The 2023 tax brackets by filing status
The IRS sets tax brackets each year based on inflation. For 2023, there are seven federal income tax brackets, and which one applies to you depends on your filing status and total income. The brackets are: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Your bracket determines the tax rate on your highest dollars of income — not your entire income.
Filing status matters because the income ranges for each bracket differ. A single filer, married filing jointly, married filing separately, and head of household each have different bracket thresholds. The table below shows where each bracket starts and ends for 2023:
| Tax Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,000 | $0 to $22,000 | $0 to $11,000 | $0 to $15,600 |
| 12% | $11,001 to $44,725 | $22,001 to $89,075 | $11,001 to $44,538 | $15,601 to $59,750 |
| 22% | $44,726 to $95,375 | $89,076 to $190,750 | $44,539 to $95,375 | $59,751 to $95,350 |
| 24% | $95,376 to $182,100 | $190,751 to $364,200 | $95,376 to $182,100 | $95,351 to $182,100 |
| 32% | $182,101 to $231,250 | $364,201 to $462,500 | $182,101 to $231,250 | $182,101 to $231,250 |
| 35% | $231,251 to $578,125 | $462,501 to $693,750 | $231,251 to $346,875 | $231,251 to $578,100 |
| 37% | $578,126+ | $693,751+ | $346,876+ | $578,101+ |
These numbers are the thresholds used to calculate your federal income tax on your 2023 tax return, which you file in 2024. The IRS adjusts these brackets each year for inflation, so 2024 brackets will be different.
Key Takeaways
- Tax brackets are income ranges, and you pay the stated rate only on income within that range — not on your entire income.
- Your filing status (single, married filing jointly, head of household, or married filing separately) determines which bracket thresholds apply to you.
- The 2023 brackets range from 10% on the lowest income to 37% on the highest, with six brackets in between.
- The IRS adjusts bracket thresholds each year for inflation, so the 2024 brackets will be higher than 2023.
How tax brackets actually work with an example
A common misunderstanding is that if your income falls into the 24% bracket, you pay 24% on all your income. That is not how it works. You pay the lower rate on the lower income first, then the higher rate only on the income that falls into the higher bracket.
Say you are single and earned $100,000 in 2023. You do not pay 24% on all $100,000. Instead: you pay 10% on the first $11,000, then 12% on the next $33,725 (from $11,001 to $44,725), then 22% on the next $50,650 (from $44,726 to $95,375), then 24% on the remaining $4,625 (from $95,376 to $100,000). Your effective tax rate — the average rate across all your income — is much lower than 24%.
Standard deduction reduces the income you actually pay tax on
Before the brackets apply, you subtract the standard deduction. This is a set amount the IRS lets you deduct from your income without itemizing expenses. For 2023, the standard deduction is $13,850 for single filers, $27,700 for married filing jointly, $13,850 for married filing separately, and $20,800 for head of household.
This means if you are single and earned $50,000, you subtract $13,850 first. Only the remaining $36,150 is subject to the tax brackets. Many people pay no federal income tax at all because their income falls below the standard deduction for their filing status.
Long-term capital gains have their own brackets
Income from investments held longer than one year — long-term capital gains — is taxed at different rates than ordinary income. The long-term capital gains brackets for 2023 are 0%, 15%, and 20%, and they have their own income thresholds based on filing status.
For single filers in 2023, the 0% rate applies to long-term gains up to $44,625, the 15% rate applies from $44,626 to $492,300, and the 20% rate applies to gains above $492,300. These thresholds are different from the ordinary income brackets and are also adjusted annually for inflation.
State and local taxes are separate from federal brackets
The brackets shown here are federal only. Most states also impose income tax with their own bracket systems, and some cities do as well. Your total tax bill includes federal tax (calculated using the 2023 federal brackets), state income tax (if your state has it), and any local income tax.
A few states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — have no state income tax. If you live in one of these states, you only owe federal income tax on your earnings. If you live elsewhere, you will owe both federal and state tax, each calculated using that jurisdiction's own brackets.
How to find your exact tax bracket
To find your tax bracket, start with your total income for the year, subtract the standard deduction for your filing status, and then find where that number falls in the table above. That row is your bracket. However, your actual tax owed is not simply your income times your bracket percentage — it is calculated by applying each bracket rate to the income within that bracket, as shown in the example earlier.
If you itemize deductions instead of taking the standard deduction, you subtract those itemized amounts first, then find your bracket. Most people use the standard deduction because it is simpler and often results in lower tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does being in a higher tax bracket mean I pay that rate on all my income?
No. You pay the stated rate only on income within that bracket. Income below the bracket threshold is taxed at the lower rates for those lower brackets. This is why moving into a higher bracket does not mean your entire paycheck is taxed at the higher rate.
What if my income is between two brackets?
You pay the lower rate on the portion of income below the threshold and the higher rate only on the portion above it. For example, if you are single and earned $50,000, you pay 10% on the first $11,000, 12% on the next $33,725, and 22% on the remaining $5,275.
Do I need to know my exact bracket to file my taxes?
No. Tax software and tax preparers calculate your bracket and tax owed automatically based on your income and filing status. Knowing your bracket helps you understand how much you will owe, but you do not need to calculate it yourself to file.
Will the 2024 tax brackets be different from 2023?
Yes. The IRS adjusts all bracket thresholds each year for inflation. The 2024 brackets will be higher than 2023, meaning more income falls into the lower brackets before you reach the higher ones. The IRS publishes 2024 brackets in late 2023.