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 2018:
| 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 $9,525 | $0 to $19,050 | $0 to $9,525 | $0 to $13,600 |
| 12% | $9,526 to $38,700 | $19,051 to $77,400 | $9,526 to $38,700 | $13,601 to $51,800 |
| 22% | $38,701 to $82,500 | $77,401 to $165,000 | $38,701 to $82,500 | $51,801 to $82,500 |
| 24% | $82,501 to $157,500 | $165,001 to $315,000 | $82,501 to $157,500 | $82,501 to $157,500 |
| 32% | $157,501 to $200,000 | $315,001 to $400,000 | $157,501 to $200,000 | $157,501 to $200,000 |
| 35% | $200,001 to $500,000 | $400,001 to $600,000 | $200,001 to $300,000 | $200,001 to $500,000 |
| 37% | $500,001 and higher | $600,001 and higher | $300,001 and higher | $500,000 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 22% tax bracket, and have an account with a 4.0% tax-free yield. To get the equivalent taxable yield, divide 4.0% by 78% (100% – 22%). The taxable yield is 5.13%.