IRS Tax Brackets for 2025: Everything You Need to Know

Tax brackets are changing in 2025—so Newsweek has rounded up everything you need to know before the new year.

The IRS adjusts tax brackets for inflation annually to stop taxpayers being pushed into a higher income tax bracket without an increase in real income. There are seven income brackets that earners can fall into: 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 37 percent, and they will remain unchanged throughout 2025.

The amount you pay is determined by your income level and your filing status, such as whether you are single or married. Federal income is not taxed at a flat rate - instead, various portions of your earnings may be placed in different tax brackets, resulting in multiple tax rates applying to different segments of your income.

Tax Changes for 2025

From January 1 to December 31, 2025, the following rates apply:

For example: if you earned $50,000 in taxable income as a single filer in 2024, you would pay 10 percent on the first $11,600 and 12 percent on the portion of income between $11,601 and $47,150. For the remainder, you would pay 22 percent, as it falls within that bracket. In total, your tax bill would be approximately $6,053, but that doesn't factor in any other deductions you may be entitled to.

Standard Deductions

For the tax year 2025, single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately will see their standard deduction - the amount of income that is not taxable - increase to $14,600 for 2024, up by $750 from 2023.

Married couples filing jointly will benefit from a standard deduction of $29,200, a $1,500 increase from 2024. Heads of households will have a standard deduction set at $22,500 for 2025, reflecting a $600 rise compared to the amount for tax year 2024.

Other changes

• Alternative minimum tax exemption amounts. For the 2024 tax year, the exemption amount for single filers rises to $85,700 ($133,300 for married individuals filing separately) and starts to phase out at an income level of $626,350. For married couples filing jointly, the exemption amount increases to $137,000, with a phase-out beginning at $1,252,700.
• Earned income tax credits. For qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, the tax year 2024 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) amount is $7,830.
• Foreign earned income exclusion. This will be $126,500, increased from $120,000 in tax year 2023.

No changes

Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017, there will be no changes to personal exemptions and itemized deductions. Personal exemptions will remain at zero, and there is no limit to itemized deductions.

For full information on all tax changes taking place in 2025, head to the IRS website.

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Tax filing dates for 2025

• January 15: Final estimated tax payments for 2024 are due. This deadline applies to self-employed individuals or others who do not have taxes withheld automatically and covers income earned from September 1 to December 31, 2024.
• January 29: The IRS begins accepting 2024 tax returns.
• April 15: Deadline in most states to file your 2024 tax return. Also the first estimated tax payment for 2025 is due. This payment applies to income earned from January 1 to March 31, 2025.
• April 17: Deadline for Maine and Massachusetts—again, estimated payments for 2025 are also due.
• June 16: Deadline for the second estimated tax payment for 2025, covering income earned from April 1 to May 31.
• September 15: Third estimated tax payment for 2025 is due, applicable to income earned from June 1 to August 31.
• October 15: Final day to file your 2024 tax return if you've been granted a six-month extension.

2026

Beyond this, new tax adjustments for the 2025 tax year (beginning January 1, 2026) were announced by the IRS in October. The following applies to federal income tax returns filed in 2026: