My other post listed 2024 2025 401k and IRA contribution and income limits. I also calculated the inflation-adjusted tax brackets and some of the most commonly used numbers in tax planning for 2025 using the published inflation numbers and the same formula prescribed in the tax law. These calculations have been confirmed by the IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
- 2024 2025 Standard Deduction
- 2024 2025 Tax Brackets
- 2024 2025 Capital Gains Tax
- Net Investment Income Tax
- 2024 2025 Estate and Trust Tax Brackets
- 2024 2025 Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) Limit
- 2024 2025 2026 Medicare Part B and Part D IRMAA
- 2024 2025 Gift Tax Exclusion
- 2024 2025 Savings Bonds Tax-Free Redemption for College Expenses
2024 2025 Standard Deduction
You don’t pay federal income tax on every dollar of your income. You deduct an amount from your income before you calculate taxes. About 90% of all taxpayers take the standard deduction. The other ~10% itemize deductions when their total deductions exceed the standard deduction. In other words, you’re deducting a larger amount than your allowed deductions when you take the standard deduction. Don’t feel bad about taking the standard deduction!
The basic standard deduction in 2024 and 2025 are:
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Single or Married Filing Separately | $14,600 | $15,000 |
| Head of Household | $21,900 | $22,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $29,200 | $30,000 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
People who are age 65 and over have a higher standard deduction than the basic standard deduction.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Single, age 65 and over | $16,550 | $17,000 |
| Head of Household, age 65 and over | $23,850 | $24,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly, one person age 65 and over | $30,750 | $31,600 |
| Married Filing Jointly, both age 65 and over | $32,300 | $33,200 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
People who are blind have an additional standard deduction.
| 2024 | 2025 estimates | |
|---|---|---|
| Single or Head of Household, blind | +$1,950 | +$2,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly, one person is blind | +$1,550 | +$1,600 |
| Married Filing Jointly, both are blind | +$3,100 | +$3,200 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
2024 2025 Tax Brackets
The tax brackets are based on taxable income, which is AGI minus various deductions. The tax brackets in 2024 are:
| Single | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,600 | $0 – $16,550 | $0 – $23,200 |
| 12% | $11,600 – $47,150 | $16,550 – $63,100 | $23,200 – $94,300 |
| 22% | $47,150 – $100,525 | $63,100 – $100,500 | $94,300 – $201,050 |
| 24% | $100,525 – $191,950 | $100,500 – $191,950 | $201,050 – $383,900 |
| 32% | $191,950 – $243,725 | $191,950 – $243,700 | $383,900 – $487,450 |
| 35% | $243,725 – $609,350 | $243,700 – $609,350 | $487,450 – $731,200 |
| 37% | Over $609,350 | Over $609,350 | Over $731,200 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34.
The 2025 tax brackets will be:
| Single | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $17,000 | $0 – $23,850 |
| 12% | $11,925 – $48,475 | $17,000 – $64,850 | $23,850 – $96,950 |
| 22% | $48,475 – $103,350 | $64,850 – $103,350 | $96,950 – $206,700 |
| 24% | $103,350 – $197,300 | $103,350 – $197,300 | $206,700 – $394,600 |
| 32% | $197,300 – $250,525 | $197,300 – $250,500 | $394,600 – $501,050 |
| 35% | $250,525 – $626,350 | $250,500 – $626,350 | $501,050 – $751,600 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Over $626,350 | Over $751,600 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
A common misconception is that when you get into a higher tax bracket, all your income is taxed at the higher rate and you’re better off not having the extra income. That’s not true. Tax brackets work incrementally. If you’re $1,000 into the next tax bracket, only $1,000 is taxed at the higher rate. It doesn’t affect the income in the previous brackets.
For example, someone single with a $70,000 AGI in 2024 will pay:
| First 14,600 (the standard deduction) | 0% | ||
| Next $11,600 | 10% | ||
| Next $35,550 ($47,150 – $11,600) | 12% | ||
| Final $8,250 | 22% |
This person is in the 22% tax bracket but only a tiny fraction of the $70,000 AGI is taxed at 22%. Most of the income is taxed at 0%, 10%, and 12%. The blended tax rate is only 10.3%. If this person doesn’t earn the final $8,250, he or she is in the 12% bracket instead of the 22% bracket but the blended tax rate only goes down slightly from 10.3% to 8.8%. Making the extra income doesn’t cost this person more in taxes than the extra income.
Don’t be afraid of going into the next tax bracket.
2024 2025 Capital Gains Tax
When your other taxable income (after deductions) plus your qualified dividends and long-term capital gains are below a cutoff, you will pay 0% federal income tax on your qualified dividends and long-term capital gains under this cutoff.
This is illustrated by the chart below. Taxable income is the part above the black line, after subtracting deductions. A portion of the qualified dividends and long-term capital gains is taxed at 0% when the other taxable income plus these qualified dividends and long-term capital gains are under the red line.
