Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption: 1988 to 2025

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption: 1988 to 2025

Updated January 31, 2025

Congressional Research Service

https://crsreports.congress.gov

RL34498

Congressional Research Service

SUMMARY

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption: 1988 to 2025

This report tracks changes in federal individual income tax brackets, the standard deduction, and the personal exemption since 1988. All three tax items have been indexed for inflation since 1981. The report also explains how tax provisions are adjusted for inflation. The table below shows the levels that are to apply in 2025.

Current statutory tax rates have evolved from the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86; P.L. 99-514) and several tax laws enacted since then. Of particular importance have been the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA90; P.L. 101- 508), the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA93; P.L. 103-66), the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA; P.L. 107-16), the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (TRUC; P.L. 111-312), the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA, P.L. 112-240), and the tax rate changes in the 2017 tax revision (P.L. 115-97, popularly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).

Seven statutory individual income tax rates are in effect from 2018 to 2025: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Starting in 2026, these rates are scheduled to revert to their 2017 levels. Each rate applies to a different range of income, and that range constitutes a tax bracket. A taxpayer’s tax liability is the sum total of the tax from each of the tax brackets his or her taxable income covers. This means that someone’s average tax rate (i.e., total tax owed divided by total income) is less than her or his top marginal tax rate (i.e., the tax on an additional dollar of income); the marginal and average tax rates are the same (10%) for taxpayers subject to the lowest tax bracket. For example, if the federal income tax had no deductions, exemptions, exclusions, and credits, and Mary has a taxable income of $20,000 and half of that amount is taxed at 10% and half at 15%, her tax liability would equal [($10,000 x 0.10) + ($10,000 x 0.15)], or $2,500. Mary’s average tax rate would be 12.5%, while her top marginal rate would be 15%.

Over 50 federal income tax provisions are indexed for inflation. These include the tax brackets, the personal exemption (which is unavailable until 2026 under current law), and the standard deduction. Indexation reduces the risk of bracket creep, which happens when someone’s tax liability increases because of a larger increase in that taxpayer’s nominal income than his or her real income. Until 2018, indexation of these items was based on annual changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Under P.L. 115-97, however, Congress permanently switched the inflation adjustment to the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), starting in 2018. Some experts believe that the latter index provides a more accurate measure of inflation among consumer goods and services than the CPI-U.

Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions, Personal

Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2025

Personal Exemption and Phaseout Threshold:

$0

(Suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $30,000

Single $15,000

Head of Household $22,500

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Individual $1,600

Individual who is unmarried and not a surviving spouse

$2,000

RL34498

January 31, 2025

Brendan McDermott Analyst in Public Finance

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2025

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $23,850 10% of the amount over $0

over $23,850 to $96,950 $2,385 + 12% of the amount over $23,850

over $96,950 to $206,700 $11,157 + 22% of the amount over $96,950

over $206,700 to $394,600 $35,302 + 24% of the amount over $206,700

over $394,600 to $501,050 $80,398 + 32% of the amount over $394,600

over $501,050 to $751,600 $114,162 + 35% of the amount over $501,050

over $751,600 $202,154.50 + 37% of the amount over $751,600

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,925 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,925 to $48,475 $1,192.50 + 12% of the amount over $11,925

over $48,475 to $103,350 $5,578.50 + 22% of the amount over $48,475

over $103,350 to $197,300 $17,651 + 24% of the amount over $103,350

over $197,300 to $250,525 $40,199 + 32% of the amount over $197,300

over $250,525 to $626,350 $57,231 + 35% of the amount over $250,525

over $626,350 $188,769.75 + 37% of the amount over $626,350

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $17,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $17,000 to $64,850 $1,700 + 12% of the amount over $17,000

over $64,850 to $103,350 $7,442 + 22% of the amount over $64,850

over $103,350 to $197,300 $15,912 + 24% of the amount over $103,350

over $197,300 to $250,500 $38,460 + 32% of the amount over $197,300

over $250,500 to $626,350 $55,484 + 35% of the amount over $250,500

over $626,350 $187,031.50 + 37% of the amount over $626,350

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-40.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Overview of Key Individual Income Tax Items .............................................................................. 1

Tax Rates and Brackets ............................................................................................................. 1 Personal Exemption .................................................................................................................. 2 Itemized Deductions and the Standard Deduction .................................................................... 2

Inflation, Bracket Creep, and Indexation ........................................................................................ 2 Tax Tables from 1988 to 2025 ......................................................................................................... 4

Tables

Table 1. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2025 .................. 4

Table 2. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2024 .................. 6

Table 3. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitations on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2023 .................. 7

Table 4. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2022 .................. 8

Table 5. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2021 .................. 9

Table 6. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2020 ................ 10

Table 7. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2019 ................. 11

Table 8. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2018 ................ 12

Table 9. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2017 ................ 14

Table 10. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2016 ................................................................................................................................. 15

Table 11. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2015 ................................................................................................................................. 17

Table 12. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2014 ................................................................................................................................. 18

Table 13. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2013 ................................................................................................................................. 20

Table 14. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2012 ................................................................................................................................. 21

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Table 15. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2011 ................................................................................................................................. 22

Table 16. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2010 ................................................................................................................................. 23

Table 17. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2009 ................................................................................................................................. 24

Table 18. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2008 ................................................................................................................................. 26

Table 19. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2007 ................................................................................................................................. 27

Table 20. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2006 ................................................................................................................................. 28

Table 21. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2005 ................................................................................................................................. 30

Table 22. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of the Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2004 ........................ 31

Table 23. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2003 .............. 32

Table 24. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2002 .............................. 34

Table 25. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2001 .............................. 35

Table 26. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2000 .............................. 36

Table 27. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1999 .............................. 37

Table 28. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1998 .............................. 39

Table 29. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1997 .............................. 40

Table 30. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1996 .............................. 41

Table 31. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions.

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1995 .............................. 42

Table 32. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1994 .............................. 44

Table 33. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates,

1993 ............................................................................................................................................ 45

Table 34. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1992 .............................. 46

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Table 35. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized Deductions,

Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 1991 .............................. 47

Table 36. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates,

1990 ............................................................................................................................................ 48

Table 37. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates,

1989 ............................................................................................................................................ 49

Table 38. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Statutory Marginal Tax Rates,

1988 ............................................................................................................................................ 50

Appendixes

Appendix. Brief Summary of Major Legislation Affecting Individual Statutory Rates

Since 1986 .................................................................................................................................. 52

Contacts

Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 56

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Introduction

U.S. citizens and residents are subject to a federal income tax on their worldwide income.1 Their taxable income is equal to gross income from numerous sources (including wages, pass-through business profits, long-term capital gains, and dividends) less certain exclusions, exemptions, and deductions. An individual taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI) is determined by subtracting certain “above-the-line” deductions from gross income.2 Taxable income is determined by reducing a taxpayer’s AGI by the standard deduction or the sum of that person’s itemized deductions, whichever amount is greater. Taxpayers who own a pass-through business (i.e., partnership, S corporation, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship) may be able to lower their taxable income by claiming the deduction for pass-through business income under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 199A. Then the appropriate marginal tax rate is applied to determine an individual’s income tax liability. A taxpayer may face additional tax liability if she or he is subject to the alternative minimum tax.3 The tax owed may be reduced by any credits (e.g., earned income tax credit and child tax credit) a taxpayer is allowed to claim.

This report provides a brief overview of the role these tax items play in calculating tax liability under the regular income tax. It does not cover situations involving more complicated tax calculations, such as income subject to the alternative minimum tax or income from long-term capital gains. The report also considers the rationale for indexing these elements for inflation and the current mechanism for doing so. It concludes with a year-by-year summary from 1988 to 2025 of the personal exemption and limitations on it, the standard deduction and limitations on itemized deductions, and statutory tax rates and brackets, through a series of tables.

An Appendix summarizes the federal tax laws going back to P.L. 99-514 that introduced the changes in the tax elements examined here. The current federal income tax is a product of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and changes in tax law enacted since then.

Overview of Key Individual Income Tax Items

Tax Rates and Brackets

At the core of the federal individual income tax are the tax brackets. A bracket refers to an income tax rate and the range of taxable income to which the rate applies. All taxable income within a bracket is taxed at that rate. A taxpayer’s tax liability before credits is the sum total of the tax within each bracket that applies to someone’s taxable income. For example, assume that a single filer has a taxable income of $20,000. The person’s first $10,000 would be taxed at 10% under current law, and the second $10,000 would be taxed at 15%. Her tax liability is $2,500: [($10,000

1 For more information on the taxation of noncitizen resident, see CRS Report R43840, Federal Income Taxes and Noncitizens: Frequently Asked Questions, by Erika K. Lunder and Margot L. Crandall-Hollick. Congressional offices can request this report from Brendan McDermott.

2 These deductions include trade or business expenses, losses from the sale or exchange of property, contributions to a qualified retirement plan by a self-employed individual, contributions to qualified individual retirement accounts, and certain education costs. In 2020 and 2021, taxpayers who claim the standard deduction (or nonitemizers) may be able to claim a deduction for charitable cash contributions. For more details, see CRS Insight IN11420, Temporary Enhancements to Charitable Contributions Deductions in the CARES Act, by Jane G. Gravelle, and CRS Report R46649, The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 and Other COVID-Related Tax Provisions in P.L. 116-260, by Molly F. Sherlock et al.

3 For more information on the alternative minimum tax for individuals, see CRS In Focus IF10705, Tax Reform: The Alternative Minimum Tax, by Donald J. Marples.

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x 0.1) + ($10,000 x 0.15) = ($1,000 + $1,500) = $2,500]. Consequently, her average tax rate (12.5%) is lower than her top marginal rate (15%).4 Tax brackets are adjusted for inflation each year, and individual income tax rates are progressive, which means that the rate increases as a taxpayer’s income goes up.

Personal Exemption

Before 2018, each taxpayer was allowed to reduce gross income by a fixed amount (known as an exemption) for herself or himself, a spouse, and all qualified dependents. The amount of the exemption was the same for every individual and indexed for inflation. In 2017, the amount was $4,050 per person. The personal exemption is suspended from 2018 through 2025, but are to be reinstated starting in 2026 if current tax law is not changed by then. For all but three years (2010- 2012) from 1991 to 2017, the exemption phased out for taxpayers with income above a threshold amount.

Itemized Deductions and the Standard Deduction

In computing taxable income, individuals are allowed to reduce their gross income by either the standard deduction or the sum of their itemized deductions, whichever amount is larger. The standard deduction varies by filing status and is indexed for inflation. In 2025, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and married persons filing separately, $22,500 for a head of household, and $30,000 for a married couple filing jointly and surviving spouses. Taxpayers who are 65 or older and/or blind are eligible for an additional standard deduction. In 2024, that amount is $1,600 for each spouse among joint filers and $2,000 for a single filer or head of household.

