Filing Status & Rates

A key to tax planning is knowing your marginal tax rate. That's the rate that applies at the margin, to your top dollar of income. Under our graduated income tax rates, as income rises, not only does your tax bill go up but the percentage of that income claimed by the government also increases.

Your marginal rate is controlled by your filing status. For example, single taxpayers pay higher rates for taxable income than someone filing a joint return.

Knowing your marginal rate is essential because it lets you determine how much of any extra earnings - from investments, a raise or moonlighting - you get to keep. It also measures the saving power of deductible expenses. Only if you know your marginal tax rate can you pinpoint what a charitable contribution or business expense really costs you after your tax savings are taken into account.

The bottom line is this: knowing how high your tax bracket really is can greatly energize your tax-planning efforts by enhancing the potential rewards.


Filing Status and Rates
 

Single Tax Rates
2007 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $7,825
10% of every dollar
$7,826 to $31,850
$782.50 plus 15% of the amount over $7,825
$31,851 to $77,100
$4,386.25 plus 25% of the amount over $31,850
$77,101 to $150,850
$15,698.75 plus 28% of the amount over $77,100
$160,851 to $349,700
$39,148.75 plus 33% of the amount over $60,850
Over $349,700
$101,469.25 plus 35% of the amount over $349,700
2008 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $8,025
10% of every dollar
$8,026 to $32,250
$802.50 plus 15% of the amount over $8,025
$32,551 to $78,850
$4,481.25 plus 25% of the amount over $32,550
$78,851 to $164,550
$16,056.25 plus 28% of the amount over $78,850
$164,551 to $357,700
$42,052.25 plus 33% of the amount over $164,550
Over $357,700
$103,791.75 plus 35% of the amount over $357,700

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Married Filing Separate Returns
Tax Rates
2007 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $7,825
10% of every dollar
$7,826 to $31,850
$782.50 plus 15% of the amount over $7.826
$31,851 to $64,250
$4,386.25 plus 25% of the amount over $31,850
$64,251 to $97,925
$12,486.25 plus 28% of the amount over $64,250
$97,926 to $172,850
$21,915.25 plus 33% of the amount over $97,925
Over $174,850
$47,300.50 plus 35% of the amount over $174,850
2007 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $8,025
10% of every dollar
$8,026 to $32,550
$802.50 plus 15% of the amount over $8,025
$32,551 to $65,725
$4,481.25 plus 25% of the amount over $32,550
$65,726 to $100,150
$12,775 plus 28% of the amount over $65,725
$100,151 to $178,850
$22,414 plus 33% of the amount over $100,150
Over $178,850
$45,385 plus 35% of the amount over $178,850

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Married Filing Jointly & Qualifying Widow(er)
Tax Rates
2007 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $15,650
10% of every dollar
$15,651 to $63,700
$1,565 plus 15% of the amount over $15,650
$63,701 to $128,500
$8,772.50 plus 25% of the amount over $63,700
$128,501 to $195,850
$24,972.50 plus 28% of the amount over $128,500
$195,851 to $349,700
$43,830.50 plus 33% of the amount over $195,850
Over $349,700
$94,601 plus 35% of the amount over $349,700
2008 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $16,050
10% of every dollar
$16,051 to $65,100
$1,605 plus 15% of the amount over $16,050
$65,101 to $131,450
$8,962.50 plus 25% of the amount over $65,100
$131,451 to $200,300
$25,550 plus 28% of the amount over $131,450
$200,301 to $357,700
$44,828 plus 33% of the amount over $200,300
Over $357,700
$96,770 plus 35% of the amount over $357,700

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Head of Household
Tax Rates
2007 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $11,200
10% of every dollar
$11,201 to $42,650
$1,120 plus 15% of the amount over $11,200
$42,651 to $110,100
$5,837.50 plus 25% of the amount over $42,650
$110,101 to $178,350
$22,700 plus 28% of the amount over $110,100
$178,351 to $349,700
$41,810 plus 33% of the amount over $178,350
Over $349,700
$98,355.50 plus 35% of the amount over $349,700
2008 Taxable Income
Tax
Up to $11,450
10% of every dollar
$11,451 to $43,650
$1,145 plus 15% of the amount over $11,450
$43,651 to $112,650
$5,975 plus 25% of the amount over $43,650
$112,651 to $182,400
$23,225 plus 28% of the amount over $112,650
$182,401 to $357,700
$42,755 plus 33% of the amount over $182,400
Over $357,700
$100,604 plus 35% of the amount over $357,700