US Federal Income Tax Estimator (2024)

The Tax Estimator provides a quick estimate of your US federal income tax for the 2024 tax year (filed in 2025), using the current marginal tax brackets and the standard deduction for your filing status.

This is not tax preparation software. It does not handle itemized deductions, credits, capital gains, self-employment tax, the Affordable Care Act subsidy phase-out, or state and local taxes. Use it as a back-of-envelope number, not a substitute for a return.

What it estimates

Federal taxable income after the standard deduction.
Federal income tax owed at the marginal brackets.
Effective tax rate (total tax / gross income).
Marginal tax rate (the bracket your last dollar falls into).

How it works

The 2024 US federal brackets for single filers run from 10% to 37%, applied marginally: each bracket only taxes income within its range. The standard deduction reduces taxable income before brackets are applied.

2024 standard deduction:

Single: $14,600
Married filing jointly: $29,200
Head of household: $21,900

Worked example

Single filer, gross income $80,000:

Taxable income: 80,000 − 14,600 = 65,400
10% on first $11,600 → $1,160
12% on next $35,550 (to $47,150) → $4,266
22% on the remaining $18,250 → $4,015
Total federal tax ≈ $9,441
Effective rate ≈ 11.8%; marginal rate = 22%.

When this is useful

Comparing job offers, deciding how much to withhold, estimating quarterly payments for side income, and sanity-checking a return before filing. It is also useful for thinking about how marginal rates affect decisions like Roth vs traditional retirement contributions.

Important caveats

Federal only — state and local taxes can add 0%–13% on top.
Standard deduction only — itemized deductions can lower this substantially.
No credits — the Child Tax Credit, EITC, retirement savings credit, and others reduce actual tax.
Wages only — capital gains, qualified dividends, and self-employment are taxed differently.
FICA (Social Security + Medicare, 7.65%) is separate from federal income tax and not included here.

For a real return, use IRS forms or commercial tax software.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between effective and marginal rate?

Marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar of income. Effective rate is your total tax divided by total income — always lower than your marginal rate because of the progressive brackets.

Why is this only federal?

State and local taxes vary so widely that a generic tool would be misleading. For state-specific estimates, use a state-specific calculator or commercial tax software.

Does this include Social Security and Medicare?

No. FICA (7.65% of wages, employee portion) is a separate payroll tax, not federal income tax.

Tax Estimator