Instead of taking the standard deduction, a taxpayer may itemize certain deductions. In 2025, these deductions include up to $10,000 for a combination of state and local property taxes and state and local sales or income taxes paid;5 home mortgage interest paid on mortgage debt of $750,000 or less;6 eligible charitable contributions; certain investment interest; medical expenses above 7.5% of a taxpayer’s AGI; and casualty and theft losses related to federally declared disasters in excess of both 10% of AGI and $100 per loss.7 Before 2018, taxpayers were also allowed a deduction for miscellaneous itemized expenses (e.g., certain job-related expenses not paid by an employer) above 2% of AGI, but P.L. 115-97 suspended the deduction from 2018 through 2025. Like the personal exemption, total itemized deductions began to phase out from 1991 to 2017 (except in 2010 to 2012) for higher-income taxpayers with income above a threshold amount, which varied by filing status.

Inflation, Bracket Creep, and Indexation

Tax brackets, the personal exemption (which is unavailable from 2018 to 2025), and the standard deduction have been indexed for inflation since 1981. Indexing prevents individuals from moving into a higher tax bracket because of inflation, not because of increases in real income. Indexation was done with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) until 2018. Since then,

4 For more information on the difference between marginal and average income tax rates, see CRS Report R44787, Statutory, Average, and Effective Marginal Tax Rates in the Federal Individual Income Tax: Background and Analysis, by Molly F. Sherlock.

5 See CRS Report R46246, The SALT Cap: Overview and Analysis, by Grant A. Driessen and Joseph S. Hughes.

6 For more information, see CRS In Focus IF11540, The Mortgage Interest Deduction, by Mark P. Keightley.

7 See CRS Report R45864, Tax Policy and Disaster Recovery, by Molly F. Sherlock and Jennifer Teefy.

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the Chained CPI-U (C-CPI-U) is used to make inflation adjustments. Some maintain that the C- CPI-U provides a more accurate measure of the rate of price change for consumer products and services than the CPI-U.8

During periods of rising or relatively high inflation, an income tax based on tax brackets measured only in current (or nominal) dollars could lead to unintended tax increases. This can happen when nominal incomes rise faster than real incomes, pushing taxpayers into a higher tax bracket through a process known as bracket creep. The process can result in larger individual income tax burdens than lawmakers may have intended when they established the statutory rates.

The effects of inflation on income tax liabilities can be considerable, even in periods of low inflation. For example, $1,000 in October 1988 had the same buying power as $2,626 in October 2023, using the CPI-U to adjust for inflation.9 Year-to-year changes in general price levels did not exceed 3.4% between 1992 and 2020. But substantial rises in the U.S. inflation rate in 2021 and 2022 led to a 7.0% increase in the income ranges for each tax bracket in 2023 (relative to 2022) and a 5.5% increase in 2024 (relative to 2023). The increase in 2025 (relative to 2024) was 2.8%. Thus, taxpayers whose 2025 taxable income is 16% greater than their 2022 taxable income would be taxed at the same inflation-adjusted rate in 2022 and 2025, holding all else equal. However, filers whose 2025 taxable income is less than 16% larger than their taxable income in 2022 would see their inflation-adjusted income tax liability fall.

Congress added indexation to the federal income tax as a part of a package of statutory tax rate reductions included in the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. The relatively high U.S. inflation rate then influenced congressional deliberations on the benefits of tax indexation.10 As the Joint Committee on Taxation noted in its explanation of the act:

The Congress believed that “automatic” tax increases resulting from the effects of inflation were unfair to taxpayers, since their tax burden as a percentage of income could increase during intervals between tax reduction legislation, with an adverse effect on incentives to work and invest.11

For tax years before 2018, the inflation adjustment reflected the percentage by which the average CPI-U in the 12 months ending on August 31 of the preceding year exceeded the average CPI-U during a 12-month base period. Not all indexed tax items used the same base period.

Since 2018, a different price index has been used to adjust income tax items for inflation. Under P.L. 115-97, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) permanently replaced the CPI-U for this purpose.

Some analysts argued that the CPI-U overstated rises in the cost of living because it did not account for changes consumers make in their buying patterns when the prices of certain items in a standard market basket move up or down by significant amounts. In their view, not accounting for this substitution effect tended to overstate the impact of inflation on consumer behavior over time.

8 CRS Report R43347, Budgetary and Distributional Effects of Adopting the Chained CPI, by Donald J. Marples.

9 Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Inflation Calculator, http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm/.

10 The CPI-U rose 8.92% in 1981, following a rise of 12.51% in the previous year. By contrast, the average U.S. inflation rate, as measured by the CPI-U, from 1980 to 2019 was 2.96%.

11 U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on Taxation, General Explanation of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, JCS- 71-81, December 31, 1981, as redistributed by CCH Internet Tax Research NetWork.

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The C-CPI-U may be better at capturing changes in consumer spending patterns in response to price changes.12 The index compares details about what a consumer bought in the period before a price change with details about what he or she buys in the period after the change. Using the C- CPI-U, the BLS calculates one measure of inflation for the first-period basket and a second measure of inflation for the second-period basket and then takes the average. The C-CPI-U does this every month, creating an index that links consumer demand changes from month to month and tracks shifts in consumer buying patterns over time and among basket items.

Because the C-CPI-U accounts for the tendency of consumers to substitute cheaper items for items whose prices have risen, it produces lower estimates of the rate of increase in the cost of living over time than the CPI-U does. From December 2014 to December 2024, for example, the C-CPI-U rose 31%, compared to a 34% increase in the CPI-U.

Using the C-CPI-U to adjust income tax items for inflation could cause greater bracket creep than the CPI-U would. Because the C-CPI-U increases more slowly than the CPI-U, tax bracket thresholds are likely to rise by smaller amounts from one year to the next. In this case, more taxpayers would be at risk of moving into higher tax brackets than they would under the CPI-U, assuming their taxable income increases faster than the C-CPI-U. Accelerated bracket creep would result in an increase in federal tax revenue over time, all other things being equal. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the revenue gain from switching to the C-CPI-U would total $134 billion from FY2018 to FY2027.13

The year-to-year changes in dollar amounts were relatively small from 1992 to 2020. However, during periods of high inflation, indexation may prevent large inflation-adjusted increases in tax liability for taxpayers with consistent real incomes.

Since 1981, when Congress first authorized indexing of various individual income tax items for inflation, the list of indexed elements has expanded and now encompasses more than 50 tax items. Not all of the items pertain to individuals, and not all elements of the individual income tax are indexed for inflation.

Tax Tables from 1988 to 2025

The following tables present the personal exemption and phaseout threshold amounts, standard deductions, limitations on itemized deductions, and statutory marginal tax rates schedules for each tax year from 2025 back to 1988.

Table 1. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2025

Personal Exemption and Phaseout Threshold:

$0

(Suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $30,000

Single $15,000

12 CRS Report RL32293, The Chained Consumer Price Index: What Is It and Would It Be Appropriate for Cost-of- Living Adjustments?, by Julie M. Whittaker.

13 U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on Taxation, General Explanation of P.L. 115-97, JCS-1-18 (Washington: GPO, 2018), p. 434.

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Head of Household $22,500

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Individual $1,600

Individual who is unmarried and not a surviving spouse

$2,000

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2025

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $23,850 10% of the amount over $0

over $23,850 to $96,950 $2,385 + 12% of the amount over $23,850

over $96,950 to $206,700 $11,157 + 22% of the amount over $96,950

over $206,700 to $394,600 $35,302 + 24% of the amount over $206,700

over $394,600 to $501,050 $80,398 + 32% of the amount over $394,600

over $501,050 to $751,600 $114,162 + 35% of the amount over $501,050

over $751,600 $202,154.50 + 37% of the amount over $751,600

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,925 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,925 to $48,475 $1,192.50 + 12% of the amount over $11,925

over $48,475 to $103,350 $5,578.50 + 22% of the amount over $48,475

over $103,350 to $197,300 $17,651 + 24% of the amount over $103,350

over $197,300 to $250,525 $40,199 + 32% of the amount over $197,300

over $250,525 to $626,350 $57,231 + 35% of the amount over $250,525

over $626,350 $188,769.75 + 37% of the amount over $626,350

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $17,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $17,000 to $64,850 $1,700 + 12% of the amount over $17,000

over $64,850 to $103,350 $7,442 + 22% of the amount over $64,850

over $103,350 to $197,300 $15,912 + 24% of the amount over $103,350

over $197,300 to $250,500 $38,460 + 32% of the amount over $197,300

over $250,500 to $626,350 $55,484 + 35% of the amount over $250,500

over $626,350 $187,031.50 + 37% of the amount over $626,350

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-40.

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Table 2. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2024

Personal Exemption and Phaseout Threshold:

$0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $29,200

Single $14,600

Head of Household $21,900

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Individual $1,550

Individual who is unmarried and not a surviving spouse

$1,950

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2024

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $23,200 10% of the amount over $0

over $23,200 to $94,300 $2,320 + 12% of the amount over $23,200

over $94,300 to $201,050 $10,852 + 22% of the amount over $94,300

over $201,050 to $383,900 $34,337 + 24% of the amount over $201,050

over $383,900 to $487,450 $78,221 + 32% of the amount over $383,900

over $487,450 to $731,200 $111,357 + 35% of the amount over $487,450

over $731,200 $196,669.50 + 37% of the amount over $731,200

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,600 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,600 to $47,150 $1,160 + 12% of the amount over $11,600

over $47,150 to $100,525 $5,426 + 22% of the amount over $47,150

over $100,525 to $191,950 $17,168.50 + 24% of the amount over $100,525

over $191,950 to $243,725 $39,110.50 + 32% of the amount over $191,950

over $243,725 to $609,350 $55,678.50 + 35% of the amount over $243,725

over $609,350 $183,647.25 + 37% of the amount over $609,350

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $16,550 10% of the amount over $0

over $16,550 to $63,100 $1,655 + 12% of the amount over $16,550

over $63,100 to $100,500 $7,241 + 22% of the amount over $63,100

over $100,500 to $191,950 $15,469 + 24% of the amount over $100,500

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 7

over $191,950 to $243,700 $37,417 + 32% of the amount over $191,950

over $243,700 to $609,350 $53,997 + 35% of the amount over $243,700

over $609,350 $181,954.50 + 37% of the amount over $609,350

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2023-34.

Table 3. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitations on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2023

Personal Exemption and Phaseout Threshold:

$0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $27,700

Single $13,850

Head of Household $20,800

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Individual $1,500

Individual who is unmarried and not a surviving spouse

$1,850

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2023

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $22,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $22,000 to $89,450 $2,200 + 12% of the amount over $22,000

over $89,450 to $190,750 $10,294 + 22% of the amount over $89,450

over $190,750 to $364,200 $32,580 + 24% of the amount over $190,750

over $364,200 to $462,500 $74,208 + 32% of the amount over $364,200

over $462,500 to $693,750 $105,664 + 35% of the amount over $462,500

over $693,750 $186,601 + 37% of the amount over $693,750

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,000 to $44,725 $1,100 + 12% of the amount over $11,000

over $44,725 to $95,375 $5,147 + 22% of the amount over $44,725

over $95,375 to $182,100 $16,290 + 24% of the amount over $95,375

over $182,100 to $231,250 $37,104 + 32% of the amount over $182,100

over $231,250 to $578,125 $52,832 + 35% of the amount over $231,250

over $578,125 $174,238.25 + 37% of the amount over $578,125

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 8

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $15,700 10% of the amount over $0

over $15,700 to $59,850 $1,570 + 12% of the amount over $15,700

over $59,850 to $95,350 $6,868 + 22% of the amount over $59,850

over $95,350 to $182,100 $14,678 + 24% of the amount over $95,350

over $182,100 to $231,250 $35,498 + 32% of the amount over $182,100

over $231,250 to $578,100 $51,226 + 35% of the amount over $231,250

over $578,100 $172,623 + 37% of the amount over $578,100

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2022-38.

