Comparing Income, Corporate, Capital Gains Tax Rates: 1916-2011

Due to popular demand, I have updated my 2010 graph on top marginal tax rates. In addition, during this year's tax season, I will be selling copies of my Top Marginal Tax Rates graph as a tabloid size 11"x17" poster.  

FYI, your marginal tax rate is the rate you pay on the "last dollar" you earn; but when you view the taxes you paid as a percentage of your income, your effective tax rate is less than your marginal rate, especially after you take into account the deductions and exemptions, i.e. income that is not subject to any tax.

Tax Data: Married filing jointly, Capital Gains & Regular,Historical Corporate, Corporate Tax Schedule (page 16) pdf

Comparing Marginal Tax Rates Including Payroll Taxes: 2009

Updated April 13, 2010:  I don't think my original labels were clear so I tried to fix it with new labels and I reorder the graphs. This is a new infographic illustrating the marginal federal tax rate applied to different salaries. It shows the difference between the combined rate levied on an employee (Income + SSN + Medicare marginal tax rate) and the additional rate levied on the employer, i.e. the payroll tax (SSN + Medicare tax) I am using the same examples that I created in the previous six graphics looking at the average tax rate.

Average Tax Rates for Married with Two Kids and One Income: 2009

The sixth in series of infographics I am designing to illustrate the average federal tax rate applied to different salaries. This time I am graphing the average tax rates for a married couple with to kids and one salary. With 2 kids there are 2 more exemptions which increases the income tax cut offs for all tax brackets compared to the married with no children graphic.

If you take a look at your W-2 form you can see that there are 3 different taxes applied to salaries and wages:

The income tax graph is created from the 2009 tax schedule for a couple filing jointly or qualifying widow(er):

which you can find from the IRS Tax Tables here while the information about the social security and medicare tax can be found here.

Average Tax Rates for Head of Household: 2009

The fifth in series of infographics I am designing to illustrate the average federal tax rate applied to different salaries. This time I am graphing the average tax rates for a Head of Household with one child. The difference between this graph and the couple with one income is the smaller standard deduction and lower cut offs for 10%, 15%, 25%, and 28% rates both of which raises their average income tax rate.

The income tax graph is created from the 2009 tax schedule for a Head of Household:

which you can find from the IRS Tax Tables here while the information about the social security and medicare tax can be found here.

Average Tax Rates for Married Filing Separately: 2009

The fourth in series of infographics I am designing to illustrate the average federal tax rate applied to different salaries. This time I am graphing the average tax rates for someone while married is filing a separate tax return from their spouse. The difference between this graph and that of a single taxpayer is that the cut offs for 28%, 33% and 35% rates are lower which will increases the average tax rates for people with an income over $78,000.

The income tax graph is created from the 2009 tax schedule for someone married filing separately from their spouse:

which you can find from the IRS Tax Tables here while the information about the social security and medicare tax can be found here.

Average Tax Rates for Married Couple with Two Incomes: 2009

The third in series of infographics I am designing to illustrate the average federal tax rate applied to different salaries. This time I am graphing the average tax rates for married couples filing a joint tax return but with 2 incomes (same salary for each). The difference between this graph and the couple with one income is that the the Social Security Tax cut off is now $213,600 (instead of $106,800), which increases their average SSN tax rate and their combined tax rates.

The income tax graph is created from the 2009 tax schedule for a couple filing jointly or qualifying widow(er):

which you can find from the IRS Tax Tables here while the information about the social security and medicare tax can be found here.

Average Tax Rates for Married Couple with One Income: 2009

The second in series of infographics I am designing to illustrate the average federal tax rate applied to different salaries. This time I am graphing the average tax rates for a married couple filing a joint tax return. I am assuming one income so the main change from the tax rate for singles is the amount of the standard deduction, 2 exemptions and the change to the income tax schedule. (Again, this graphic does not include any payroll taxes paid by the employer.)

If you take a look at your W-2 form you can see that there are 3 different taxes applied to salaries and wages:

The income tax graph is created from the 2009 tax schedule for a couple filing jointly or qualifying widow(er):

which you can find from the IRS Tax Tables here while the information about the social security and medicare tax can be found here.

Average Tax Rates up to $400,000 for Single Filers: 2009

UPDATE 3/17/2010: I added more information about marginal tax rates by graphing the combined marginal tax rate line in the last graph. Also clarified that the employer-side of the payroll taxes are not included The first of series of infographics I am designing to illustrate the average federal tax rate applied to different salaries. I want to show how the marginal income tax rates + social security and medicare taxes combine together for a single taxpayer up to $400,000. (This graphic does not include payroll taxes paid by the employer.)

A little background about this data. If you take a look at your W-2 form you can see that there are 3 different taxes applied to salaries and wages:

The income tax graph is created from the 2009 tax schedule for a single taxpayer:

which you can find from the IRS Tax Tables here while the information about the social security and medicare tax can be found here.

Statistics for e-filing tax returns

Day 2 of my 28 days of Tax Data series From The Turbo Tax Blog

FYI this was some of my client work although I didn't create the finished design above. Instead I performed some behind the scenes research and sketching for this infographic that you can see in this plain b&w version below:

Historical data can be found at the IRS