The red line is close to the top of the 12% tax bracket but they don’t line up exactly.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Single or Married Filing Separately | $47,025 | $48,350 |
| Head of Household | $63,000 | $64,750 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $94,050 | $96,700 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
For example, suppose a married couple filing jointly has $70,000 in other taxable income (after deductions) plus $25,000 in qualified dividends and long-term capital gains in 2024. The maximum zero rate amount cutoff is $94,050. $24,050 of the qualified dividends and long-term capital gains ($94,050 – $70,000) is taxed at 0%. The remaining $25,000 – $24,050 = $950 is taxed at 15%
A similar threshold exists on the upper end for qualified dividends and long-term capital gains. When your other taxable income (after deductions) plus your qualified dividends and long-term capital gains are above a cutoff, you will pay 20% federal income tax instead of 15% on your qualified dividends and long-term capital gains above this cutoff.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $518,900 | $533,400 |
| Head of Household | $551,350 | $566,700 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $583,750 | $600,050 |
| Married Filing Separately | $291,850 | $300,000 |
Source: IRSRev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
Net Investment Income Tax
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) is a 3.8% tax on the portion of interest, dividends, and capital gains that makes your modified adjustable gross income exceed these thresholds:
| MAGI Threshold | |
|---|---|
| Single | $200,000 |
| Head of Household | $200,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $250,000 |
| Married Filing Separately | $125,000 |
These thresholds are fixed by law. They are not adjusted for inflation. You pay a 3.8% tax on the amount your MAGI exceeds these thresholds or your total interest, dividends, and capital gains, whichever is less.
Suppose you’re married filing jointly and you have $300,000 MAGI, which includes $10,000 in interest, dividends, and capital gains. Although your MAGI exceeds the $250,000 threshold by $50,000, you will pay 3.8% in NIIT on only $10,000 because you have only $10,000 in net investment income.
Suppose you’re married filing jointly and you have $260,000 MAGI, which includes $150,000 in interest, dividends, and capital gains. Although you have $150,000 in net investment income, you will pay 3.8% in NIIT only on $10,000 because your MAGI exceeds the $250,000 threshold by only $10,000.
2024 2025 Estate and Trust Tax Brackets
Estates and trusts have different tax brackets than individuals. These apply to non-grantor trusts and estates that retain income as opposed to distributing the income to beneficiaries. Grantor trusts (including the most common revocable living trusts) don’t pay taxes separately. The income of a grantor trust is taxed to the grantor at the grantor’s tax brackets.
Here are the tax brackets for estates and trusts in 2024 and 2025:
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $3,100 | $0 – $3,150 |
| 24% | $3,100 – $11,150 | $3,150 – $11,450 |
| 35% | $11,150 – $15,200 | $11,450 – $15,650 |
| 37% | over $15,200 | over $15,650 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
2024 2025 Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) Limit
People older than 70-1/2 can make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from their Traditional IRA directly to qualifying charitable organizations. QCDs count toward the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).
Your total QCDs can’t exceed $105,000 in 2024. The limit will go up to $108,000 in 2025.
The QCD limit is per person. If you’re married, both you and your spouse can make QCDs up to the limit separately from your respective IRAs.
Source: IRS Notice 2023-75, author’s calculations.
2024 2025 2026 Medicare Part B and Part D IRMAA
People on Medicare Part B and Part D pay a higher Medicare premium when their Modified Adjusted Gross Income from two years ago crosses certain thresholds. I track these in Medicare Part B IRMAA Premium MAGI Brackets.
2024 2025 Gift Tax Exclusion
Each person can give another person up to a set amount in a calendar year without having to file a gift tax form. Not that filing a gift tax form is onerous, but many people avoid it if they can. This gift tax exclusion amount will increase from $18,000 in 2024 to $19,000 in 2025.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Tax Exclusion | $18,000 | $19,000 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
The gift tax exclusion is counted by each giver to each recipient. As a giver, you can give up to $18,000 each in 2024 to an unlimited number of people without having to file a gift tax form. If you give $18,000 to each of your 10 grandkids in 2024, you still won’t be required to file a gift tax form. Any recipient can also receive a gift from an unlimited number of people. If a grandchild receives $18,000 from each of his or her four grandparents in 2024, no taxes or tax forms will be required.
2024 2025 Savings Bonds Tax-Free Redemption for College Expenses
If you cash out U.S. Savings Bonds (Series I or Series EE) for college expenses or transfer to a 529 plan, your modified adjusted gross income must be under certain limits to get a tax exemption on the interest. See Cash Out I Bonds Tax Free For College Expenses Or 529 Plan.
Here are the income limits in 2024 and my estimates for 2025. The limits are in a phase-out range. You get a full exemption if your income is below the lower number in the range. You get no exemption if your income is above the higher number in the range. You get a partial exemption if your income falls within the range.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Single, Head of Household | $96,800 – $111,800 | $99,500 – $114,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $145,200 – $175,200 | $149,250 – $179,250 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34, Rev. Proc. 2024-40.
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David Folts says
Thanks Harry: Your work is always spot on!
Kathryn S says
Agree with David. I’ve subscribed to your blog for years. Always informative, never annoying, and the projections spot on!