Table 4. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2022

Personal Exemption and Phaseout: $0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $25,900

Single $12,950

Head of Household $19,400

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,400

Single/Head of Household $1,750

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2022

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $20,550 10% of the amount over $0

over $20,550 to $83,550 $2,055 + 12% of the amount over $20,550

over $83,550 to $178,150 $9,615 + 22% of the amount over $83,550

over $178,150 to $340,100 $30,427 + 24% of the amount over $178,150

over $340,100 to $431,900 $69,295 + 32% of the amount over $340,100

over $431,900 to $647,850 $98,671 + 35% of the amount over $431,900

over $647,850 $174,253.50 + 37% of the amount over $647,850

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $10,275 10% of the amount over $0

over $10,275 to $41,775 $1,027.50 + 12% of the amount over $10,275

over $41,775 to $89,075 $4,807.50 + 22% of the amount over $41,775

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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over $89,075 to $170,050 $15,213.50 + 24% of the amount over $89,075

over $170,050 to $215,950 $34,647.50 + 32% of the amount over $170,050

over $215,950 to $539,900 $49,335.50 + 35% of the amount over $215,950

over $539,900 $162,718 + 37% of the amount over $539,900

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $14,650 10% of the amount over $0

over $14,650 to $55,900 $1,465 + 12% of the amount over $14,650

over $55,900 to $89,050 $6,415 + 22% of the amount over $55,900

over $89,050 to $170,050 $13,708 + 24% of the amount over $89,050

over $170,050 to $215,950 $33,148 + 32% of the amount over $170,050

over $215,950 to $539,900 $47,836 + 35% of the amount over $215,950

over $539,900 $161,218.50 + 37% of the amount over $539,900

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2021-45.

Table 5. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2021

Personal Exemption and Phaseout: $0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $25,100

Single $12,550

Head of Household $18,800

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,350

Single/Head of Household $1,700

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2021

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $19,900 10% of the amount over $0

over $19,900 to $81,050 $1,990 + 12% of the amount over $19,900

over $81,050 to $172,750 $9,328 + 22% of the amount over $81,050

over $172,750 to $329,850 $29,502 + 24% of the amount over $172,750

over $329,850 to $418,850 $67,206 + 32% of the amount over $329,850

over $418,850 to $628,300 $95,686 + 35% of the amount over $418,850

over $628,300 $168,993.50 + 37% of the amount over $628,300

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,950 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,950 to $40,525 $995 + 12% of the amount over $9,950

over $40,525 to $86,375 $4,664 + 22% of the amount over $40,525

over $86,375 to $164,900 $14,751+ 24% of the amount over $86,375

over $164,900 to $209,400 $33,603 + 32% of the amount over $164,900

over $209,400 to $523,600 $47,843 + 35% of the amount over $209,400

over $523,600 $157,804.25 + 37% of the amount over $523,600

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $14,200 10% of the amount over $0

over $14,200 to $54,200 $1,420 + 12% of the amount over $14,200

over $54,200 to $86,350 $6,220 + 22% of the amount over $54,200

over $86,350 to $164,900 $13,293 + 24% of the amount over $86,350

over $164,900 to $209,400 $32,415 + 32% of the amount over $164,900

over $209,400 to $523,600 $46,385 + 35% of the amount over $209,400

over $523,600 $156,355 + 37% of the amount over $523,600

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2020-45.

Table 6. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2020

Personal Exemption and Phaseout: $0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $24,800

Single $12,400

Head of Household $18,650

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,300

Single/Head of Household $1,650

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2020

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $19,750 10% of the amount over $0

over $19,750 to $80,250 $1,975 + 12% of the amount over $19,750

over $80,250 to $171,050 $9,235 + 22% of the amount over $80,250

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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over $171,050 to $326,600 $29,211 + 24% of the amount over $171,050

over $326,600 to $414,700 $66,543 + 32% of the amount over $326,600

over $414,700 to $622,050 $94,735 + 35% of the amount over $414,700

over $622,050 $167,307.50 + 37% of the amount over $622,050

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,875 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,875 to $40,125 $987.50 + 12% of the amount over $9,875

over $40,125 to $85,525 $4,617.50 + 22% of the amount over $40,125

over $85,525 to $163,300 $14,605.50 + 24% of the amount over $85,525

over $163,300 to $207,350 $33,271.50 + 32% of the amount over $163,300

over $207,350 to $518,400 $47,367.50 + 35% of the amount over $207,350

over $518,400 $156,235 + 37% of the amount over $518,400

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $14,100 10% of the amount over $0

over $14,100 to $53,700 $1,410 + 12% of the amount over $14,100

over $53,700 to $85,500 $6,612 + 22% of the amount over $53,700

over $85,500 to $163,300 $13,158 + 24% of the amount over $85,500

over $163,300 to $207,350 $31,830 + 32% of the amount over $163,300

over $207,350 to $518,400 $45,926 + 35% of the amount over $207,350

over $518,400 $154,793.50 + 37% of the amount over $518,400

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2019-44.

Table 7. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2019

Personal Exemption and Phaseout: $0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $24,400

Single $12,200

Head of Household $18,350

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,300

Single/Head of Household $1,650

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 12

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2019

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $19,400 10% of the amount over $0

over $19,400 to $78,950 $1,940 + 12% of the amount over $19,400

over $78,950 To $168,400 $9,086 + 22% of the amount over $78,950

over $168,400 to $321,450 $28,675 + 24% of the amount over $168,400

over $321,450 to $408,200 $65,497 + 32% of the amount over $321,450

over $408,200 to $612,350 $93,257 + 35% of the amount over $408,200

over $612,350 $164,709.50 + 37% of the amount over $612,350

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,700 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,700 to $39,475 $970 + 12% of the amount over $9,700

over $39,475 to $84,200 $4543 + 22% of the amount over $39,475

over $84,200 to $160,725 $14,382.50 + 24% of the amount over $84,200

over $160,725 to $204,100 $32,748.50 + 32% of the amount over $160,725

over $204,100 to $510,300 $46,628.50 + 35% of the amount over $204,100

over $510,300 $153,798.50 + 37% of the amount over $510,300

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $13,850 10% of the amount over $0

over $13,850 to $52,850 $1,385 + 12% of the amount over $13,850

over $52,850 to $84,200 $6,065 + 22% of the amount over $52,850

over $84,200 to $160,700 $12,962 + 24% of the amount over $84,200

over $160,700 to $204,100 $31,322 + 32% of the amount over $160,700

over $204,100 to $510,300 $45,210 + 35% of the amount over $204,100

over $510,300 $152,380 + 37% of the amount over $510,300

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2018-57.

Table 8. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2018

Personal Exemption and Phaseout: $0

(suspended through the end of 2025)

Standard Deduction:

Joint $24,000

Single $12,000

Head of Household $18,000

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,300

Single/Head of Household $1,600

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: Suspended through the end of 2025

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2018

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $19,050 10% of the amount over $0

over $19,050 to $77,400 $1,905 + 12% of the amount over $19,050

over $77,400 to $165,000 $8,907 + 22% of the amount over $77,400

over $165,000 to $315,000 $28,675 + 24% of the amount over $165,000

over $315,000 to $400,000 $64,179 + 32% of the amount over $315,000

over $400,000 to $600,000 $91,379 + 35% of the amount over $400,000

over $600,000 $161,379 + 37% of the amount over $600,000

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,525 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,525 to $38,700 $952.50 + 12% of the amount over $9,525

over $38,700 to $82,500 $4,453.50 + 22% of the amount over $38,700

over $82,500 to $157,500 $14,089.50 + 24% of the amount over $82,500

over $157,500 to $200,000 $32,089.50 + 32% of the amount over $157,500

over $200,000 to $500,000 $45,689.50 + 35% of the amount over $200,000

over $500,000 $150,689.50 + 37% of the amount over $500,000

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $13,600 10% of the amount over $0

over $13,600 to $51,800 $1,360 + 12% of the amount over $13,600

over $51,800 to $82,500 $5,944 + 22% of the amount over $51,800

over $82,500 to $157,500 $12,698 + 24% of the amount over $82,500

over $157,500 to $200,000 $30,698 + 32% of the amount over $157,500

over $200,000 to $500,000 $44,298 + 35% of the amount over $200,000

over $500,000 $149,298 + 37% of the amount over $500,000

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure: 2018-18.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Table 9. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2017

Personal Exemption: $4,050

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $313,800

Single $261,500

Head of Household $287,650

Standard Deduction:

Joint $12,700

Single $6,350

Head of Household $9,350

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,250

Single/Head of Household $1,550

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

For taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amounts shown below, the itemized deductions they could claim were equal to the lesser of 80% of the amount of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the excess of a taxpayer’s AGI above those amounts. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

Joint $313,800

Head of Household $287,650

Single $261,500

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2017

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $18,650 10% of the amount over $0

over $18,650 to $75,900 $1,865 + 15% of the amount over $18,650

over $75,900 to $153,100 $10,452.50 + 25% of the amount over $75,900

over $153,100 to $233,350 $28,675 + 28% of the amount over $153,100

over $233,350 to $416,700 $52,222.50 + 33% of the amount over $233,350

over $416,700 to $470,700 $112,728 + 35% of the amount over $416,700

over $470,700 $131,628 + 39.6% of the amount over $470,700

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,325 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,325 to $37,950 $932.50 + 15% of the amount over $9,325

over $37,950 to $91,900 $5,226.25 + 25% of the amount over $37,950

over $91,900 to $191,650 $18,713.75 + 28% of the amount over $91,900

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 15

over $191,650 to $416,700 $46,643.75 + 33% of the amount over $191,650

over $416,700 to $418,400 $120,910.25 + 35% of the amount over $416,700

over $418,400 $121,505.25 + 39.6% of the amount over $418,400

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $13,350 10% of the amount over $0

over $13,350 to $50,800 $1,335 + 15% of the amount over $13,350

over $50,800 to $131,200 $6,952.50 + 25% of the amount over $50,800

over $131,200 to $212,500 $27,052.50 + 28% of the amount over $131,200

over $212,500 to $416,700 $49,816.50 + 33% of the amount over $212,500

over $416,700 to $444,550 $117,202.50 + 35% of the amount over $416,700

over $444,550 $126,950 + 39.6% of the amount over $444,550

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2016-55.

