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According to the IRS, what is the taxable income range for a single taxpayer?

1) $82,400 to $171,850
2) $82,400 to $171,850
3) $82,400 to $171,850
4) $82,400 to $171,850

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The taxable income range for a single taxpayer according to the IRS does not match the options provided. Tax brackets are progressive, meaning the tax rate increases with higher income levels. A specific example is the tax year 2017, where a single taxpayer's income up to $9,325 was taxed at 10%, and a marginal rate of 15% applied for income between $9,326 to $37,950.

Step-by-step explanation:

The taxable income range for a single taxpayer, according to the IRS, does not match the options provided in the question. Tax brackets for a single taxpayer historically have included ranges such as 10% on income from $0 to a low threshold, scaling up to higher percentages as income increases. The rates and thresholds for specific years vary and are adjusted for inflation. For instance, in 2017, the ranges for a single taxpayer were from 10% on taxable income from $0 to $9,325, up to 39.6% for incomes over $418,401.

Tax codes are designed to be progressive, meaning higher income levels are taxed at higher rates. This system ensures that taxpayers with higher earnings pay a larger share in taxes, which is referred to when someone 'moves into a higher tax bracket'. Marginal tax rates are the rates at which your last dollar of income is taxed, which can vary based on factors like marital status and family size.

How Marginal Rates Work

For example, if a single taxpayer earns $35,000, with the income up to $9,075 taxed at 10%, and income from $9,075 to $36,900 taxed at 15%, then their marginal tax rate would be 15%. This is because their income falls within the 15% tax bracket range.

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