How to Read Federal Tax Tables

The federal income tax is a progressive tax, meaning that higher amounts of income are subject to higher income tax rates. Each year, the Internal Revenue Service adjusts the income tax tables for inflation. In order to read the federal income taxes, you need to know your filing status and total taxable income after any deductions you will claim. Understanding how the federal income tax tables work can help you to determine the true cost of tax-deductible expenses.

Instructions

1

Determine your filing status by consulting IRS Publication 501. The IRS offers five tax filing status: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household and qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. Your filing status will affect the tax rates you pay.

2

Use the table of contents to find the federal tax tables in the most recent version of IRS Publication 17.

3

Locate the range that includes your total taxable income in the right hand column of the tables. For example, if your total taxable income equals $60,000, you would use the row ranging from $60,000 to $60,050.

4

Locate your filing status from the columns across the top of the table. If you are a qualifying widow or widower, use the married filing jointly column.

5

Find the intersection of your total taxable income row and your filing status column to find how much tax you owe.