Table 10. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2016

Personal Exemption: $4,050

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $311,300

Head of household 2852,350

Single $259,400

Standard Deduction:

Joint $12,600

Single $6,300

Head of Household $9,300

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,250

Single/Head of Household $1,550

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

For taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amounts shown below, the itemized deductions they could claim were equal to the lesser of 80% of the amount of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the excess of a taxpayer’s AGI above those amounts. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

Joint $311,300

Head of Household $285,350

Single $259,400

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 16

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2016

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $18,550 10% of the amount over $0

over $18,550 to $75,300 $1,855 + 15% of the amount over $18,550

over $75,300 to $151,900 $10,162.50 + 25% of the amount over $75,300

over $151,900 to $231,450 $28,925 + 28% of the amount over $151,900

over $231,450 to $413,350 $50,765 + 33% of the amount over $231,450

over $413,350 to $466,950 $109,587.50 + 35% of the amount over $413,350

over $466,950 $127,962.50 + 39.6% of the amount over $466,950

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,275 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,275 to $37,650 $927.50 + 15% of the amount over $9,275

over $37,650 to $91,150 $5,081.25 + 25% of the amount over $37,650

over $91,150 to $190,150 $18,193.75 + 28% of the amount over $91,150

over $190,150 to $413,350 $45,353.75 + 33% of the amount over $190,150

over $413,350 to $415,050 $117,541.25 + 35% of the amount over $413,350

over $415,050 $118,118.75 + 39.6% of the amount over$415,050

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $13,250 10% of the amount over $0

over $13,250 to $50,200 $1,325 + 15% of the amount over $13,250

over $50,200 to $130,150 $6,762.50 + 25% of the amount over $50,200

over $130,150 to $210,800 $26,300 + 28% of the amount over $130,150

over $210,800 to $413,350 $48,434 + 33% of the amount over $210,800

over $413,350 to $441,000 $113,939 + 35% of the amount over $413,350

over $441,000 $123,424 + 39.6% of the amount over $441,000

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2015-53.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 17

Table 11. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2015

Personal Exemption: $4,000

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $309,900

Single $258,250

Head of Household $284,050

Standard Deduction:

Joint $12,600

Single $6,300

Head of Household $9,250

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,250

Single/Head of Household $1,550

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: For taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amounts shown below, the itemized deductions they could claim were equal to the lesser of 80% of the amount of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the excess of a taxpayer’s AGI above those amounts. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

Joint $309,900

Single $258,250

Head of Household $284,050

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2015

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $18,450 10% of the amount over $0

over $18,450 to $74,900 $1,845 + 15% of the amount over $18,4500

over $74,900 to $151,200 $10,162.50 + 25% of the amount over $74,900

over $151,200 to $230,450 $28,925 + 28% of the amount over $151,200

over $230,450 to $411,500 $50,765 + 33% of the amount over $230,450

over $411,500 to $464,850 $109,587.50 + 35% of the amount over $411,500

over $464,850 $127,962.50 + 39.6% of the amount over $464,850

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,225 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,225 to $37,450 $922.50 + 15% of the amount over $9,225

over $37,450 to $90,750 $5,081.25 + 25% of the amount over $37,450

over $90,750 to $189,300 $18,193.75 + 28% of the amount over $90,750

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 18

over $189,300 to $411,500 $45,353.75 + 33% of the amount over $189,300

over $411,500 to $413,200 $117,541.25 + 35% of the amount over $411,500

over $413,200 $118,118.75 + 39.6% of the amount over $413,200

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $13,150 10% of the amount over $0

over $13,150 to $50,200 $1,315+ 15% of the amount over $13,150

over $50,200 to $129,600 $6,762.50 + 25% of the amount over $50,200

over $129,600 to $209,850 $26,300 + 28% of the amount over $129,600

over $209,850 to $411,500 $48,434 + 33% of the amount over $209,850

over $411,500 to $439,000 $113,939 + 35% of the amount over $411,500

over $439,000 $123,424 + 39.6% of the amount over $439,000

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2014-61.

Table 12. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2014

Personal Exemption: $3,950

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $305,050

Head of household $279,650

Single $254,200

Standard Deduction:

Joint $12,400

Single $6,200

Head of Household $9,100

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,200

Single/Head of Household $1,500

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

For taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amounts shown below, the itemized deductions they could claim were equal to the lesser of 80% of the amount of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the excess of a taxpayer’s AGI above those amounts. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

Joint $305,050

Single $254,200

Head of Household $279,650

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 19

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2014

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $18,150 10% of the amount over $0

over $18,150 to $73,800 $1,815 + 15% of the amount over $18,150

over $73,800 to $148,850 $10,162.50 + 25% of the amount over $73,800

over $148,850 to $226,850 $28,925 + 28% of the amount over $148,850

over $226,850 to $405,100 $50,765 + 33% of the amount over $226,850

over $405,100 to $457,600 $109,587.50 + 35% of the amount over $405,100

over $457,600 $127,962.50 + 39.6% of the amount over $457,600

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $9,075 10% of the amount over $0

over $9,075 to $36,900 $907.50 + 15% of the amount over $9,075

over $36,900 to $89,350 $5,081.25 + 25% of the amount over $36,900

over $89,350 to $186,350 $18,193.75 + 28% of the amount over $89,350

over $186,350 to $405,100 $45,353.75 + 33% of the amount over $186,350

over $405,100 to $406,750 $117,541.25 + 35% of the amount over $405,100

over $406,750 $118,118.75 + 39.6% of the amount over $406,750

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $12,950 10% of the amount over $0

over $12,950 to $49,400 $1,295 + 15% of the amount over $12,950

over $49,400 to $127,550 $6,762.50 + 25% of the amount over $49,400

over $127,550 to $206,600 $26,300 + 28% of the amount over $127,550

over $206,600 to $405,100 $48,434 + 33% of the amount over $206,600

over $405,100 to $432,200 $113,939 + 35% of the amount over $405,100

over $432,200 $123,424 + 39.6% of the amount over $432,200

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2013-35.

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Table 13. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2013

Personal Exemption $3,900

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $422,501

Head of household $397,501

Single $372,501

Standard Deduction:

Joint $12,200

Single $6,100

Head of Household $8,950

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,200

Single/Head of Household $1,500

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

For taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amounts shown below, the itemized deductions they could claim were equal to the lesser of 80% of the amount of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the excess of a taxpayer’s AGI above those amounts. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

Joint $300,000

Head of Household $275,000

Single $250,000

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2013

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $17,850 10% of the amount over $0

over $17,850 to $72,500 $1,785 + 15% of the amount over $17,850

over $72,500 to $146,400 $9,982.50 + 25% of the amount over $72,500

over $146,400 to $223,050 $28,457.50 + 28% of the amount over $146,400

over $223,050 to $398,350 $49,919.50 + 33% of the amount over $223,050

over $398,350 to $450,000 $107,768.50 + 35% of the amount over $398,350

over $450,000 $125,846 + 39.6% of the amount over $450,000

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $8,925 10% of the amount over $0

over $8,925 to $36,250 $892.50 + 15% of the amount over $8,925

over $36,250 to $87,850 $4,991.25 + 25% of the amount over $36,250

over $87,850 to $183,250 $17,891.25 + 28% of the amount over $87,850

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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over $183,250 to $398,350 $44,603.25 + 33% of the amount over $183,250

over $398,350 to $400,000 $115,586.25 + 35% of the amount over $398,350

over $400,000 $116,163.75 + 39.6% of the amount over $400,000

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $12,750 10% of the amount over $0

over $12,750 to $48,600 $1,275 + 15% of the amount over $12,750

over $48,600 to $125,450 $6,652.50 + 25% of the amount over $48,600

over $125,450 to $203,150 $25,865 + 28% of the amount over $125,450

over $203,150 to $398,350 $47,621 + 33% of the amount over $203,150

over $398,350 to $425,000 $112,037 + 35% of the amount over $398,350

over $425,000 $121,364.50 + 39.6% of the amount over $425,000

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2012-41.

Table 14. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2012

Personal Exemption $3,800

Phaseout of personal exemption: Ended on Dec. 31, 2009

Standard Deduction:

Joint $11,900

Single $5,950

Head of Household $8,700

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,150

Single/Head of Household $1,450

Limitation on itemized deductions: Ended on Dec. 31, 2009

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2012

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $17,400 10% of the amount over $0

over $17,400 to $70,700 $1,740 + 15% of the amount over $17,400

over $70,700 to $142,700 $9,500 + 25% of the amount over $70,700

over $142,700 to $217,450 $27,087.50 + 28% of the amount over $142,700

over $217,450 to $388,350 $47,513.50 + 33% of the amount over $217,450

over $388,350 $102,574 + 35% of the amount over $388,350

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $8,700 10% of the amount over $0

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 22

over $8,700 to $35,350 $870 + 15% of the amount over $8,700

over $35,350 to $85,650 $4,750 + 25% of the amount over $35,350

over $85,650 to $178,650 $17,025 + 28% of the amount over $85,650

over $178,650 to $388,350 $42,449 + 33% of the amount over $178,650

over $388,350 $110,016.50 + 35% of the amount over $388,350

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $12,400 10% of the amount over $0

over $12,400 to $47,350 $1,240 + 15% of the amount over $12,400

over $47,350 to $122,300 $6,330 + 25% of the amount over $47,350

over $122,300 to $198,050 $24,617.50 + 28% of the amount over $122,300

over $198,050 to $388,350 $45,322.50 + 33% of the amount over $198,050

over $388,350 $106,637.50 + 35% of the amount over $388,350

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-52.

Table 15. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2011

Personal Exemption: $3,700

Phaseout of personal exemption: Ended on Dec. 31, 2009

Standard Deduction:

Joint $11,600

Single $5,800

Head of Household $8,500

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,150

Single/Head of Household $1,450

Limitation on itemized deductions: Ended on Dec. 31, 2009

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2011

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $17,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $17,000 to $69,000 $1,700 + 15% of the amount over $17,000

over $69,000 to $139,350 $9,.500 + 25% of the amount over $69,000

over $139,350 to $212,300 $27,087.50 + 28% of the amount over $139,350

over $212,300 to $379,150 $47,513.50 + 33% of the amount over $212,300

over $379,150 $102,574 + 35% of the amount over $379,150

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $8,500 10% of the amount over $0

over $8,500 to $34,500 $850 + 15% of the amount over $8,500

over $34,500 to $83,600 $4,750 + 25% of the amount over $34,500

over $83,600 to $174,400 $17,025 + 28% of the amount over $83,600

over $174,400 to $379,150 $42,449 + 33% of the amount over $174,400

over $379,150 $110,016.50 + 35% of the amount over $379,150

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $12,150 10% of the amount over $0

over $12,150 to $46,250 $1,215 + 15% of the amount over $12,150

over $46,250 to $119,400 $6,330 + 25% of the amount over $46,250

over $119,400 to $193,350 $24,617.50 + 28% of the amount over $119,400

over $193,350 to $379,150 $45,322.50 + 33% of the amount over $193,350

over $379,150 $106,637.50 + 35% of the amount over $379,150

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-12.

