facebook twitter instagram linkedin google youtube vimeo tumblr yelp rss email podcast phone blog external search brokercheck brokercheck Play Pause
What is My Tax Bracket for 2020? Thumbnail

What is My Tax Bracket for 2020?

About the author: Lamar Watson, CFP®, is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor in the Washington, D.C. area, that works with clients virtually across the country. Lamar's work with his clients focuses on budgeting, employee benefits, paying down debt, buying their first home, and investing. Lamar is the Founder of Dream Financial Planning, a virtual financial planning firm specifically designed to help young professionals and minorities take control of their finances and fulfill their dreams. Feel free to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn how we use the The DREAM Financial Planning Process ™  to help our clients achieve their goals. 


The IRS recently released the new tax brackets for the 2020 tax year, so now you can start thinking about how to handle your 2020 finances in a tax-efficient way. The seven 2020 tax rates themselves didn't change (they are the same as those in effect for the 2019 calendar year). However, the tax bracket ranges were modified based on inflation. So, you could be in a different tax bracket for 2020 than the last time you reported your taxes, even if your income has not changed.1

Tax Brackets Are Marginal

The IRS divides income into different tax rates. Each subsequent portion of your income will have an increased tax rate. For example, if you make $40,125 in 2020, your first $9,875 will be taxed at 10 percent. The next portion of your income will be taxed at an increased rate; from $9,875 to $40,125, your tax rate will be 12 percent. 

As your income increases, you'll fall into higher tax brackets and will have a higher tax rate for each portion of your income. 

Why Would My Tax Bracket Be Different? 

The IRS regularly adjusts tax brackets to take inflation into consideration. This is because, with inflation, people will face higher prices, meaning the purchasing power of their dollar is decreased. Knowing this, the IRS adjusts brackets to avoid bracket creep, a circumstance that occurs when inflation pushes your income into a higher tax bracket, or credits and deductions are reduced. In this scenario, an individual may not have increased purchasing power or a higher disposable income, even with an increase in wages and salaries.2  

2020 Tax Brackets 

Without further ado, here are the 2020 tax brackets according to your filing status and income from the IRS1.

10% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: from $0 to $9,875
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: from $0 to $19,750
  • Heads of Households: from $0 to $14,100
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $0 to $9,875

12% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: from $9,876 to $40,125 
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: from $19,751 to $80,250   
  • Heads of Households: from $14,101 to $53,700
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $9,876 to $40,125

22% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: from $40,126 to $85,525   
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: from $80,251 to $171,050     
  • Heads of Households: from $53,701 to $85,500
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $40,126 to $85,525

24% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: from $85,526 to $163,300     
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: from $171,051 to $326,600   
  • Heads of Households: from $85,501 to $163,300
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $85,526 to $163,300

32% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: from $163,301 to $207,350   
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: from $326,601 to $414,700     
  • Heads of Households $163,301 to $207,350
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $163,301 to $207,350

35% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: $207,351 to $518,400
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: from $414,701 to $622,050
  • Heads of Households: from $207,351 to $518,400
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: from $207,351 to $311,025

37% Tax Rate

  • Single Individuals: over $518,400   
  • Married Individuals Filing Jointly: over $622,050   
  • Heads of Households: over $518,400
  • Married Individuals Filing Separately: over $311,0251

In addition to the tax inflation adjustments, the IRS also altered standard deductions. While the above rates and brackets are at the federal level, different states might have different brackets and rates. 

If you'd like help starting the plan for your future feel free to contact us for a

Complimentary Consultation


CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR RECENT BLOG POSTS


Your company offers a 401k. Now what?

Why Did I Start Dream Financial Planning?

"You’re a CFP® professional, Great what’s a CFP®?”


SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR BLOG POSTS AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL



       


  1. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-19-44.pdf
  2. https://www.aier.org/article/bracket-creep-a-real-problem-for-taxpayers/

Disclaimer: Dream Financial Planning, LLC does not warrant that this information will be free from error. None of the information provided on this website is intended as investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. The information should not be relied upon for purposes of transacting securities or other investments. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall Dream Financial Planning, LLC be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this site, even if Dream Financial Planning, LLC or a Dream Financial Planning, LLC authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Please consult with your own advisor before making any changes to your Financial Plan, Investments, or Insurance coverage..

Set Up a Time to Chat