Linda says
This is very helpful- thank you. Would you be able to provide a detailed example of how the qualified income and long term capital gains tax works?
Thanks for all your work!
Harry Sit says
I added some explanation and an example in the 0% capital gains section.
Ed says
Is there an age adjustment that should have been added to the standard deduction table?
Harry Sit says
As noted, people who are age 65 and over or blind have a higher standard deduction. I added two more tables.
JS says
Biden added another tier of long-term capital gains tax at the 25% rate. No mention of this in the article??
Harry Sit says
Biden didn’t. Neither branch of the legislature passed anything with a 25% capital gains rate yet.
bob nisbet says
What is the standard deduction addition for those 65 and older for 2022?
Also, in the Capital Gains Tax section, taxable income is after subtracting the standard deduction isn’t it?
Thanks.
Harry Sit says
I added a table for age 65 and older. Taxable income is after all deductions.
Sharon Pichai says
I second Kathryn S’s comment and Linda’s request!
Arun says
Harry, Thanks. This is a good reminder! I use TurboTax, but since I use it once every year, I stumble along to find my way around it!
As the markets have surged, I am planning to rebalance my portfolio.
Do you recommend an easier calculator to predict the impact of rebalancing trades in taxable account? Thanks.
Orville R Forbes says
Let me tell you something, whenever I get these emails that there is a new “Research Document” (huge smiley face) I read every word and even if I already know the information your way of outlining and contextualizing makes it seems as if it’s the first time I’m reading it.
Another great one down, waiting patiently for the next.
Harry Sit says
The IRS announced the official numbers this morning. My calculations matched the official numbers 100%.
Eloise says
great info! You answered my question to the T without having to go through so many hoops. Thanks Harry!
Mapleton Reader says
I’m confused. Both CPI-W, CPU-U and Chained CPI-U were up by 5+% this year. Where did the lower 3.1% increase for tax brackets come from?
Harry Sit says
The 5%+ is from one month over the same month a year ago. The tax brackets use a 12-month average. When inflation accelerates, the year-over-year change in one month will be higher than the change in the 12-month average. The average will catch up when it stabilizes.
Stephen Ray says
Thank you for the example of how the 0% rate works with long term capital gains. I was not understanding how to relate ordinary income to the $83,350 (MFJ) limit and then how to anticipate the amount of taxes owed on amounts above that level.
Chrica says
Harry, you are the greatest!
Can you please simplify qualified dividends and capital gains worksheet?
For a single person 30,000 qualified dividends and 20,000 capitalgains.
Long term capital loss carryover 60,000
Taxable income 85,000
How much tax will be on qualified dividends?
Thank you.
Harry Sit says
The capital gains are absorbed by the capital loss carryover. $55,000 taxable income before qualified dividends is already above the $41,675 threshold for single. 100% of the qualified dividends will be taxed at 15%. 15% on $30,000 equals $4,500.
Steve M says
Thank you, very helpful!
Orville F. says
Another homerun. Thank you.
Harry, whenever you come Orlando for vacation we need to sit and have few of those cocktails in carved out pineapples with umbrellas.
O.F.
Jason says
We are getting fairly close to the expiration of the Trump tax cuts (the TCJA.) Unless Congress extends them in 2024, 2025 might be a truly chaotic tax year.
Stephe says
Yes, they expire in only 3 years, 5.5 months, unless they make tax law changes after the start of the calendar year.
Steve M says
Someone’s bad at math! They expire in 2 and a half years, not 3 and a half.
Nate says
Harry, you provide a valuable resource in calculating and posting these types of posts. Thank you and please don’t ever stop!
Gary says
Super useful material! Thanks! I read the comments under your IRMAA Brackets posting, and can now duplicate the procedures. Very helpful for my personal financial models. Can you direct me to a similar procedure description for things like tax brackets, standard dictions, etc?
I have tried doing google searches for this in the past and always fail. Everyone wants to tell you the published results, but no one share how the IRS does it. I would even be happy to read the tax law that describes it. 😀😀
Mapleton Reader says
The only detailed explanation I’ve found is “https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title26/html/USCODE-2020-title26-subtitleA-chap1-subchapA-partI-sec1.htm”. It is quite convoluted, you will need to read most of subpart (f) to get an idea of what the IRS is doing.
The IRS now uses the Chained CPI-U data, for which the last 12 or so values are only interim or initial results, subject to revision in future months. This means that “when” you collect the C-CPI-U data for your calculation may matter in the final results (and may differ from the IRS published data). For example, if you download the values available today (Aug 2022) for back calculating the 2021 tax tables, you will be off somewhat from IRS values (because now only the finalized C-CPI-U monthly values of 2020 and 2021 are available (from the http://www.BLS.gov) and not the interim values that the IRS had to use when they calculated and published the 2021 tax tables).
Gsry says
Thank you Mapleton Reader! I had found the same detailed explanation and was not sure if I was interpreting the procedures correctly. I was close, but could not duplicate the brackets. Your observation on the interim Chained CPI-U indices, could easily be the difference. It even explains why I could not duplicate Harry’s current projections, as I am using the latest indices. I will try again when Harry does next update. Thanks again!