Table 16. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2010

Personal Exemption: $3,650

Phaseout of personal exemption: Ended on Dec. 31, 2009

Standard Deduction:

Joint $11,400

Single $5,700

Head of Household $8,400

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,100

Single/Head of Household $1,400

Limitation on itemized deductions: Ended on Dec. 31, 2009

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2010

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $16,750 10% of the amount over $0

over $16,750 to $68,000 $1,675 + 15% of the amount over $16,750

over $68,000 to $137,300 $9,362.50 + 25% of the amount over $68,000

over $137,300 to $209,250 $26,687.50 + 28% of the amount over $137,300

over $209,250 to $373,650 $46,833.50 + 33% of the amount over $209,250

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 24

over $373,650 $100,894.50 + 35% of the amount over $373,650

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $8,375 10% of the amount over $0

over $8,375 to $34,000 $837.50 + 15% of the amount over $8,375

over $34,000 to $82,400 $4,681.25 + 25% of the amount over $34,000

over $82,400 to $171,850 $16,781.25 + 28% of the amount over $82,400

over $171,850 to $373,650 $41,827.25 + 33% of the amount over $171,850

over $373,650 $108,421.25 + 35% of the amount over $373,650

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,950 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,950 to $45,550 $1,195 + 15% of the amount over $11,950

over $45,550 to $117,650 $6,235 + 25% of the amount over $45,550

over $117,650 to $190,550 $24,215 + 28% of the amount over $117,650

over $190,550 to $373,650 $44,672 + 33% of the amount over $190,550

over $373,650 $105,095 + 35% of the amount over $373,650

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2009-50.

Table 17. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2009

Personal Exemption: $3,650

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $250,200

Single $166,800

Head of Household $208,500

Standard Deduction:

Joint $11,400

Single $5,700

Head of Household $8,350

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,100

Single/Head of Household $1,400

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 25

Limitation on itemized deductions: For persons whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions they could claim had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$166,800

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Stat Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2009

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $16,700 10% of the amount over $0

over $67,900 to $137,050 $1,670 + 15% of the amount over $16,700

over $137,050 to $208,850 $9,350 + 25% of the amount over $67,900

$26,637.50 + 28% of the amount over $137,050

over $208,850 to $372,950 $46,741.50 + 33% of the amount over $208,850

over $372,950 $100,894.50 + 35% of the amount over $372,950

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $8,350 10% of the amount over $0

over $8,350 to $33,950 $835 + 15% of the amount over $8,350

over $33,950 to $82,250 $4,675 + 25% of the amount over $33,950

over $82,250 to $171,550 $16,750 + 28% of the amount over $82,250

over $171,550 to $372,950 $41,754 + 33% of the amount over $171,550

over $372,950 $108,216 + 35% of the amount over $372,950

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,950 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,950 to $45,500 $1,195 + 15% of the amount over $11,950

over $45,500 to $117,450 $6,227.50 + 25% of the amount over $45,500

over $117,450 to $190,200 $24,215 + 28% of the amount over $117,450

over $190,200 to $372,950 $44,585 + 33% of the amount over $190,200

over $372,950 $104,892.50 + 35% of the amount over $372,950

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2008-66.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Table 18. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2008

Personal Exemption $3,500

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $239,950

Single $159,950

Head of Household $199,900

Standard Deduction:

Joint $10,900

Single $5,450

Head of Household $8,000

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,050

Single/Head of Household $1,350

Limitation on itemized deductions: If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$159,950

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2008

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $16,050 10% of the amount over $0

over $16,050 to $65,100 $1,605 + 15% of the amount over $16,050

over $65,100 to $131,450 $8,962.50 + 25% of the amount over $65,100

over $131,450 to $200,300 $25,550 + 28% of the amount over $131,450

over $200,300 to $357,700 $44,828 + 33% of the amount over $200,300

over $357,700 $96,770 + 35% of the amount over $357,700

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $8,025 10% of the amount over $0

over $8,025 to $32,550 $802.50 + 15% of the amount over $8,025

over $32,550 to $78,850 $4,481.25 + 25% of the amount over $32,550

over $78,850 to $164,550 $16,056.25 + 28% of the amount over $78,850

over $164,550 to $357,700 $40,052.25 + 33% of the amount over $164,550

over $357,700 $103,791.75 + 35% of the amount over $357,700

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,450 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,450 to $43,650 $1,145 + 15% of the amount over $11,450

over $43,650 to $112,650 $5,975 + 25% of the amount over $43,650

over $112,650 to $182,400 $23,225 + 28% of the amount over $112,650

over $182,400 to $357,700 $42,755 + 33% of the amount over $182,400

over $357,700 $100,604 + 35% of the amount over $357,700

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2007-66.

Table 19. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2007

Personal Exemption: $3,400

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $234,600

Single $156,400

Head of Household $195,500

Standard Deduction:

Joint $10,700

Single $5,350

Head of Household $7,850

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,050

Single/Head of Household $1,300

Limitation on itemized deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$156,400

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2007

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $15,650 10% of the amount over $0

over $15,650 to $63,700 $1,565 + 15% of the amount over $15,650

over $63,700 to $128,500 $8,773 + 25% of the amount over $63,700

over $128,500 to $195,850 $24,973 + 28% of the amount over $128,500

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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over $195,850 to $349,700 $43,831 + 33% of the amount over $195,850

over $349,700 $94,601 + 35% of the amount over $349,700

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $7,825 10% of the amount over $0

over $7,825 to $31,850 $783 + 15% of the amount over $7,825

over $31,850 to $77,100 $4,386 + 25% of the amount over $31,850

over $77,100 to $160,850 $15,699 + 28% of the amount over $77,100

over $160,850 to $349,700 $39,149 + 33% of the amount over $160,850

over $349,700 $101,469 + 35% of the amount over $349,700

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $11,200 10% of the amount over $0

over $11,200 to $42,650 $1,120 + 15% of the amount over $11,200

over $42,650 to $110,100 $5,838 + 25% of the amount over $42,650

over $110,100 to $178,350 $22,700 + 28% of the amount over $110,100

over $178,350 to $349,700 $41,810 + 33% of the amount over $178,350

over $349,700 $98,356 + 35% of the amount over $349,700

Table 20. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2006

Personal Exemption: $3,300

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $225,750

Head of Household $188,150

Single $150,500

Standard Deduction:

Joint $10,300

Single $5,150

Head of Household $7,550

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint (each spouse) $1,000

Single/Head of Household $1,250

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Limitation on itemized deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$150,500

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2006

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $15,100 10% of the amount over $0

over $15,100 to $61,300 $1,510 + 15% of the amount over $15,100

over $61,300 to $123,700 $8,440 + 25% of the amount over $61,300

over $123,700 to $188,450 $24,040 + 28% of the amount over $123,700

over $188,450 to $336,550 $42,170 + 33% of the amount over $188,450

over $336,550 $91,043 + 35% of the amount over $336,550

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $7,550 10% of the amount over $0

over $7,550 to $30,650 $755 + 15% of the amount over $7,550

over $30,650 to $74,200 $4,220 + 25% of the amount over $30,650

over $74,200 to $154,800 $15,108 + 28% of the amount over $74,200

over $154,800 to $336,550 $37,676 + 33% of the amount over $154,800

over $336,550 $97,653 + 35% of the amount over $336,550

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $10,750 10% of the amount over $0

over $10,750 to $41,050 $1,075 + 15% of the amount over $10,750

over $41,050 to $106,000 $5,620 + 25% of the amount over $41,050

over $106,000 to $171,650 $21,858 + 28% of the amount over $106,000

over $171,650 to $336,550 $40,240 + 33% of the amount over $171,650

over $336,550 $94,657 + 35% of the amount over $336,550

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2005-70.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

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Table 21. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout Thresholds, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 2005

Personal Exemption: $3,200

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $218,950

Single $145,950

Head of Household $182,450

Standard Deduction:

Joint $10,000

Single $5,000

Head of Household $7,300

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind and Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

Joint (each spouse) $1,000

Single/Head of Household $1,250

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$145,950 (for all filers except married persons filing

separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2005

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $14,600 10% of the amount over $0

over $14,600 to $59,400 $1,460 + 15% of the amount over $14,600

over $59,400 to $119,950 $8,180 + 25% of the amount over $59,400

over $119,950 to $182,800 $23,318 + 28% of the amount over $119,950

over $182,800 to $326,450 $40,916 + 33% of the amount over $182,800

over $326,450 $88,321 + 35% of the amount over $326,450

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $7,300 10% of the amount over $0

over $7,300 to $29,700 $730 + 15% of the amount over $7,300

over $29,700 to $71,950 $4,090 + 25% of the amount over $29,700

over $71,950 to $150,150 $14,653 + 28% of the amount over $71,950

over $150,150 to $326,450 $36,549 + 33% of the amount over $150,150

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 31

over $326,450 $94,728 + 35% of the amount over $326,450

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $10,450 10% of the amount over $0

over $10,450 to $39,800 $1,045 + 15% of the amount over $10,450

over $39,800 to $102,800 $5,448 + 25% of the amount over $39,800

over $102,800 to $166,450 $21,198 + 28% of the amount over $102,800

over $166,450 to $326,450 $39,020 + 33% of the amount over $166,450

over $326,450 $91,820 + 35% of the amount over $326,450

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2004-71.

Table 22. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of the Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

2004

Personal Exemption: $3,100

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $214,050

Single $142,700

Head of Household $178,350

Standard Deduction:

Joint $9,700

Single $4,850

Head of Household $7,150

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind and Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

Joint $950

Single/Head of Household $1,200

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$142,700 (for all filers except married persons filing

separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2004

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $14,300 10% of the amount over $0

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 32

over $14,300 to $58,100 $1,430 + 15% of the amount over $14,300

over $58,100 to $117,250 $8,000 + 25% of the amount over $58,100

over $117,250 to $178,650 $22,788 + 28% of the amount over $117,250

over $178,650 to $319,100 $39,980 + 33% of the amount over $178,650

over $319,100 $86,328 + 35% of the amount over $319,100

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $7,150 10% of the amount over $0

over $7,150 to $29,050 $715 + 15% of the amount over $7,150

over $29,050 to $70,350 $4,000 + 25% of the amount over $29,050

over $70,350 to $146,750 $14,325 + 28% of the amount over $70,350

over $146,750 to $319,100 $35,717 + 33% of the amount over $146,750

over $319,100 $92,593 + 35% of the amount over $319,100

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $10,200 10% of the amount over $0

over $10,200 to $38,900 $1,020 + 15% of the amount over $10,200

over $38,900 to $100,500 $5,325 + 25% of the amount over $38,900

over $100,500 to $162,700 $20,725 + 28% of the amount over $100,500

over $162,700 to $319,100 $38,141 + 33% of the amount over $162,700

over $319,100 $89,753 + 35% of the amount over $319,100

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2003-85.

