Income Tax Calculator

The US federal income tax is progressive — different slices of your income are taxed at different rates. The slice you keep ranges from 10% of your first ~$11,600 (taxed at 10%) to 37% on income above ~$609,000 (for single filers in 2024). Most middle-income earners end up paying an effective rate well below their top marginal bracket because each dollar gets taxed at the rate of its bracket, not the highest one you reach.

This calculator uses 2024 single-filer federal brackets and a flat state rate you specify. It is an estimator, not a tax-filing tool. For an actual return, use software like TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, or work with a CPA — there are dozens of adjustments and credits this tool can't model.

Single filer, $75,000 income, $14,600 standard deduction, no credits, 5% state tax:

• Taxable income: 75,000 − 14,600 = $60,400
• 10% on first $11,600 = $1,160
• 12% on $11,600–$47,150 ($35,550) = $4,266
• 22% on $47,150–$60,400 ($13,250) = $2,915
• Federal tax: $8,341
• State tax: 5% × $60,400 = $3,020
• Total tax: $11,361 (15.1% effective rate on gross income)
• Take-home (before FICA): $63,639

• Year-end planning — checking whether to bump 401(k) contributions or harvest losses before December 31.
• Comparing job offers — translating gross salary into actual take-home pay.
• State-relocation decisions — testing how moving from California (~9.3% top state) to Texas (0%) changes your tax bill.
• Side income — estimating quarterly tax payments owed on freelance or contract work.
• Setting up withholding — figuring out what to put on a W-4 to avoid surprise refunds or balances.

• Confusing marginal with effective rate. Crossing into a higher bracket only taxes the dollars above that line — it doesn't increase tax on the rest of your income.
• Forgetting FICA. Federal income tax is roughly half the picture. Social Security and Medicare add 7.65% on top.
• Ignoring state local tax variation. Many states have progressive brackets too — a flat rate is a rough approximation.
• Treating the calculator as a return. It can't handle dependents, capital gains, AMT, multiple credits, or self-employment tax.
• Maxing 401(k) for tax savings only. Reducing taxable income now is good, but compare Traditional vs. Roth based on expected retirement bracket.