• Taxable income goes on line 43 on the form 1040.tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
  
  Tax brackets are income ranges that correspond with a specific tax rate. As income goes up, the tax rate also goes up. Along with income, filing status has an impact on tax brackets. Married couples have the widest tax brackets, regardless to whether or not both people in the marriage earn any income.
  
  

10 Percent

• 10 percent is the lowest tax bracket and corresponds with the lowest income level. Many part-time workers or those who earn close to minimum wage will be in this tax-bracket,
  
  

15 Percent

• This is the second lowest tax bracket. The lower-middle class to middle class is in this tax bracket. Some part-time and hourly workers will be in this tax bracket. There are also some salaried workers in this category.
  
  

25 Percent

• This tax bracket contains mostly middle class to upper-middle class individuals and families. Those in this tax bracket are often homeowners.
  
  

28 Percent

• Those in this tax bracket are the individuals that are successful in their careers. They are the upper-middle class.
  
  

33 Percent

• This tax bracket is where upper class individuals fall. Many doctors, lawyers and small company executives fall in this category.
  
  

35 Percent

• This is the highest tax bracket. The wealthiest individuals in the United States fall into this category.
  
  

Single

• According to IRS.gov, in 2009, if you are single and you make between $0 and $8,350 per year, your tax rate will simply be 10 percent. As income goes up, the numbers get a little more complicated. If you make between $8,350 and $33,950, your tax rate for anything above $8,350 is 15 percent. So, your tax for that income bracket is $835 + 15% of the amount over $8,350. Here is an example:
  
  Mr. X makes $18,350 per year. His tax would be $2335.
  
  $835 + 15% of the amount over $8,350 (15% of $10,000) or $1500
  
  $835 + $1500 = $2335
  
  If you are single and your income is between $33,950 and $82,250, your tax is $4,675 plus 25 percent of anything over $33,950. If your income is between $82,250 and $171,550, your tax is $16,750 plus 28 percent of anything over $82,250. If you made between $171,550 and $372,950 your tax is $41,754 plus 33 percent of any amount over $171,550. Finally if you made over $372,950, your tax is $108,216 plus 35 percent of any amount over $372,950, according to IRS.gov. The reason the IRS does the calculation this way is to be fair. They tax your income at each level, the first $8,350 you make is taxed at 10 percent, the next amount you make up to $33,950 is taxed at 15 percent, and so on. They do not want to tax at a flat rate.
  
  Now that you know how they calculate the amount of taxes due given the rate, the rest of the sections will provide only the income brackets and percentages.
  
  

Married Filing Jointly (or Widowed)

• If you are married filing jointly, you will be in the widest tax brackets. If you (as a couple) make between $0 and $16,700, your tax rate is 10 percent. If you make between $16,700 and $67,000, your tax rate is 15 percent for that portion of your income. If you make between $67,900 and $137,050, your tax rate is 25 percent for that portion of your income. If you make between $137,050 and $208,850, your tax rate is 28 percent for anything above $137,050 that you earned. If you make between $208,850 and $372,950, your tax rate is 33 percent for the higher portion of your income. And finally, if you make over $372,950, your tax rate is 35 percent for anything you made over $372,950, according to IRS.gov.
  
  

Married Filing Seperately

• If you are married filing separately, the tax brackets are more narrow than they are than if you are married filing jointly. If you make $0 to $8,350, the tax rate is 10 percent. If you make $8,350 to 33,950, the tax on that portion of your income is 15 percent. Those whose income is between $33,950 and $68,525, the tax on that portion will be 25 percent. If your income level is between $68,525 and $104,425, the tax on that portion of you income will be 28 percent. If your income is between $104,425 and $186,475, the tax on that income will be 33 percent. Finally, if you make over $186,475, anything you make over that amount will be taxed at 35 percent, according to IRS.gov.
  
  

Head of Household

• If you file as head of household, the tax brackets are wider than they are for single filers and for those who are married filing separately, but they are narrower than they are for those who are married filing jointly. If you make $0 to $11,950, the tax is 10 percent. If you make $11,950 to $45,500, the tax on that portion of your income is 15 percent. Those whose income is between $45,500 and $117,450, the tax on that portion will be 25 percent. If your income level is between $117,450 and $190,200, the tax on that portion of you income will be 28 percent. If your income is between $190,200 and $372,950, the tax on that income will be 33 percent. Finally, if you make over $372,950, anything you make over that amount will be taxed at 35 percent, according to IRS.gov.