Table 23. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Personal Exemption Phaseout, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates, 2003

(after enactment of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act)

Personal Exemption: $3,050

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $209,250

Single $139,500

Head of Household $174,400

Standard Deduction:

Joint $9,500

Single $4,750

Head of Household $7,000

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind and Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

Joint $950

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 33

Single/Head of Household $1,150

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$139,500

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2003

(after enactment of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act)

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $14,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $14,000 to $56,800 $1,400 + 15% of the amount over $14,000

over $56,800 to $114,650 $7,820 + 25% of the amount over $56,800

over $114,650 to $174,700 $22,283 + 28% of the amount over $114,650

over $174,700 to $311,950 $39,097 + 33% of the amount over $174,700

over $311,950 $84,390 + 35% of the amount over $311,950

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $7,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $7,000 to $28,400 $700 + 15% of the amount over $7,000

over $28,400 to $68,800 $3,910 + 25% of the amount over $28,400

over $68,800 to $143,500 $14,010 + 28% of the amount over $68,800

over $143,500 to $311,950 $34,926 + 33% of the amount over $143,500

over $311,950 $90,515 + 35% of the amount over $311,950

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $10,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $10,000 to $38,050 $1,000 + 15% of the amount over $10,000

over $38,050 to $98,250 $5,208 + 25% of the amount over $38,050

over $98,250 to $159,100 $20,258 + 28% of the amount over $98,250

over $159,100 to $311,950 $37,296 + 33% of the amount over $159,100

over $311,950 $87,737 + 35% of the amount over $311,950

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2002-70.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 34

Table 24. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

2002

Personal Exemption: $3,000

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $206,000

Single $137,300

Head of Household $171,650

Standard Deduction:

Joint $7,850

Single $4,700

Head of Household $6,900

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $900

Single/Head of Household $1,150

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded the amount shown in the right column, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$137,300

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Tax Rates, 2002

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $12,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $12,000 to $46,700 $1,200 + 15% of the amount over $12,000

over $46,700 to $112,850 $6,405 + 27% of the amount over $46,700

over $112,850 to $171,950 $24,266 + 30% of the amount over $112,850

over $171,950 to $307,050 $41,996 + 35% of the amount over $171,950

over $307,050 $89,281 + 38.6% of the amount over $307,050

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $6,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $6,000 to $27,950 $600 + 15% of the amount over $6,000

over $27,950 to $67,700 $3,893 + 27% of the amount over $27,950

over $67,700 to $141,250 $14,626 + 30% of the amount over $67,700

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 35

over $141,250 to $307,050 $36,691 + 35% of the amount over $141,250

over $307,050 $94,721 + 38.6% of the amount over $307,050

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $10,000 10% of the amount over $0

over $10,000 to $37,450 $1,000 + 15% of the amount over $10,000

over $37,450 to $96,700 $5,118 + 27% of the amount over $37,450

over $96,700 to $156,600 $21,116 + 30% of the amount over $96,700

over $156,600 to $307,050 $39,086 + 35% of the amount over $156,600

over $307,050 $91,744 + 38.6% of the amount over $307,050

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-59.

Table 25. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

2001

Personal Exemption: $2,900

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $199,450

Single $132,950

Head of Household $166,200

Standard Deduction:

Joint $7,600

Single $4,550

Head of Household $6,650

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $900

Single/Head of Household $1,100

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$132,950

(for all filers except for married persons filing

separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2001

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $45,200 15% of the amount over $0

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 36

over $45,200 to $109,250 $6,780 + 27.5% of the amount over $45,200

over $109,250 to $166,500 $24,394 + 30.5% of the amount over $109,250

over $166,500 to $297,350 $41,855 + 35.5% of the amount over $166,500

over $297,350 $88,307 + 39.1% of the amount over $297,350

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $27,050 15% of the amount over $0

over $27,050 to $65,550 $4,058 + 27.5% of the amount over $27,050

over $65,550 to $136,750 $14,646 + 30.5% of the amount over $65,550

over $136,750 to $297,350 $36,362 + 35.5% of the amount over $136,750

over $297,350 $93,375 + 39.1% of the amount over $297,350

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $36,250 15% of the amount over $0

over $36,250 to $93,650 $5,438 + 27.5% of the amount over $36,250

over $93,650 to $151,650 $21,223 + 30.5% of the amount over $93,650

over $151,650 to $297,350 $38,913 + 35.5% of the amount over $151,650

over $297,350 $90,637 + 39.1% of the amount over $297,350

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-13.

Table 26. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

2000

Personal Exemption: $2,800

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $193,400

Single $128,950

Head of Household $161,150

Standard Deduction:

Joint $7,350

Single $4,400

Head of Household $6,450

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $850

Single/Head of Household $1,100

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 37

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$128,950

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 2000

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $43,850 15% of the amount over $0

over $43,850 to $105,950 $6,578 + 28% of the amount over $43,850

over $105,950 to $161,450 $23,966 + 31% of the amount over $105,950

over $161,450 to $288,350 $41,171 + 36% of the amount over $161,450

over $288,350 $86,855 + 39.6% of the amount over $288,350

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $26,250 15% of the amount over $0

over $26,250 to $63,550 $3,938 + 28% of the amount over $26,250

over $63,550 to $132,600 $14,382 + 31% of the amount over $63,550

over $132,600 to $288,350 $35,787 + 36% of the amount over $132,600

over $288,350 $91,857 + 39.6% of the amount over $288,350

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $35,150 15% of the amount over $0

over $35,150 to $90,800 $5,273 + 28% of the amount over $35,150

over $90,800 to $147,050 $20,855 + 31% of the amount over $90,800

over $147,050 to $288,350 $38,292 + 36% of the amount over $147,050

over $288,350 $89,160 + 39.6% of the amount over $288,350

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 99-42.

Table 27. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1999

Personal Exemption: $2,750

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $189,950

Single $126,600

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 38

Head of Household $158,300

Standard Deduction:

Joint $7,200

Single $4,300

Head of Household $6,350

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $850

Single/Head of Household $1,050

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$126,600

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1999

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $43,050 15% of the amount over $0

over $43,050 to $104,050 $6,458 + 28% of the amount over $43,050

over $104,050 to $158,550 $23,538 + 31% of the amount over $104,050

over $158,550 to $283,150 $40,433 + 36% of the amount over $158,550

over $283,150 $85,289 + 39.6% of the amount over $283,150

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $25,750 15% of the amount over $0

over $25,750 to $62,450 $3,863 + 28% of the amount over $25,750

over $62,450 to $130,250 $14,139 + 31% of the amount over $62,450

over $130,250 to $283,150 $35,157 + 36% of the amount over $130,250

over $283,150 $90,201 + 39.6% of the amount over $283,150

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $34,550 15% of the amount over $0

over $34,550 to $89,150 $5,183 + 28% of the amount over $34,550

over $89,150 to $144,400 $20,471 + 31% of the amount over $89,150

over $144,400 to $283,150 $37,598 + 36% of the amount over $144,440

over $283,150 $87,548 + 39.6% of the amount over $283,150

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 98-61.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 39

Table 28. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1998

Personal Exemption: $2,700

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $186,800

Single $124,500

Head of Household $155,650

Standard Deduction:

Joint $7,100

Single $4,250

Head of Household $6,250

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $850

Single/Head of Household $1,050

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, casualty and theft losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$124,500

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1998

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $42,350 15% of the amount over $0

over $42,350 to $102,300 $6,353 + 28% of the amount over $42,350

over $102,300 to $155,950 $23,139 + 31% of the amount over $102,300

over $155,950 to $278,450 $39,770 + 36% of the amount over $155,950

over $278,450 $83,870 + 39.6% of the amount over $278,450

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $25,350 15% of the amount over $0

over $25,350 to $61,400 $3,803 + 28% of the amount over $25,350

over $61,400 to $128,100 $13,897 + 31% of the amount over $61,400

over $128,100 to $278,450 $34,574 + 36% of the amount over $128,100

over $278,450 $88,700 + 39.6% of the amount over $278,450

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 40

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $33,950 15% of the amount over $0

over $33,950 to $87,700 $5,093 + 28% of the amount over $33,950

over $87,700 to $142,000 $20,143 + 31% of the amount over $87,700

over $142,000 to $278,450 $36,976+ 36% of the amount over $142,000

over $278,450 $86,098 + 39.6% of the amount over $278,450

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 97-57.

Table 29. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1997

Personal Exemption: $2,650

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $181,800

Single $121,200

Head of Household $151,500

Standard Deduction:

Joint $6,900

Single $4,150

Head of Household $6,050

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $800

Single/Head of Household $1,000

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount:

$121,200

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1997

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $41,200 15% of the amount over $0

over $41,200 to $99,600 $6,180 + 28% of the amount over $41,200

over $99,600 to $151,750 $22,532 + 31% of the amount over $99,600

over $151,750 to $271,050 $38,699 + 36% of the amount over $151,750

over $271,050 $81,647 + 39.6% of the amount over $271,050

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 41

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $24,650 15% of the amount over $0

over $24,650 to $59,750 $3,698 + 28% of the amount over $24,650

over $59,750 to $124,650 $13,526 + 31% of the amount over $59,750

over $124,650 to $271,050 $33,645 + 36% of the amount over $124,650

over $271,050 $86,349 + 39.6% of the amount over $271,050

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $33,050 15% of the amount over $0

over $33,050 to $83,350 $4,958 + 28% of the amount over $33,050

over $83,350 to $138,200 $19,602 + 31% of the amount over $85,350

over $138,200 to $271,050 $35,986 + 36% of the amount over $138,200

over $271,050 $83,812 + 39.6% of the amount over $271,050

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 96-63.

Table 30. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1996

Personal Exemption: $2,550

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $176,950

Single $117,950

Head of Household $147,450

Standard Deduction:

Joint $6,700

Single $4,000

Head of Household $5,900

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $800

Single/Head of Household $1,000

Limitation on Itemized Deductions: If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, casualty and theft losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$117,950

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 42

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1996

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $40,100 15% of the amount over $0

over $40,100 to $96,900 $6,015 + 28% of the amount over $40,100

over $96,900 to $147,700 $21,919 + 31% of the amount over $96,900

over $147,700 to $263,750 $37,667 + 36% of the amount over $147,700

over $263,750 $79,445 + 39.6% of the amount over $263,750

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $24,000 15% of the amount over $0

over $24,000 to $58,150 $3,600 + 28% of the amount over $24,000

over $58,150 to $121,300 $13,162 + 31% of the amount over $58,150

over $121,300 to $263,750 $32,739 + 36% of the amount over $121,300

over $263,750 $84,021 + 39.6% of the amount over $263,750

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $32,150 15% of the amount over $0

over $32,150 to $83,050 $4,823 + 28% of the amount over $32,150

over $83,050 to $134,500 $19,075 + 31% of the amount over $83,050

over $134,500 to $263,750 $35,025 + 36% of the amount over $134,500

over $263,750 $81,555 + 39.6% of the amount over $263,750

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 95-53.

Table 31. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions. Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1995

Personal Exemption: $2,500

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $172,050

Single $114,700

Head of Household $143,350

Standard Deduction:

Joint $6,550

Single $3,900

Head of Household $5,750

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 43

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $750

Single/Head of Household $950

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income was greater than this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$114,700

($57,350 for married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1995

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $39,000 15% of the amount over $0

over $39,000 to $94,250 $5,850 + 28% of the amount over $39,000

over $94,250 to $143,600 $21,320 + 31% of the amount over $94,250

over $143,600 to $256,500 $36,619 + 36% of the amount over $143,600

over $256,500 $77,263 + 39.6% of the amount over $256,500

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $23,350 15% of the amount over $0

over $23,350 to $56,550 $3,503 + 28% of the amount over $23,350

over $56,550 to $117,950 $12,799 + 31% of the amount over $56,550

over $117,950 to $256,500 $31,833 + 36% of the amount over $117,950

over $256,500 $81,711 + 39.6% of the amount over $256,500

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $31,250 15% of the amount over $0

over $31,250 to $80,750 $4,688 + 28% of the amount over $31,250

over $80,750 to $130,800 $18,548 + 31% of the amount over $80,750

over $130,800 to $256,500 $34,063 + 36% of the amount over $130,800

over $256,500 $79,315 + 39.6% of the amount over $256,500

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 94-72.

Federal Individual Income Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Personal Exemption

Congressional Research Service 44

Table 32. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1994

Personal Exemption: $2,450

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $167,700

Single $111,800

Head of Household $139,750

Standard Deduction:

Joint $6,350

Single $3,800

Head of Household $5,600

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $750

Single/Head of Household $950

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, casualty and theft losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$111,800

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1994

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $38,000 15% of the amount over $0

over $38,000 to $91,850 $5,700 + 28% of the amount over $38,000

over $91,850 to $140,000 $20,778 + 31% of the amount over $91,850

over $140,000 to $250,000 $35,705 + 36% of the amount over $140,000

over $250,000 $75,305 + 39.6% of the amount over $250,000

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $22,750 15% of the amount over $0

over $22,750 to $55,100 $3,413 + 28% of the amount over $22,750

over $55,100 to $115,000 $12,471 + 31% of the amount over $55,100

over $115,000 to $250,000 $31,040 + 36% of the amount over $115,000

over $250,000 $79,640 + 39.6% of the amount over $250,000

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Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $30,500 15% of the amount over $0

over $30,500 to $78,700 $4,575 + 28% of the amount over $30,500

over $78,700 to $127,500 $18,071 + 31% of the amount over $78,750

over $127,500 to $250,000 $33,199 + 36% of the amount over $127,500

over $250,000 $77,299 + 39.6% of the amount over $250,000

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 93-49.

Table 33. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and

Statutory Marginal T ax Rates, 1993

Personal Exemption: $2,350

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $162,700

Single $108,450

Head of Household $135,600

Standard Deduction:

Joint $6,200

Single $3,700

Head of Household $5,450

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $700

Single/Head of Household $900

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, theft and casualty losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$108,450

(for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1993

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $36,900 15% of the amount over $0

over $36,900 to $89,150 $5,535 + 28% of the amount over $36,900

over $89,150 to $140,000 $20,165 + 31% of the amount over $89,150

over $140,000 to $250,000 $35,929 + 36% of the amount over $140,000

over $250,000 $75,529 + 39.6% of the amount over $250,000

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Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $22,100 15% of the amount over $0

over $22,100 to $53,500 $3,315 + 28% of the amount over $22,100

over $53,500 to $115,000 $12,107 + 31% of the amount over $53,500

over $115,000 to $250,000 $31,172 + 36% of the amount over $115,000

over $250,000 $79,772 + 39.6% of the amount over $250,000

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $29,600 15% of the amount over $0

over $29,600 to $76,400 $4,440 + 28% of the amount over $29,600

over $76,400 to $127,500 $17,544 + 31% of the amount over $76,400

over $127,500 to $250,000 $33,385 + 36% of the amount over $127,500

over $250,000 $77,485 + 39.6% of the amount over $250,000

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 92-102.

Table 34. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1992

Personal Exemption: $2,300

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint Single

Head of Household

$157,900 $105,250 $131,550

Standard Deduction:

Joint $6,000

Single $3,600

Head of Household $5,250

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $700

Single/Head of Household $900

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Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of 80% of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions medical expenses, casualty and theft losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limitations.

$105,250 (for all filers except married persons filing

separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1992

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $35,800 15% of the amount over $0

over $35,800 to $86,500 $5,370 + 28% of the amount over $35,800

over $86,500 $19,566 + 31% of the amount over $86,500

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $21,450 15% of the amount over $0

over $21,450 to $51,900 $3,218 + 28% of the amount over $21,450

over $51,900 $11,744 + 31% of the amount over $51,900

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $28,750 15% of the amount over $0

over $28,750 to $74,150 $4,313 + 28% of the amount over $28,750

over $74,150 $17,235 + 31% of the amount over $74,150

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 91-65.

Table 35. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, Limitation on Itemized

Deductions, Phaseout of Personal Exemption, and Statutory Marginal T ax Rates,

1991

Personal Exemption: $2,150

Personal exemption began to phase out at a rate of 2% for every $2,500 that a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeded these amounts:

Joint $150,000

Single $100,000

Head of Household $125,000

Standard Deduction:

Joint $5,700

Single $3,400

Head of Household $5,000

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Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $650

Single/Head of Household $850

Limitation on Itemized Deductions:

If an individual’s adjusted gross income exceeded this amount, the itemized deductions that could be claimed had to be reduced by the lesser of allowable itemized deductions, or 3% of the difference between the taxpayer’s AGI and that amount. Deductions for medical expenses, casualty and theft losses, and investment interest were exempt from the limit.

$100,000 (for all filers except married persons filing separately)

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1991

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $34,000 15% of the amount over $0

over $34,000 to $82,150 $5,100 + 28% of the amount over $34,000

over $82,150 $18,582 + 31% of the amount over $82,150

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $20,350 15% of the amount over $0

over $20,350 to $49,300 $3,052.50 + 28% of the amount over $20,350

over $49,300 $11,158.50 + 31% of the amount over $49,300

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $27,300 15% of the amount over $0

over $27,300 to $70,450 $4,095 + 28% of the amount over $27,300

over $70,450 $16,177 + 31% of the amount over $70,450

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 90-64.

Table 36. Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 1990

Personal Exemption: $2,050

Standard Deduction:

Joint $5,450

Single $3,250

Head of Household $4,750

Additional Standard Deductions for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $650

Single/Head of Household $800

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Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1990

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $32,450 15% of the amount over $0

over $32,450 to $78,400 $3,867.50 + 28% of the amount over $32,450

over $78,400 to $185,730a $17,733.50 + 33% of the amount over $78,400

over $185,730 $53,152.40 + 28% of the amount over $185,730

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $19,450 15% of the amount over $0

over $19,450 to $47,050 $2,917.50 + 28% of the amount over $19,450

over $47,050 to $109,100a $10,645.50 + 33% of the amount over $47,050

over $109,100 $31,122.00 + 28% of the amount over $109,100

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $26,050 15% of the amount over $0

over $26,050 to $67,200 $3,907.50 + 28% of the amount over $26,050

over $67,200 to $157,890a $15,429.50 + 33% of the amount over $67,200

over $157,890 $45,357.20 + 28% of the amount over $157,890

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 90-7. a. Implicit tax bracket, generated by the “tax bubble,” as described in text. The bracket’s upper bound depends on the number of exemptions claimed by the taxpayer. The example in this table assumes one exemption for single returns, two for the other statuses.

Table 37. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 1989

Personal Exemption: $2,000

Standard Deduction:

Joint $5,200

Single $3,100

Head of Household $4,550

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $600

Single/Head of Household $750

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1989

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $30,950 15% of the amount over $0

over $30,950 to $74,850 $4,642.50 + 28% of the amount over $30,950

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over $74,850 to $177,720a $16,934.50 + 33% of the amount over $74,850

over $177,720 $50,881.60 + 28% of the amount over $177,720

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $18,550 15% of the amount over $0

over $18,550 to $44,900 $2,782.50 + 28% of the amount over $18,550

over $44,900 to $104,300a $10,160.50 + 33% of the amount over $44,900

over $104,300 $29,772.40 + 28% of the amount over $104,300

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $24,850 15% of the amount over $0

over $24,850 to $64,200 $3,727.50 + 28% of the amount over $24,850

over $64,200 to $151,210a $14,745.50 + 33% of the amount over $64,200

over $151,210 $43,458.80 + 28% of the amount over $151,210

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 88-56. a. Implicit tax bracket, generated by the “tax bubble,” as described in text. The bracket’s upper bound depends on the number of exemptions claimed by the taxpayer. The example in this table assumes one exemption for single returns, two for the other statuses.

Table 38. Personal Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Statutory Marginal Tax

Rates, 1988

Personal Exemption: $1,950

Standard Deduction:

Joint $5,000

Single $3,000

Head of Household $4,400

Additional Standard Deduction for the Elderly or the Blind:

Joint $600

Single/Head of Household $750

Statutory Marginal Income Tax Rates, 1988

Joint Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $29,750 15% of the amount over $0

over $29,750 to $71,900 $4,462.50 + 28% of the amount over $29,750

over $71,900 to $171,090a $16,264.50 + 33% of the amount over $71,900

over $171,090 $47,905.20 + 28% of the amount over $171,090

Single Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $17,850 15% of the amount over $0

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over $17,850 to $43,150 $2,677.50 + 28% of the amount over $17,850

over $43,150 to $100,480a $9,761.50 + 33% of the amount over $43,150

over $100,480 $28,134.40 + 28% of the amount over $100,480

Head-of-Household Returns

If taxable income is: Then, tax is:

$0 to $23,900 15% of the amount over $0

over $23,900 to $61,650 $3,585 + 28% of the amount over $23,900

over $61,650 to $145,630a $14,155 + 33% of the amount over $61,650

over $145,630 $40,776.40 + 28% of the amount over $145,630

Source: IRS Form 1040 Instructions, 1988. a. Implicit tax bracket, generated by the “tax bubble,” as described in text. The bracket’s upper bound depends on the number of exemptions claimed by the taxpayer. The example in this table assumes one exemption for single returns, two for the other statuses.

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Appendix. Brief Summary of Major Legislation Affecting Individual Statutory Rates Since 1986

Tax Reform Act of 1986

The current federal individual income tax is largely a product of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86; P.L. 99-514). Among the many changes it made to the federal tax code, TRA86 simplified the individual income tax rate structure for tax years beginning in 1988 by replacing the 14 statutory rates from the 1985 and 1986 tax years with two such rates: 15% and 28%. Table 38 shows key elements of the 1988 tax rate structure. These rates applied equally to capital income as well as to labor income.

In addition, TRA86 established a 5% surcharge on the taxable income of certain upper-income households. This surcharge effectively created a 33% statutory tax rate: a 28% statutory tax rate plus a 5% surcharge.

Because the surcharge phased in over a certain range of income and then phased out as income increased, statutory tax rates rose to 33% but then fell back to 28%, producing an income tax rate “bubble.” The purpose of the surcharge was two-fold: (1) to prevent TRA86 from changing the distribution of the income tax burden among income groups, relative to pre-1986 tax law, and (2) to meet specific revenue targets.

More specifically, the surcharge erased the tax savings from the 15% tax bracket and the personal exemption for upper-income households. For joint returns in 1988, the phaseout of the 15% tax rate started when taxable income exceeded $71,900 and ended when it reached $149,250. For single returns, the 15% tax bracket phased out between $47,050 and $97,620. For heads of households, the phaseout occurred between $67,200 and $134,930.

