Current Income Tax Rates and Brackets
The rates apply to taxable income—adjusted gross income minus either the standard deduction or allowable itemized deductions. Income up to the standard deduction (or itemized deductions) is thus taxed at a zero rate.
Taxable income starts with gross income, and then certain allowable deductions are subtracted to arrive at your adjusted gross income. Adjusted gross income then can be reduced by the standard deduction or itemized deductions for the final amount of taxable income that will be taxed.
For example, a single filer with $60,000 in taxable income falls into the 22 percent bracket but does not pay tax of $13,200 (22 percent of $60,000). Instead, he or she pays 10 percent of $9,875 plus 12 percent of $30,250 ($40,125 - $9,875) plus 22 percent of $19,875 ($60,000 - $40,125) for a total of $8,990.
For 2022, the tax brackets are as follows for single filers: 10% tax rate for income between $0 and $10,275. 12% tax rate for income between $10,276 to $41,775. 22% tax rate for income between $41,776 to $89,075.
The lowest tax bracket is 10%. The highest tax bracket is 37%. If you're in the middle class, you're probably in the 22%, 24% or possibly 32% tax brackets.
A $60,000 annual salary is equivalent to earning a $28.85 hourly wage, or $230.80 each day. This is based on the employee working for eight hours a day, 52 weeks a year. To calculate your specific per hour rate, divide $60,000 by the number of hours that you work.
You pay tax as a percentage of your income in layers called tax brackets. As your income goes up, the tax rate on the next layer of income is higher. When your income jumps to a higher tax bracket, you don't pay the higher rate on your entire income.
In general, any revenue is taxable unless IRS rules specifically exclude it. Your gross revenue includes all income received from sales, after you subtract things like returns and discounts.
Unemployment compensation generally is taxable. Inheritances, gifts, cash rebates, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits, welfare payments, and money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions are deemed nontaxable by the IRS.
While most income must be reported on your taxes, the IRS allows you to make certain adjustments and exclusions to reduce your taxable income. Your final taxable income and tax bill are determined only after all allowed deductions and other adjustments are subtracted from your gross income.
Federal Income Tax Brackets Overview
The U.S. currently has seven federal income tax brackets, with rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. If you're one of the lucky few to earn enough to fall into the 37% bracket, that doesn't mean that the entirety of your taxable income will be subject to a 37% tax.
In 2024 and 2025, the federal income tax rates for each of the seven brackets are the same: 10 percent, 12 percent, 22 percent, 24 percent, 32 percent, 35 percent and 37 percent. But the income ranges for each of those brackets changes every year, based on IRS inflation adjustments.
Can I live comfortably making 60K a year? A single person can usually live well on a $60,000 annual salary. However, if you have expensive tastes, are carrying a lot of debt, live in an area with a high cost of living, or are supporting multiple people, you may find it more challenging to get by on $60,000 a year.
If your annual income is $500,000, your hourly wage will stand at about $240.40 or $1,923.22 a day. This calculation is based on the assumption that you are working 40 hours per week. There are 52 weeks in a year, so we need to multiply 52 by 40 to get the number of working hours per year, which is 2,080 hours.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2022 was $74,580. To reach the upper class in 2024, you'd typically need an income exceeding $153,000 – more than double the national median. Don't Miss: Are you rich?
Starting in 2025, tax Social Security benefits in a manner similar to private pension income.
The middle class is commonly defined as households earning between two-thirds and double the median income, which is $128,151 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California metro area, the Census Bureau reports. That means middle class households there earn between $85,434 and $256,302 a year.
Here's how the numbers break down: California: Good news—California doesn't tax lottery winnings at the state level, but you'll still owe federal taxes. New Hampshire and Tennessee: These states don't have general income tax, but that won't save you from paying federal taxes. Other States: Many states will take a cut.
About 40% of people who get Social Security must pay federal income taxes on their benefits. This usually happens if you have other substantial income in addition to your benefits.