WeLuvHarry says
Very helpful info! Any chance of adding the 20% Capital Gain bracket estimate?
Harry Sit says
I added estimates for the 20% capital gains brackets.
Layzed says
Harry, I’ve also had a problem exactly duplicating the IRS 2022 (Married/Joint) tax brackets – I can get close but not spot on. Is the ‘Mapleton Reader’ correct about the IRS using interim values for C-CPI-U index to calculate and release their 2022 tax brackets on 10-Nov-2021 last year?
Harry Sit says
The chained CPIs are subject to several rounds of revisions. The IRS could only use the latest values available at the time when they calculated the brackets. Waiting for the final revision would be too late. The Chained CPI values you see now have been revised after the IRS published the brackets.
Gary says
Assuming we are correct that the C-CPI-U interim values make it difficult to duplicate previous Bracket amounts, is there an existing database that displays the historical index values over time? I have tried searching, but only seem to get the latest snapshots.
Also, it would be very helpful if someone could publish an example using actual index values to promulgate a bracket value (including the all important rounding steps). Even for IRMAA that uses CPI-U (no interim values here), I end up with small differences in my projections.
Layzed says
In another forum (Bogleheads.org), I do have the actual index values to get my attempt to derive 2022 (Married/Joint) tax brackets:
“This may be off topic, but can anyone please tell me how to use the “IRC of 1986” as updated by TCJA (given say by https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1) to calculate the new tax brackets for 2022? I’ve gotten the 2022 info from the IRS (e.g. brackets, Married/Joint, 10% [up to $20,550] 12% [up to $83,550] 22% [up to $178,150] etc), and I can almost but not quite get these bracket amounts by my own calculations. Pointing out what I’ve missed would be greatly appreciated.
(1) Starting with the 2018 rates (brackets, Married/Joint, 10% [up to $19,050] 12% [up to $77,400] 22% [up to $165,000])
(2) IRC code section (1)(f)(3)(A)(i): C-CPI-U for preceding calendar year (2021) = 149.0635
(3) code section (1)(f)(3)(A)(ii) as amended by TCJA: CPI(-U) for calendar year 2017 = 243.3918 , multiplied by amount determined in subparagraph (B)
(4) code section (1)(f)(3)(B) multiplying amount determined by C-CPI-U for 2016 divided by CPI(-U) for 2016
so (3) and (4) give: 138.6957 (= 243.3918 * 135.9930 / 238.6490)
which gives an inflation adjustment factor of 1.074752 (= 149.0635 / 138.6957)
so I should have 2022 tax bracket amounts (multiplying inflation adjustment factor by 2018 tax brackets) of
10% [up to $20,474] 12% [up to $83,186] 22% [up to $177,334]
which, doesn’t match with the info from the IRS about 2022 [even applying rounding down to the nearest $50 ala section (1)(f)(7)]. It helps, but not enough, if I broadly interpret the TCJA amendment [regarding use of the year 2017 to also apply to section (1)(f)(3)(B) C-CPI-U and CPI(-U)] which would result in
10% [up to $20,542] 12% [up to $83,462] and 22% [up to $177,923]
Anybody knows where I am going wrong?”
Harry Sit says
When you want the numbers early for planning purposes, you don’t have to be precise. Unlike IRMAA, being off by $50 here or $100 there doesn’t make much difference. I didn’t check your method but both $20,474 and $20,542 are within $100 of the official number. That’s more than sufficient for planning. You can apply the same method to calculate 2023. If you come close to my numbers here, that’s good enough. Let’s not worry about a $50 or $100 difference here or there. We’ll see the official numbers by late October or early November. Until then, you can use my numbers or yours. I can’t think of any planning scenario that depends on a level of precision down to $50 or $100.
Scot Dahl says
The TCJA gave us new tax brackets for 2017 so the inflation adjustment for these brackets will only use the C-CPI-U (chained CPI). So the 10% MFJ bracket for 2022 would be calculated:
$19,050 * 149.2708 / 138.2368 = $20,570.56 (rounded down to $20,550)
where: $19,050 is the base value for the 10% MFJ bracket for 2018 from the TCJA, 149.2708 is the 12 month (Sep 2020 – Aug 2021) C-CPI-U average as of the Aug 2021 data release, and 138.2368 is the 12 month average of the final C-CPI-U values for the months Sep 2016 – Aug 2017.
Nancy Memmel says
AH, but that doesn’t account for the OCD afflicted among us!
Layzed says
Harry, I agree about being off by $50-$100 is close enough for planning purposes (although I’m off in the 22% bracket by $850 [$178,150 vs $177,300] or 0.48% ). It is more an issue that I’m really not sure I’m interpreting things (about 1986 IRC amended by TCJA) correctly and not leaving something off. Thanks though for the responses.
