Question

Scot and Vidia, married taxpayers, earn $90,400 in taxable income and $5,000 in interest from an investment in City of Tampa bonds. (Use the U.S. tax rate schedule for married filing jointly). (Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to 2 decimal places.)a. If Scot and Vidia earn an additional $81,000 of taxable income, what is their marginal tax rate on this income?b. How would your answer differ if they, instead, had $81,000 of additional deductions?

Answer 1

a) Since Scot and Vidia's ordinary income = $90,400 + $81,000 = $171,400, their marginal tax rate will be 24%, and they will owe $29,211 + [($171,400 - $171,500) x 24%] = $29,295 in taxes

They will also have to pay 15% of $5,000 (capital gains) = $750

b) Since Scot and Vidia's ordinary income = $90,400 - $81,000 = $9,400, their marginal tax rate will be 10%, and they will owe $9,400 in taxes

They will also have to pay 15% of $5,000 (capital gains) = $750