What Are the IRS Tax Brackets?

The IRS collects 10 percent to 35 percent of American incomes as tax each year.

Taxes pay for just about every part of the U.S. government, transportation, and education systems. The percentage of income paid to taxes varies by income level. As of 2009, the tax brackets range from 10 percent to 35 percent.

10 percent

Anyone filing single with taxable income up to $8,350 or filing married with income up to $16,700 falls in the 10 percent tax bracket.

15 percent

A single person with income between $8,350 and $33,950 pays 15 percent of his income in federal taxes. If the person is married filing jointly or is a qualified widower, this bracket is $16,700 to $67,900.

25 percent

Taxes start to get heftier when a single person's income hits $33,951. The 25 percent tax bracket tops out at $82,250 for singles and $137,050 for married couples.

28 percent

A single person with income of $82,251 to $171,550 pays 28 percent of her income in taxes. A married couple is in this bracket if their income is $137,050 to $208,850.

33 percent

More than one-third of a single person's income is paid in federal taxes when his income is $171,551 to $372,950. The 33 percent bracket hits married couples from $208,851 to $372,950.

35 percent

Americans making more than $372,950 pay 35 percent income tax, no matter their filing status.

References

• IRS 2009 Tax Table
• MoneyChimp: Federal Tax Brackets
• IRS: 2009 Inflation Adjustments Widen Tax Brackets and Expand Tax Benefits