Gary says
Lazyed, I had read the tax law too. Realized that the 2016 C-CPI-U index also would have operated with the original Interim values (which I cannot find anywhere) and not the currently published values for 2016 (which appears to be what you used). Perhaps that explains the issue?
Layzed says
Gary, yes my best attempt at duplicating the IRS tax brackets for 2022 did use the 2016 (final) values for C-CPI-U and CPI(-U) [in the IRC of 1986 amended by TCJA]. But I am interpreting the ‘Mapleton Reader’ post of Aug-15 to suggest that the IRS used ‘interim values’ (as of the date of the IRS calculation) of C-CPI-U only for 2021 (i.e. 1-Sep-2020 through 31-Aug-2021). This seems confirmed by the ‘Harry Sit’ post of 25-Aug. I am assuming that the IRS used the (final) 2016 values of C-CPI-U though – seems reasonable for the IRS to use the ‘most current values as of the date of the calculation’ for their tax bracket updates.
If this is correct, then for the upcoming 2023 tax brackets, I wouldn’t need a whole history of interim values (back through 2016) but instead just the interim values through Oct/Nov of this year.
Jim Morris says
Love your projections Harry. They are very handy for my tax planning. Have you updated what the income levels for the tax brackets would be if the provisions of the tax law changes from 2017 revert to the 2017 rates in 2026? Or can you point me to another forum on-line where I might find this information?
Harry Sit says
I’m not going that far. It’s impossible to know what inflation will be and how Congress will change the laws. Just doing the next year is difficult enough for me. I don’t know where you can find projections out to 2026.
GeezerGeek says
Harry,
Great Information! Thanks!
I had been getting early estimates for next year’s brackets and deductions from the Bloomberg site, https://pro.bloombergtax.com. I downloaded this year’s estimates from them and the amounts of the deductions and brackets are identical to yours.
Of course, as you know and have written about in other articles in this blog, the 3.8% Net Investment Income tax makes the calculation of the total tax on capital gains a bit more convoluted since it uses a different threshold (modified adjusted gross income) than the standard capital gains tax. The net effect of that additional tax means that anyone in the 20% capital gains bracket actually pays 23.8% in taxes on that capital gain and some folks in the 15% bracket actually pay 18.8% in taxes.
Thanks again for this timely and valuable information.
Harry Sit says
Next time you won’t have to go to Bloomberg. 🙂 The 3.8% NIIT only applies to the amount above the $200k/$250k MAGI threshold, not the entire capital gains. If you have $50k in long-term capital gains, you may not pay the extra 3.8% NIIT at all, or you pay it on only $10k, or you may pay it on the full $50k. It just depends on where your MAGI sits.
Scot Dahl says
Are you sure that your maximum 15% capital gains rate amount for married filing separately ($276,925) is correct? IRC 1(f)(5)(B)(i)(III) states that maximum 0% amount for MFS is “equal to ½ of the amount in effect for the taxable year under subclause (I)” – which is the MFJ amount. However it does not use that same “in effect” language for the MFS maximum 15% amount. As I read section 1(f)(5)(C)(ii), the MFS maximum 15% amount should be rounded down to the nearest $50 which would make the value, $276,900.
Harry Sit says
I’m not too worried about a difference of $25. See reply to comment #22. The difference in paying 15% or 20% on $25 is only $1.25. That said, if you look at the Schedule D instructions for 2019, you’ll see that number for MFS in that year wasn’t a multiple of $50, which disproves your theory.
Scot Dahl says
Not the first time I have misinterpreted the tax code and doubtless will not be the last. I agree that for tax planning a $25 difference does not matter.
Harry Sit says
The official numbers came out in Rev. Proc. 2022-38. The starting point for 20% capital gains rate for married filing separately is $276,900, not $276,925. I’m not sure what changed since 2019 but I’ll use your method next year.
RT says
Could you please include trust tax rate as well
GeezerGeek says
RT,
I got these amounts from Bloomberg site, https://pro.bloombergtax.com. This is a two column table but I don’t think it will format well when I paste it in this comment so I put an * to indicate the start of the second column.
If Taxable Income Is: *The Tax Is:
Not Over $2,900 *10% of the taxable income
Over $2,900 but not over $10,550 *$290 plus 24% of excess over $2,900
Over $10,550 but not over $14,450 *$2,126 plus 35% of excess over $10,550
Over $14,450 *$3,491 plus 37% of excess over $14,450
Harry Sit says
Confirmed and added to the post.
Mighty Investor says
Thanks, Harry. 🙏
Fred Black says
Should I assume the NIIT thresholds remain unchanged like they have been since its inception? Any idea why these thresholds have not increased?
Harry Sit says
They’re fixed by law. No inflation adjustments.
Scott says
I didn’t see any mention of how the top of the 0% CG rate has changed. It’s now 89,250 for married filing jointly. It’s close to the top of the 12% bracket but not exactly. For some reason, Congress made the cutoff for 0% CG a little bit less.
Harry Sit says
It’s in the Capital Gains Tax section with an illustration.
