Income Tax

U.S. Income Tax Calculator (2025) Estimate federal income tax, visualize brackets, compare Roth vs. Traditional, and opti...

U.S. Income Tax Calculator (2025)

Estimate federal income tax, visualize brackets, compare Roth vs. Traditional, and optimize deductions.

Standard

Brackets

Roth vs. Traditional

AMT Checker

Annual Gross Income ($)

Filing Status Single Married Filing Jointly Head of Household

Dependents

Tax Credits (Estimate)

Child Tax Credit ($)

Earned Income Credit ($)

Education Credits ($)

Visualize how marginal tax brackets apply to your income.

Income ($)

Filing Status Single Married Filing Jointly

Current Income ($)

Annual Contribution ($)

Est. Retirement Income ($)

AGI ($)

State & Local Tax ($)

Mortgage Interest ($)

$0

Total Federal Tax

0.00%

Effective Tax Rate

0.00%

Marginal Tax Rate

$0

After-Tax Income

2025 U.S. Federal Tax Brackets (Single)

How U.S. Progressive Taxation Works

The U.S. uses a **progressive tax system**: higher portions of income are taxed at higher rates — but *only the portion in that bracket*.

2025 Federal Tax Brackets (Single Filers):

• 10% on income up to $11,925
• 12% on income over $11,925 to $48,475
• 22% on income over $48,475 to $103,350
• 24% on income over $103,350 to $197,300
• 32% on income over $197,300 to $250,525
• 35% on income over $250,525 to $626,350
• 37% on income over $626,350

Example: $85,000 income (Single, $15K standard deduction → $70K taxable): • $11,925 × 10% = $1,193 • ($48,475 − $11,925) × 12% = $4,386 • ($70,000 − $48,475) × 22% = $4,736 → **Total tax = $10,315** (before credits) → Effective rate = 12.1% (not 22%!) → After $2,000 Child Tax Credit: **$8,315 tax**

Common Deduction & Credit Mistakes

⚠️ Avoid these errors:

• Missing the SALT cap: State + local tax deduction capped at $10,000 (federal).
• Overlooking EITC phaseouts: EITC for 1 child maxes at $4,000 AGI, phases out at $25,000 (single).
• Confusing credits vs. deductions: A $1,000 *credit* saves $1,000 tax; a $1,000 *deduction* saves $220 (at 22% bracket).
• Not claiming education credits: American Opportunity Credit = up to $2,500/yr (40% refundable).

✅ Pro Tip: Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to avoid underpayment penalties.

Roth vs. Traditional: Which Is Better?

Traditional 401(k)/IRA: → Pre-tax contribution (lowers taxable income today) → Taxed on withdrawal (hopefully at lower rate)

Roth 401(k)/IRA: → After-tax contribution (no deduction today) → Tax-free growth & withdrawals

Break-Even Rule: Choose Roth if: Current Tax Rate < Expected Retirement Tax Rate Choose Traditional if: Current Tax Rate > Expected Retirement Tax Rate

Example: $85K income (22% bracket), expect $65K retirement income (12% bracket) → **Traditional wins**.

Exception: Roth wins for tax diversification, estate planning, or if you expect higher future rates.

How to Use This Calculator

➡️ Standard Mode

Enter income, filing status, dependents, and credits to estimate tax liability.

➡️ Brackets Mode

See exactly how each dollar is taxed — with interactive bracket diagram.

➡️ Roth vs. Traditional

Compare lifetime outcomes based on current vs. future tax rates.

➡️ AMT Checker

Estimate if you’re at risk for Alternative Minimum Tax (common with high SALT/mortgage deductions).

Note: Calculations use **2025 IRS guidelines**. State tax not included (except AMT section).