Tax Read Time: 3 min

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets

By any measure, the tax code is huge. It is over 2,000 pages long, and even longer with footnotes.1

And almost weekly, the Internal Revenue Service publishes a 20- to 50-page bulletin about various aspects of the tax code.2

Fortunately, it's not necessary to wade through these massive libraries to get a basic understanding of how income taxes work. Knowing a few key concepts may provide a solid foundation.

One of the key concepts is marginal income tax brackets.

Taxpayers pay the tax rate in a given bracket only for that portion of their overall income that falls within that bracket's range.

Tax Works

Seeing how marginal income tax brackets work is helpful because it shows the progressive nature of income taxes. It also helps you visualize how your total tax rate can be calculated. But remember, this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult a tax professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.

How Federal Income Tax Brackets Work

Say a married couple, filing jointly for the 2023 tax year, had a taxable income of $200,000. Each dollar over $190,750 – or $9,250 – would fall into the 24% federal income tax bracket. However, the couple's total federal tax would be $34,800 – about 17.4% of their adjusted gross income.

This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It assumes no tax credits apply.

2023 Federal Income Tax Brackets

Your federal income tax bracket is determined by two factors: your total income and your tax-filing classification.

For the 2023 tax year, there are seven tax brackets for ordinary income – ranging from 10% to 37% – and four classifications: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, and head of household.3

1. Investopedia.com, March 8, 2022
2. IRS.gov, 2023
3. IRS.gov, 2023

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.

 

Related Content

Data Breach: Your Security To-Do List

Data Breach: Your Security To-Do List

This article provides a checklist of steps to take if you experience a data breach.

Retirement Traps to Avoid

Retirement Traps to Avoid

Beware of these traps that could upend your retirement.

Where Is the Market Headed?

Where Is the Market Headed?

We all know the stock market can be unpredictable. We all want to know, “What’s next for the financial markets?”

 

Have A Question About This Topic?







Thank you! Oops!

Keep Your Umbrella Handy

Umbrella liability can be a fairly inexpensive way to help shelter current assets and future income from the unexpected.

Critical Estate Documents

Sound estate management includes creating financial and healthcare documents. Here's an inside look.

Mortgages in Retirement

Explore the benefits and drawbacks to paying off your mortgage prior to retirement with this article.

View all articles

Capital Gains Tax Estimator

Use this calculator to estimate your capital gains tax.

Self-Employed Retirement Plans

Estimate the maximum contribution amount for a Self-Employed 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, or SEP.

Potential Income from an IRA

Estimate your monthly and annual income from various IRA types.

View all calculators

5 Smart Investing Strategies

There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives

Managing Your Lifestyle

Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.

Your Cash Flow Statement

A presentation about managing money: using it, saving it, and even getting credit.

View all presentations

RE: Retirement

How does your ideal retirement differ from reality, and what can we do to better align the two?

Saving for College 101

Here’s a crash course on saving for college.

When Do You Need a Will?

When do you need a will? The answer is easy: Right Now.

View all videos