Your marginal tax bracket determines how much of the earnings from savings and investments you get to keep after taxes. Below are the tax rate schedules for 2016:
| Marginal Tax Bracket Rate | Single Taxable Income |
Married Filing Jointly Taxable Income |
Married Filing Separately Taxable Income |
Head of Household Taxable Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $9,275 | $0 to $18,550 | $0 to $9,275 | $0 to $13,250 |
| 15% | $9,276 to $37,650 | $18,551 to $75,300 | $9,276 to $37,650 | $13,251 to $50,400 |
| 25% | $37,651 to $91,150 | $75,301 to $151,900 | $37,651 to $75,950 | $50,401 to $130,150 |
| 28% | $90,151 to $190,150 | $151,901 to $231,450 | $75,951 to $115,725 | $130,151 to $210,800 |
| 33% | $190,151 to $413,350 | $231,451 to $413,350 | $115,726 to $206,675 | $210,801 to $413,350 |
| 35% | $413,351 to $415,050 | $413,351 to $466,950 | $206,676 to $233,475 | $413,351 to $441,000 |
| 39.6% | $415,051 and higher | $466,950 and higher | $233,475 and higher | $441,001 and higher |
You can compare yields by using the following formula:
Taxable equivalent yield = tax-free yield ÷ (100% – marginal tax bracket %) or see www.calcxml.com/calculators/inc11?skn, which includes both federal and state income tax rates.
Example: Assume you are in the 25% tax bracket, and have an account with a 4.0% tax-free yield. To get the equivalent taxable yield, divide 4.0% by 75% (100% – 25%). The taxable yield is 5.33%.