Tax Rate Definition, Effective Tax Rates, and Tax Brackets

What Is a Tax Rate?

A tax rate is a percentage at which an individual or corporation is taxed. The United States uses a progressive tax rate system imposed by the federal government and many states in which the percentage of tax charged increases as the amount of the person's or entity's taxable income increases. A progressive tax rate collects more from taxpayers with higher incomes.

Key Takeaways

  • A tax rate is a percentage at which an individual or corporation is taxed.
  • The U.S. imposes a progressive tax rate on income, where the higher the income, the greater percentage of tax is levied.
  • The U.S. applies its tax rate in marginal increments, so taxpayers are charged at an effective tax rate lower than the bracket rate.
  • Tax rates are also applied as sales tax on goods and services or as capital gains tax on investments.
  • Some other nations charge a flat tax rate or a regressive tax rate.

Understanding Tax Rates

To help build and maintain the infrastructure, a government taxes its residents. The tax collected is used for the betterment of the nation, society, and all living in it. In the U.S. and other countries, a tax rate is applied to taxpayer income.

Whether earned from wages or salary, investment income like dividends and interest, capital gains from investments, or profits made from goods or services, a percentage of earnings are remitted to the government.

For income tax, the tax rate is the percentage of an individual's taxable income or a corporation's earnings owed to state, federal, and, in some cases, municipal governments. The tax rate applied to an individual’s earnings depends on the marginal tax bracket. The marginal tax rate used by the U.S. government is indicative of its progressive tax system.

Effective Tax Rates

For individuals, the dollar threshold for each tax rate is dependent upon the status of the filer, whether they are single, the head of a household, married filing separately, or married filing jointly. The marginal tax brackets for 2022 and 2023 are:

Tax Brackets, 2022
2022 Rate Single Individual Married Individuals Filing Jointly Married Individuals Filing Separately Head of Household
10% $10,275 or less $20,550 or less $10,275 or less $14,650 or less
12% $10,276 to $41,775 $20,551 to $83,550 $10,276 to $41,775 $14,651 to $55,900
22% $41,776 to $89,075 $83,551 to $178,150 $41,776 to $89,075 $55,901 to $89,050
24% $89,076 to $170,050 $178,151 to $340,100  $89,076 to $170,050 $89,051 to $170,050
32% $170,051 to $215,950 $340,101 to $431,900 $170,051 to $215,950 $170,051 to $215,950
35% $215,951 to $539,900 $431,901 to $647,850 $215,951 to $323,925 $215,951 to $539,900
37% Over $539,900 Over $647,850 Over $332,925 Over $539,900
Source: Internal Revenue Service
Tax Brackets, 2023
2023 Rate Single Individual Married Individuals Filing Jointly Married Individuals Filing Separately Head of Household
10% $11,000 or less $0 to $22,000 $11,000 or less $0 to $15,700
12% $11,000 to $44,725 $22,000 to $89,450 $11,000 to $44,725 $15,700 to $59,850
22% $44,725 to $95,375 $89,450 to $190,750 $44,725 to $95,375 $59,850 to $95,350
24% $95,375 to $182,100 $190,750 to $364,200 $95,375 to $182,100 $95,350 to $182,100
32% $182,100 to $231,250 $364,200 to $462,500 $182,100 to $231,250 $182,100 to $231,250
35% $231,250 to $578,125 $462,500 to $693,750 $231,250 to $346,875 $231,250 to $578,100
37% Over $578,125 Over $693,750 Over $346,875 Over $578,100
Source: Internal Revenue Service

A single individual who earns $62,000 in 2023 will be taxed as follows: 10% on the first $11,000; 12% on the next $33,725 (the amount over $11,000 up to $44,725); then 22% on the remaining $17,275 (the amount over $44,725 up to $95,375), all of which equals $8,947.50.

Another individual who earns $160,000 will be taxed 10% on the first $11,000; 12% on the next $33,725; 22% on the next $50,650 (the amount over $44,725 up to $95,375); then 24% on the remaining $64,625 (the amount of income that falls between $95,375 and $182,100), all of which equals $31,800.

Following this example, the single taxpayer who falls under the third marginal tax bracket will pay less tax than the single filer who falls in the fourth and higher bracket.

