Estimate your tax liability with federal and state calculations. View your marginal and effective rates, see how deductions/credits affect your taxes, and get clear educational info about progressive taxation in the US.
Federal & State Tax Results
Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rate
Marginal Rate:
Effective Rate:
Tax-saving Strategies
Increase contributions to 401(k), IRA, HSA, or Flexible Spending Accounts to lower taxable income.
Take advantage of all standard and itemized deductions (charity, mortgage interest, state/local taxes capped at $10k, etc.).
Harvest investment losses to offset capital gains tax (tax-loss harvesting).
Progressive Tax Explained:
The US federal (and most state) income tax system is progressive: as your income increases, the rate that applies to the next dollar you earn (the marginal rate) goes up. Your effective (average) tax rate will be lower than your marginal rate because lower rates apply to your income’s first brackets. Deductions and credits can further reduce your total taxes due.
This tool provides estimates for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or tax advice. For specific advice tailored to your situation, consult a tax professional.
How This Calculator Works
Federal tax brackets use 2024 rates and standard deductions. State calculation offers sample brackets for CA, TX (no state income tax), and NY.
Enter all pretax adjustments, deductions, and credits as appropriate. The tool auto-selects standard deduction if it’s higher than your manual value.
"Marginal rate" refers to the highest rate applied to your last dollar of income. "Effective rate" is your average tax rate versus gross income.
Your actual tax situation may depend on additional factors (other incomes, dependents, varied state rules, capital gains, phaseouts, and AMT etc.).
Use the browser's "Print" to export this page to PDF for sharing with your accountant.