The phaseout of the personal exemption started immediately after the phaseout of the 15% tax bracket and occurred sequentially for each exemption. This meant that the taxable income range over which the 5% surcharge offset personal exemptions depended on the number of personal exemptions claimed on the tax return. For example, on a joint return claiming two personal exemptions, the 5% surcharge would apply to taxable income between $149,250 and $171,090 ($149,250 plus two times $10,920). On a joint return with four personal exemptions, the 5% surcharge would apply to taxable income between $149,250 and $192,930 ($149,250 plus four times $10,920).

To illustrate how the 5% surcharge worked to “phase out” the tax benefits of the 15% tax bracket, consider the following example based on a joint return for 1988. The difference between taxing the first $29,750 of taxable income at 28% instead of 15% was $3,867.50 (obtained as $29,750 multiplied by 13%, the difference between 28% and 15%). Five percent of the difference between the upper and lower phaseout limits also equaled $3,867.50 ($149,250 less $71,900 multiplied by 5%). Hence, assessing the 5% surcharge on taxable income between $78,400 and $162,770 was equivalent to taxing the first $32,450 of taxable income at 28% rather than 15%.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA90, P.L. 99-514) added a third statutory rate to the two rates from previous law. The rates were 15%, 28%, and 31% and applied to tax years beginning in 1991 and thereafter (see Table 35). OBRA90 eliminated the tax rate bubble created by TRA86, and replaced it with a limitation on itemized deductions (often referred to as

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the Pease limitation) and a different method for phasing out the personal exemption for upper- income households.

OBRA90 also reinstated separate tax rates for capital gains income. The act limited the tax on capital gains income to a maximum of 28%, starting in 1991. TRA86 had taxed capital gains as ordinary income, with a top effective rate of 33%.

OBRA90’s limitation on itemized deductions was based on a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI). From 1991 to 1995, allowable deductions were reduced by 3% of the amount by which a taxpayer’s AGI exceeded $100,000 (or $50,000 in the case of married couples filing separate returns). For example, if a taxpayer’s AGI in 1991 was $110,000, then her itemized deductions were reduced by $300 ($110,000 less $100,000 multiplied by .03). This provision effectively raised the marginal tax rate for affected taxpayers by approximately one percentage point. A dollar of income in excess of $100,000 was taxed as if it were $1.03, since in addition to the tax on an extra dollar of income, the taxpayer lost a tax deduction by giving up $0.03 of itemized deductions.

This limitation was scheduled to expire after 1995 but was later extended. Allowable deductions for medical expenses, casualty and theft losses, and investment interest were not subject to this limitation. For tax years after 1991, the $100,000 threshold was indexed for inflation.

OBRA90 phased out the tax benefits from the personal exemption for higher-income households. Each personal exemption was phased out by a factor of 2% for each $2,500 (or fraction thereof) by which a taxpayer’s AGI exceeded a given threshold amount. In 1991, the threshold amounts were $150,000 for a joint return, $100,000 for a single return, and $125,000 for a head-of- household return. Starting in 1992, these amounts were indexed for inflation. The phaseout provision was also scheduled to expire at the end of 1995.

A simple example can illustrate how the personal exemption phaseout (PEP) increased affected taxpayers’ tax burden. In 1991, a joint household whose AGI was $183,000 would have lost 28% of their total personal exemptions. The AGI amount in excess of the threshold in this instance would have been $33,000, or $183,000 (AGI) minus the $150,000 threshold limit. The $33,000 excess, divided by $2,500, would have produced a factor of 13.2, which would have been rounded up to 14. This figure, multiplied by 2%, would have resulted in the final disallowance rate of 28%. Hence, if the family had claimed two personal exemptions, which at $2,150 each would have totaled $4,300, it would have been allowed to deduct $3,096 ($4,300 total personal exemptions less the $1,204 disallowance, which is 28% of the total).

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA93, P.L. 103-66) made several changes in the individual marginal income tax rate structure. It added two new marginal tax rates: 36% and 39.6%. The 39.6% rate was the result of adding a 10% surtax to the 36% rate for taxpayers with taxable incomes over $250,000 in 1993.

Although OBRA93 was enacted in August 1993, the new top two marginal rates were made effective retroactively to January 1, 1993. Affected taxpayers, however, were not assessed penalties for underpayment of 1993 taxes resulting from the retroactive rate increase. Taxpayers were also allowed to pay any additional 1993 taxes in three equal installments over two years.

OBRA93 delayed indexation of the new top income tax brackets for one year. Hence, the dollar amounts for the 36% and 39.6% tax brackets remained the same in 1993 and 1994.

Finally, OBRA93 made permanent both the Pease limitation and the PEP.

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Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001

The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA, P.L. 107-16) made several major changes to the marginal tax rate structure. Many of the act’s provisions were set to phase in over several years, but subsequent legislation overrode the initial timeline. All EGTRRA provisions, as amended, were set to expire at the end of 2010.

First, the 2001 act created a new 10% bracket. It applied, beginning in 2002, to the first $12,000 of taxable income for married couples filing jointly, the first $10,000 of taxable income for heads of households, and the first $6,000 of taxable income for single individuals. For tax year 2001, the act created a “rate reduction tax credit,” mimicking the effects of the 10% tax rate bracket for most taxpayers.14 EGTRRA gradually expanded the bracket from 2003 to 2007.

Second, the 2001 act gradually reduced the top four marginal income tax rates. Under prior law, the top four marginal tax rates were 28%, 31%, 36%, and 39.6%. When its provisions were fully phased in, the 2001 act reduced the top four marginal income tax rates to 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35%. The reductions were scheduled to phase in between 2001 and 2006; subsequent legislation accelerated their phase-in schedule.

Third, EGTRRA repealed the limitation on itemized deductions and personal exemptions for high-income taxpayers. The repeal was phased in between 2006 and 2009. The limitation was completely repealed in 2010 but was scheduled to be reinstated in 2011, when EGTRRA’s tax cuts were due to expire.

Fourth, some of the act’s measures designed to reduce the marriage penalty affected the tax bracket structure. The act increased the income range of the 15% tax bracket for married couples filing joint returns to twice the income range of the 15% tax bracket for single returns. Under EGTRRA, this provision was scheduled to phase in from 2005 to 2008, but subsequent legislation sped up the phase-in. Under EGTRRA, the upper dollar limit of the 15% tax bracket for joint returns was set at 180% of the upper dollar limit of the 15% tax bracket for single returns in 2005, 187% of that limit in 2006, 193% of that limit in 2007, and 200% of that limit in 2008 and subsequent years.

Finally, the 2001 act increased the standard deduction for joint returns to twice the size of the standard deduction for single returns. Initially, the increase was scheduled to be phased in between 2005 to 2009, but subsequent laws accelerated the process. This had the effect of raising the lower income threshold of the lowest tax bracket for married taxpayers.

Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003

The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA, P.L. 108-27) accelerated several changes to the individual income tax rate structure made by EGTRRA. It moved forward to 2003 the tax rate reductions, the expansion of the 10% tax bracket, and the widening of the 15% tax bracket for joint returns to make it double the 15% tax bracket for single returns. Under EGTRRA, some of these changes would not have been fully phased in until 2009.

JGTRRA also lowered the top tax rate for long-term capital gains and dividends to 15% and set a rate of 0% for certain low-income taxpayers.

14 For more information see archived CRS Report RS21171, The Rate Reduction Tax Credit - “The Tax Rebate” - in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001: A Brief Explanation, by Steven Maguire.

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Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004

The Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 (WFTRA, P.L. 108-311) extended several tax provisions of JGTRRA that were scheduled to expire at the end of 2004. It extended the expansion of the 10% income tax bracket through 2007, at which point EGTRRA’s provisions would be fully phased in.

WFTRA also extended EGTRRA’s marriage penalty relief from 2005 to 2008. The standard deduction for a married couple filing jointly was set to be double the standard deduction for an unmarried single filer over that period. In addition, the act made the size of the 15% tax bracket for joint filers double that of the tax bracket for single filers from 2005 to 2007.

Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005

JGTRRA’s reductions in tax rates for long-term capital gains and dividends were scheduled to expire at the end of 2008. The Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA, P.L. 109-222) extended the reduced rates through 2010.

Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010

A last-minute agreement in 2010 between President Obama and congressional leaders from both parties cleared the way for another temporary extension of all the tax cuts enacted in the early 2000s. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (TRUC, P.L. 111-312) extended the cuts through 2012, along with several other tax provisions from previous laws.15

American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012

Facing a return of pre-EGTRRA statutory tax rates on January 1, 2013, Congress and President Obama agreed on legislation (the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, P.L. 112-240) to permanently extend all of the individual income tax rate cuts enacted during the George W. Bush presidency, except for the top rate, which returned to 39.6%, its level at the start of Bush’s first term.

The act also permanently extended the repeal of EGTRRA’s phaseout of the personal exemption, but only for single filers with AGI of $250,000 or less ($300,000 or less for joint filers). Taxpayers with AGIs above these inflation-adjusted amounts were still subject to the phaseout. The same treatment applied to EGTRRA’s repeal of the Pease limitation.

P.L. 115-97

Individual marginal income tax rates were next changed with the enactment of the 2017 tax revision, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA, P.L. 115-97). The law changed a number of individual income tax provisions, including individual tax rates and the

15 For example, see changes made to the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) that TRUC extended. For more information, see CRS Report R44825, The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Legislative History, by Margot L. Crandall-Hollick, and CRS Report R45124, The Child Tax Credit: Legislative History, by Margot L. Crandall-Hollick. Congressional offices can request either of these documents from Brendan McDermott.

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standard deduction. For tax years beginning in 2018 and ending before 2027, the individual income tax rate structure consists of seven brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. (The rates are scheduled to revert to their pre-2018 levels in 2026.)

For eligible individuals receiving income from pass-through businesses (i.e., partnerships, S corporations, and sole proprietorships), these temporary statutory rates can be further reduced by taking a new temporary deduction created by the 2017 tax revision. Section 199A of the federal tax code allows a pass-through business owner to deduct up to 20% of income from a qualified trade or business in determining her or his individual income tax liability.16

The 2017 tax revision also made the following temporary changes in the individual income tax from 2018 to 2025:

• It suspended the personal exemption.

• It increased the standard deduction for nonitemizers in 2018 to $24,000 for joint filers, $18,000 for head-of-household filers, and $12,000 for single filers and indexed each amount for inflation using the chained consumer price index for urban consumers.17

• It suspended the itemized deduction for miscellaneous expenses.

• It suspended the Pease limitation on itemized deductions for certain high-income taxpayers.

Author Information

Brendan McDermott Analyst in Public Finance

Disclaimer

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

16 As a result of the adjustment, the effective individual tax rates for qualified passthrough business income are 8.0%, 9.6%, 17.6%, 19.2%, 25.6%, 28.0%, and 29.6% for the 2018 to 2025 tax years.

17 In 2017, the standard deduction was $12,700 for joint filers, $9,350 for head-of-household filers, and $6,350 for single filers.