A marginal tax rate means that different portions of income are taxed at progressively higher rates.

Although these taxpayers fall in the third and fourth marginal brackets, they do not pay flat rates of 22% and 24%, respectively, on all of their income due to the nature of the marginal tax calculation. If they did, the first individual would pay 22% x $62,000 = $13,640; the second pays 24% x $160,000 = $38,400. In total, individual A pays an effective rate of 14.4% ($8,947.50 ÷ $62,000), and the individual with the higher income pays a rate of 19.9% ($31,800 ÷ $160,000). These rates are called effective tax rates and represent the actual percentage at which the tax is levied during a tax year.

Sales and Capital Gains Tax Rates

Tax rates also apply as sales tax on goods and services, real property tax, short-term capital gains tax, and long-term capital gains tax. When a consumer purchases certain goods and services from a retailer, a sales tax is applied to the sales price of the commodity at the point of sale. Since sales tax is governed by individual state governments, the sales tax rate will vary from state to state. In Georgia, the rate is 4%, while the tax rate in California is 7.25%.

Income gained from investments is categorized as earnings, and tax rates on capital gains and dividends apply. When the value of an investment rises and the security is sold for a profit, the tax rate that the investor pays depends on how long they held the asset. The tax rate of a short-term investment held for one year or less is equal to the investor’s ordinary income tax. Individuals in the 22% marginal tax bracket will pay 22% on short-term capital gains.

The tax rate on profits from investments held longer than a year ranges from 0% to 20%. For the taxable year 2023, individuals with taxable income below $44,625 pay 0%. Individuals with taxable income between $44,625 and $492,300 pay 15%, and investors with income above $492,300 pay a 20% tax rate on capital gains.

Qualified dividends are subject to the same tax rate schedule for long-term capital gains. Non-qualified dividends have the same tax rates as short-term capital gains.

Tax Rates Abroad

Tax rates vary from country to country. Some countries implement a progressive tax system, while others use regressive or proportional tax rates. A regressive tax schedule is one in which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount decreases.

The proportional or flat tax rate system applies the same tax rates to all taxable amounts, regardless of income level. Bolivia and Greenland are examples of countries that have this system of taxes in place.

How Are Tax Rates Imposed?

A tax rate can apply to goods and services or income and is defined by a government. The rate is commonly expressed as a percentage of the value of what is being taxed.

What Is a Tax Bracket?

A tax bracket defines a range of incomes subject to an income tax rate. Tax brackets are part of a progressive tax, in which the level of tax rates progressively increases as an individual’s income grows. Low incomes fall into tax brackets with lower tax rates, while higher earners fall into brackets with higher rates.

What Is the Difference Between a Marginal Tax Rate and an Effective Tax Rate?

A marginal tax rate is the amount of tax that applies to each additional income level as defined by the tax brackets. In the United States, taxpayers pay more taxes as their income rises. A taxpayer’s average tax rate is their effective tax rate or the share of their total annual income they will pay in taxes.


The Bottom Line

A tax rate is a percentage at which an individual or corporation is taxed. The U.S. imposes a progressive tax, where the higher the individual's income, the greater percentage of tax is paid. Tax rates are also applied as sales tax on goods and services or as capital gains tax on investments. Other nations may impose a progressive tax, while others charge a flat tax rate or a regressive tax rate.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
  1. The Tax Foundation. "Progressive Tax."

  2. Internal Revenue Service. "Rev. Proc. 2022-38," Pages 5-7.

  3. Internal Revenue Service. "Rev. Proc. 2021-45," Pages 5-8.

  4. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. "Know Your Sales and Use Tax Rate."

  5. Georgia Department of Revenue. "Sales Tax Rates: General," Download PDF.

  6. Internal Revenue Service. "Topic No. 409: Capital Gains and Losses."

  7. Internal Revenue Service. "Rev. Proc. 2022-38," Pages 8-9.

  8. Internal Revenue Service. "Topic No. 404 Dividends."

  9. PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Greenland Individual—Taxes on Personal Income."

  10. PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Bolivia: Individual Taxes on Personal Income."

Take the Next Step to Invest
×
The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.
Service
Name
Description