Anita says
Can you list the brackets for the ACA? I always have a difficult time finding the actual $ numbers for the ACA. Specifically, what is the total income I must stay under, married, filling jointly, to avoid having to pay back the entire premium paid by the government?
Harry Sit says
There used to be a hard stop at 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. It’s suspended through 2025. See ACA Premium Subsidy Cliff Turns Into a Slope Through 2025.
Ann says
Thanks, Harry! A very clear explanation of the capital gains tax structure, which I have been wondering about lately.
Jim Twaddell says
Good afternoon,
A question about rounding of the additional standard deduction (over 65, blind).
I know that brackets and standard deduction calculations are rounded down to the nearest $50, but for the additional std deduction, I’ve always used a rounding to the ‘nearest’ $50, ( i.e. excel mround formula, versus floor formula. Up until this year, my calculations have been consistently correct. but for 2024, I’m $50 off (high) on the married additional std deduction. My numbers for over 65 and not blind came to $1,584 for each married partner, which would have been rounded (using nearest) to 1,600.
average Sep ’22-Aug ’23 C-CPI-U = 168.475 168.475/138.237=1.2187 X 1.300 = 1,584
Comments please.
Thx, Jim
Harry Sit says
Both the basic standard deduction and the additional standard deduction round down to the nearest $50.
Douglas says
Information published in The Finance Buff is very useful to me. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole now on calculating CPI and future Medicare IRMAA surcharges and forecasting future tax brackets.
Very Useful.
I’m curious, though, about the 2023 tax brackets you posted from Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2022-38. It doesn’t line up with IRS Pub 15-T’s tables. So, if that doesn’t line up, are your estimated 2024 tables off a little?
Just curious because I’m adjusting my MAGI to keep me under the next higher IRMAA bracket so your forecasted 2024 IRS tables are important to my estimates.
Thank you
Harry Sit says
IRS Publication 15-T is for tax withholding by employers and other payers. It’s not for the actual tax you pay. Rev. Proc. 2022-38 is the official source for 2023 tax brackets. The IRS will publish an equivalent of Rev. Proc. 2022-38 for 2024 tax brackets in October or November. My estimates can be off by $25 or $50 here and there but it doesn’t make much difference for planning purposes between now and that time. Finally, tax brackets come after MAGI and IRMAA. You only need to look at your MAGI when you want to avoid IRMAA. Where the tax bracket lines are drawn doesn’t change IRMAA for a given MAGI.
Gary says
It was fun to see others describe it as having gone down the “rabbit hole”. Harry’s publications sucked me in a year ago! I now do forecasts for myself on social security benefits, iBond variable rates, Federal tax brackets and IRMAA brackets every month. Thought I might be the only crazy one. 🙂
IRMAA is the most challenging for me because the Joint IRMAA brackets can move $2000 easily because of rounding. My approach is to create MAGI this year that is at least $4000 under my projected 2025 IRMAA bracket to avoid an expensive problem.
Douglas Lefforge says
Harry, that’s a relief to me that the tax brackets come after MAGI and IRMAA. Unfortunately, for me, the brackets shown in Rev. Proc. 2022-38 must’ve been calculated AFTER the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) was passed and the IRS Publication 15-T brackets weren’t updated. I’ve re-calculated my estimated income for the year using the Rev. Proc. 2022-38 brackets and I show a 29.8% increase in my tax burden that I hadn’t anticipated. OUCH. Who’d know to look for a Rev. Proc. to woork up an annual budget estimate — certainly not me? The thing is, taxes withheld from my income coincide with the current IRS Pub 15-T. I’ve been using Pub 15-T for years to adjust my tax witholdings to keep my tax burden close to zero -0- with fair success.
So, if I’m under-reporting my taxes by nearly 30% then I’ll owe IRS at the end of the year (and possibly a penalty), whereas historically a W-4 usually has a payer paying more in taxes during the year which results in the false sense of IRS “giving” me money at the end of the tax season in the form of a tax return. At least my IRMAA brackets are OK.
Thanks for running this site. It helps.
Harry Sit says
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 didn’t change the tax brackets. It’s still true that tax withholding usually makes you pay more during the year resulting in a refund when you file your taxes. You may have simply miscalculated using Rev. Proc. 2022-38. You can try some online tax calculators to confirm (Google Dinkytown 1040 calculator).
Gary says
Harry, I am interested in the 2026 tax rates and brackets assuming the Trump tax cuts are allowed to sunset. While I would not know what odds to assign to this scenario and clearly Congress can do anything, I would love to project my financials with both the current brackets or the “sunset”brackets. I am trying to manage my tax income and overall finances for the future, with Roth Conversions being one of my largest levers. Wife and I already think about the odds of one of us passing away and survivor single tax brackets. Would like to do similar projections for the “sunset” brackets
scenario.
Do you have a good source or opinion on what the brackets would look like under the current law’s sunset scenario (e.g. does inflation adjustments still apply to the last brackets before the Trump tax act?). Thanks!
Harry Sit says
If the Trump tax cuts sunset, the tax brackets will be loosely the brackets in 2017 adjusted for inflation since then. If prices have gone up 30% between 2016 and 2025, the 2026 brackets will be 30% higher than the 2017 brackets.
Gary says
Thanks for the quick reply! So I hear you saying the sunset would revert us to the original inflation mechanism as if the Trump tax cut had never existed. I can duplicate that process easily. Very helpful! Thanks again!
Jim says
Ah, but would the inflation computations come from CPI-U ( as it was prior to the Trump tax cuts) or C-CPI-U which is presently used?
Harry Sit says
C-CPI-U. That change doesn’t sunset.
Jack says
In the Standard Deduction section, shouldn’t the amount for the 2024 Single, age 65 and over be $16,150 rather than $16,550?
Harry Sit says
No. The additional standard deduction for age 65 is larger in the single filing status than the additional standard deduction per person for age 65 in married filing jointly.
Richard says
Thanks for doing this! Like Gary above, I am also interested in what the 2026 brackets will be. I am currently using the assumption that TCJA will expire on schedule and we will revert to old law (except CPI-U) The most significant changes will be the standard deduction cut roughly in half and the return of the personal exemption. Other than that the top of the 24%/28% bracket will come down by about 15% . I can’t find anyone online making those projections, probably because inflation is very unpredictable. It would be nice if someone created an online calculator that allowed a user to put in their own inflation projections and see what the tax brackets would be in 2026.
Jim says
Richard, Interesting problem. Harry says in post 38, that the chained CPI doesn’t sunset in 2025 for tax year 2026, but since the C-CPI-U only goes back to 2000 there is a quandary. The first full year available would be for tax year 2002. (data from Sep 2000-Aug 2001). That is OK for the 10% bracket (old brackets prior to Trump tax cut), since the base year (and amount) is 2002. But for the 15% & 25% brackets, the base year is 1992 and the 28% & 33% brackets is 1993. The 35% bracket is 2012, so no problem. Also the personal exemption, standard deduction and additional standard deductions (age/blind) use a 1987 or 1988 base year. AMT uses a base year of 2011.
____________
EXAMPLE FOR 10% BRACKET (which can be computed)
The C-CPI-U for 2002 was 103.725 (average Sep 2000 – Aug 2001)
Let’s wild guess the C-CPI-U for 2026 will be 174.500 (average Sep 2024-Aug 2025)
that would make the factor (to increase bracket amounts)- 1.682 [174.500/103.725]
the original top of 10% bracket for singles was 7,000 and 14,000 (just doubled) for MFJ
using the factor of 1.682, the 2026 top of 10% bracket would be $11,750.
1.682 X 7000 = 11,774, then rounded down to nearest $25. For MFJ, top of 10% bracket would be 23,500.
__________
Other brackets (other than 35%) I don’t know?????
Harry Sit says
When you don’t need precision because your inflation estimate for the upcoming years is a wild guess anyway, you can start from the 2017 tax brackets and adjust up. Using only the C-CPI-U in the most recent month, you see it has increased by 25% over the same month in 2016. Add your estimate for the next two years. Suppose that makes it a 30% increase since 2016, you then increase all the numbers applicable in 2017 by 30%.
You can refine your calculations by using September-August averages. Starting from the 2017 numbers isn’t precise because those were already rounded but it works OK when you only need an estimate.
Jim says
Richard,
I’ve worked up a spreadsheet with the estimated 2026 tax brackets with sunsetting of Trump’s tax cuts. It’s a $$ shocker, so be prepared! I’ll be more than happy to send it to you if you’re willing to post an email address. It’s in Apple numbers format, but Excel should be able to open it. Jim
Harry Sit says
Jim – I sent you an email. If you send the spreadsheet to me, I’ll host it somewhere for everyone interested.
Harry Sit says
Jim sent me his spreadsheet. I put it here:
https://sheet.zohopublic.com/sheet/published/8sb7m260cbe3590ae4bf5b3fe1c67e1cdd69a
You can use it interactively by changing the assumed inflation in the next two years or you can download it and work on it offline.
Jim says
After looking a Harry’s suggestion from Friday (the 13th), I’ve come up with this:
2026 estimated tax brackets [sunsetting Trump’s tax cuts]
Assumptions
– make 2017 the base year
– use the C-CPI-U for 2017 (average Sep 2016-Aug 2017) – 138.237
– use the C-CPI-U for 2024 (average Sep 2022-Aug 2023) – 168.475 (not final yet)
– assume 2% C-CPI-U increase over next 2 years
– C-CPI-U (average Sep 2024-Aug 2025) would be estimated: 175.281
– inflation factor to 2026 = 175.281 / 138.237 = 1.268
– use the existing brackets/data from 2017 prior to the Trump tax cuts
Single MFJ
10% 9,325 18,650
15% 37,950 75,900
25% 91,900 153,100
28% 191,650 233,350
33% 416,700 416,700
35% 418,400 470,700
exemp 4,050 4,050
Std Ded. 6,350 12,700
add std ded 1,550 1,250 (ea)
AMT 54,300 84,500
estimated 2026 Single MFJ
10% 11,800 23,600
15% 48,100 96,200
25% 116,525 194,100
28% 243,000 295,850
33% 528,375 528,350
35% 530,500 596,800
exemption 5,100 5,100
Std Ded. 8,050 16,100
add std ded 1,950 1,550 (ea)
AMT 68,800 107,100
Harry Sit says
The 2017 brackets were based on CPI from September 2015 to August 2016. So your base C-CPI-U should be 135.993?
