

The personal exemption for 2020 remains eliminated. The standard deduction for single filers will increase by $200, and by $400 for married couples filing jointly (Table 2). Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption The top marginal income tax rate of 37 percent will hit taxpayers with taxable income of $518,400 and higher for single filers and $622,050 and higher for married couples filing jointly.Ģ020 Federal Income Tax Brackets and Rates for Single Filers, Married Couples Filing Jointly, and Heads of Households Rateįor Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns In 2020, the income limits for all tax brackets and all filers will be adjusted for inflation and will be as follows (Table 1). 2020 Federal Income Tax Brackets and Rates However, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the IRS will now use the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI) to adjust income thresholds, deduction amounts, and credit values accordingly. The IRS used to use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to calculate the past year’s inflation.

This is done to prevent what is called “ bracket creep,” when people are pushed into higher income tax brackets or have reduced value from credits and deductions due to inflation, instead of any increase in real income.

On a yearly basis the IRS adjusts more than 40 tax provisions for inflation.
