senior deduction for 2023? ›

For 2023, assuming no changes, Ellen's standard deduction would be $15,700: the usual 2023 standard deduction of $13,850 available to single filers, plus one additional standard deduction of $1,850 for those over 65.

How can I save tax on my salary? ›

15 Tips to Save Income Tax on Salary
  1. House Rent Allowance (HRA)
  2. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
  3. Employee Contribution to Provident Fund (PF)
  4. Standard Deduction.
  5. Professional Tax.
  6. Exemption of Leave Encashment.
  7. Exemption Under Section 89(1)
  8. Exemption from the Receipt Upon Opting for Voluntary Retirement.
10 Nov 2022

How can I reduce my income tax? ›

You can achieve income tax reductions by undertaking the following points:
  1. Invest in products applicable under section 80C. ...
  2. Invest in Health Insurance. ...
  3. Claim deduction on your House Rent Allowance. ...
  4. Claim deduction on your home loan interest. ...
  5. Do not empty your savings account. ...
  6. Contribute to charity.

What is the 2022 capital gains tax rate? ›

Capital Gain Tax Rates

The tax rate on most net capital gain is no higher than 15% for most individuals. Some or all net capital gain may be taxed at 0% if your taxable income is less than or equal to $40,400 for single or $80,800 for married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er).

Do you pay taxes twice on investments? ›

Double taxation occurs when income is taxed at both the corporate level and personal level, as in the case of stock dividends.

Which investment is the 100% tax free? ›

Public Provident Fund (PPF)

PPF is a government-sponsored savings and retirement planning direct tax free investment. It is beneficial for individuals without a structured pension plan.

How do taxes work on investments? ›

You typically only have to pay taxes on the sale of investments when you receive a gain. To figure this out, you have to subtract the cost basis of your investment, which is normally what you paid, from the sale price to see if you had a gain or a loss.

How much tax do you pay on dividends? ›

The dividend tax rates for 2021/22 tax year are: 7.5% (basic), 32.5% (higher) and 38.1% (additional). See the table below.

Do I have to pay taxes if I make 50000? ›

If you make $50,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $7,917. Your average tax rate is 8.59% and your marginal tax rate is 12%.

How much can a 65 year old earn before paying tax? ›

If you are at least 65, unmarried, and receive $14,700 or more in non-exempt income in addition to your Social Security benefits, you typically must file a federal income tax return (tax year 2022).

What is the 60 40 rule for taxes? ›

Enjoy potential tax benefits

Take advantage of preferred tax rates on futures trades, based on the 60/40 rule. That means 60% of net gains on futures trading is treated like long-term capital gains. The other 40% is treated as short-term capital gains and taxed like ordinary income.

How much does the lower 50% pay in taxes? ›

The top 50 percent of all taxpayers paid 97 percent of all individual income taxes, while the bottom 50 percent paid the remaining 3 percent.

What percentage of tax do the top 10% pay? ›

The top 10% earned 48% of the income and paid 71% of federal income taxes. Over time, high-income Americans have shouldered a larger and larger share of the cost of government.

What tax bracket am I in if I make 50000? ›

Example #2: If you had $50,000 of taxable income, you'd pay 10% on that first $10,275 and 12% on the chunk of income between $10,276 and $41,775. And then you'd pay 22% on the rest because some of your $50,000 of taxable income falls into the 22% tax bracket.

What is the average tax return for a single person making 70000? ›

If you make $70,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $15,111. Your average tax rate is 11.98% and your marginal tax rate is 22%.

How much federal income tax do I pay on $200000? ›

If you make $200,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $70,374. That means that your net pay will be $129,626 per year, or $10,802 per month. Your average tax rate is 35.2% and your marginal tax rate is 46.7%.

How will taxes change in 2023? ›

For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction rises to $13,850 for 2023, up $900, and for heads of households, the standard deduction will be $20,800 for tax year 2023, up $1,400 from the amount for tax year 2022.

What tax bracket is 2022 2023? ›

Here is a look at what the brackets and tax rates are for 2022 (filing 2023):
Tax rateSingle filersMarried filing jointly*
10%$0 – $10,275$0 – $20,550
12%$10,276 – $41,775$20,551 – $83,550
22%$41,776 – $89,075$83,550 – $178,150
24%$89,076 – $170,050$178,151 – $340,100
3 more rows
30 Aug 2022

What is the UK tax allowance for 2022 to 2023? ›

Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2021 to set the Personal Allowance for 2022 to 2023 at £12,570, and the basic rate limit for 2022 to 2023 at £37,700.

Will capital gains increase in 2023? ›

The IRS has increased the taxable income thresholds for the 0%, 15% and 20% long-term capital gains brackets for 2023. With higher standard deductions and taxable income limits for capital gains, it's more likely you'll fall into the 0% bracket, experts say.

Will my tax return be less in 2023? ›

Refunds may be smaller in 2023,” the IRS said in a November news release about preparing for the upcoming tax season. “Taxpayers will not receive an additional stimulus payment with a 2023 tax refund because there were no economic impact payments for 2022.”

How 2023 US tax brackets are changing due to inflation? ›

Single taxpayer tax brackets

The IRS' inflation-adjusted provisions for 2023 show an increase of 7% for each income bracket. Table with 3 columns and 7 rows. Currently displaying rows 1 to 7.

What is the assessment year 2022 2023? ›

The assessment year for the money earned during this period would begin after the financial year ends – that is from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. Hence, the assessment year would be AY 2022-22.

How much federal tax should I pay on $80,000 in 2022? ›

If you make $80,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $21,763. That means that your net pay will be $58,237 per year, or $4,853 per month. Your average tax rate is 27.2% and your marginal tax rate is 41.0%.

How do tax brackets work? ›

Tax brackets show you the tax rate you will pay on each portion of your income. For example, if you are single, the lowest tax rate of 10% is applied to the first $10,275 of your income in 2022. The next chunk of your income is then taxed at 12%, and so on, up to the top of your taxable income.

What do I owe in taxes if I made $120000? ›

If you make $120,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $31,682. Your average tax rate is 16.51% and your marginal tax rate is 24%.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 6142

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.