Taxpayers for 2017 fall into one of seven brackets, depending on their taxable income: 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35% or 39.6%. Because the U.S. tax system is a progressive one, as income rises, increasingly higher taxes are imposed. But those in the highest bracket don’t pay the highest rate on all their income. For example, for 2017 taxes, single individuals pay 39.6% only on income above $418,401 (above $470,001 for married filing jointly); the lower tax rates are levied at the income brackets below that amount, as shown in the table below.

The table displays tax brackets according to filing status: single, married filing jointly or qualifying widower, head of household and married filing separately. The IRS makes inflation adjustments each year.

Federal tax brackets: 2017 tax brackets (for taxes due April 17, 2018)
Tax rate Single Head of household
10% Up to $9,325 Up to $13,350
15% $9,326 to $37,950 $13,351 to $50,800
25% $37,951 to $91,900 $50,801 to $131,200
28% $91,901 to $191,650 $131,201 to $212,500
33% $191,651 to $416,700 $212,501 to $416,700
35% $416,701 to $418,400 $416,701 to $444,550
39.6% $418,401 or more $444,551 or more
Tax rate Married filing jointly or qualifying widow Married filing separately
10% Up to $18,650 Up to $9,325
15% $18,651 to $75,900 $9,326 to $37,950
25% $75,901 to $153,100 $37,951 to $76,550
28% $153,101 to $233,350 $76,551 to $116,675
33% $233,351 to $416,700 $116,676 to $208,350
35% $416,701 to $470,000 $208,351 to $235,350
39.6% $470,001 or more $235,351 or more