Jim says
Thank you Harry.
With that correction to 2017 C-CPI-U, the inflation factor is now 1.289 and my ‘new and improved’ rough estimate for 2026 tax brackets [if Trump’s tax cuts are sunsetted] is:
single MFJ
10% 12,000 24,000
15% 48,900 97,800
25% 118,450 197,300
28% 247,025 300,750
33% 537,125 537,100
35% 539,300 606,700
39.6% +539,300 +606,700
exemp 5,200 5,200
std ded 8,150 16,300
add std ded 1,950 1,600 (ea)
AMT 69,900 108,900
Mary says
Thank you for posting this, and thanks to Jim for the work on the sun setting of the tax cuts. If/ when the sunset happens — OUCH! And that possibility makes me wonder what Social Security will to for the IRMAA penalty!?
Will stay tuned for all the great information
Jim says
Hi Mary, I totally agree. It will be a major OUCH if Trump’s tax cut is allowed to sunset. On your question about the IRMAA penalty, I don’t think that will be impacted since it is computed on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). Which (in the IRMAA world) means your AGI plus tax-free interest from two years prior. Note: the government defines MAGI differently in different areas. Brings to mind the old adage, when they think we know the answers, change the questions. Jim
David J says
I find these updates super useful every year since I discovered your site; however your Estate and Trust Tax Brackets don’t include the rates for long term capitol gains and qualified dividends which are different than normal income. I had a hard time finding this info with google and finally had to go directly to the IRS.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-23-34.pdf
2023 2024
0% $0 – $3,000 0- $3,150
15% $3,001 – $14,649 $3,151 – 15,450
20% $14,650+ $15,451+
Lee says
Thank you so very much for the detailed breakout of how the tax brackets/rates for ordinary income vs. cap gains/qualified dividends are stacked and then calculated. I thought I had everything nailed down to stay just inside the 12/0% brackets… and then I accidentally sold something and was rather panicked about how much additional tax it might have triggered!
Steve says
Harry:
Your 2024 2025 tax brackets, std deductions, etc. post.
Very useful.
Thank you.
Mark says
Harry,
Thanks for info. You should mention the 3.8% tax on net investment income when calculating cap gains. That’s a surprise to many people.
TC says
Thanks once again, Harry. My tax bracket calculations and standard deduction amounts match yours exactly after the August C-CPI-U release. I haven’t done capital gains, the estate tax bracket, and some of the others, but you’ve inspired me to add those values this year. I also calculate an exemption amount of $5,200 ($5,211.89) but I am not as confident on that value as the others since TCJA. It is the same value as the dependent gross income test ($4,700 for tax year 2023). Has anyone done this calculation?
Scot Dahl says
Bloomberg reports, “For tax years beginning in 2025, for purposes of the § 152(d)(1)(B) gross income limitation in the definition of a qualifying relative, the exemption amount is … $5,150 ($5,100) – where the first figure is generated by rounding only the amount of the cost-of-living increase, as prescribed by the applicable IRC provision. The IRS may publish the figure in parentheses, which is generated by rounding the inflation-adjusted value.”
TC says
$5,200 indeed turned out to be the correct value, confirmed in Rev. Proc. 24-40 published today.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-24-40.pdf
Scot Dahl says
This is in regard to your calculation of the 2025 maximum 15% capital gains rate amount for MFS taxpayers. I came up with $300,000 for this value compared to your $300,025.
IRC § 1(j)(5)(B)(ii), setting the initial (2018) value of the maximum 15% rate amount, states that, “(I) – in the case of a joint return or surviving spouse, $479,000 (1/2 such amount in the case of a married individual filing a separate return)”. This seems to imply that the initial value for MFS taxpayers is 1/2 of the joint amount but that in subsequent years this value is independently adjusted (and rounded) and will not necessarily be 1/2 of the joint amount.
This is in contrast to IRC § 1(j)(5)(B)(i), which sets the initial value of the Maximum Zero rate amount, and states that, “(III) – in the case of any other individual (other than an estate or trust), an amount equal to 1/2 of the amount in effect for the taxable year under subclause (I)”, (which is the MFJ amount). This DOES seem to imply that the MFS (and single) amount is 1/2 of the MFJ amount in each year, not just the first year.
Harry Sit says
Scot – You raised this issue in comment #28 back in 2022 and you were correct. I changed my spreadsheet to use your method now.
Stephanie says
Thank you for this excellent and helpful information. Have you considered adding a table for the amount of income subject to Social Security payroll tax? Many people are not aware that this is a regressive tax, but high-income people who carefully review their paystubs / income definitely notice when they’ve hit the limit for the year.