“What’s the maximum wage can I make before I get moved to the next tax bracket?”
“What’s the maximum wage can I make before I get moved to the next tax bracket?” is a question our preparers get asked all the time.
What many clients do not understand is The United States uses a progressive tax system and utilizes marginal tax rates. For consumers this means that every dollar you make within a given tax bracket is taxed at the assigned rate, never a higher one. For example, if your filing status is “single” and you made $35,000 in 2018, $9,525 of your income would be taxed at 10% and the remaining $25,475 would be taxed at 12%.
Our preparers want taxpayers to understand they should never let taxation stop them from making money. If you have made $82,500 in the past and are hesitant to take a higher wage for fear of have all of your income taxed at 24%, remember, only those that fall in the next tax bracket will be taxed at 24%.
See below for the 2018 Tax Brackets and Rates:
Rate |
Individuals |
Married Filing Joint |
| 10% | Up to $9,525 | Up to $19,050 |
| 125 | $9,526 to $38,700 | $19,051 to $77,400 |
| 22% | $38,701 to $82,500 | $77,401 to $165,000 |
| 24% | $82,501 to $157,500 | $165,001 to $315,000 |
| 32% | $157,501 to $200,000 | $315,001 to $400,000 |
| 35% | $200,001 to $500,000 | $400,001 to $600,000 |
| 37% | over $500,000 | over $600,000 |