2022 Federal Tax Brackets

Josh · Last updated: May 9, 2026

Last verified: May 9, 2026 against IRS Rev. Proc. for tax year 2022 + Tax Foundation historical tables

From the desk of Josh: financial modeling at a private equity firm. See more by Josh.

Complete IRS bracket schedule and standard deduction for tax year 2022: single, married filing jointly, head of household, and married filing separately.

What changed in 2022

2022 was year 5 of the TCJA 7-bracket structure, with thresholds inflation-indexed about 3.1% over 2021 - a modest adjustment that didn't yet reflect the post-pandemic inflation surge (which would land in the 2023 adjustment). The standard deduction rose to $12,950 single / $25,900 MFJ ($400 / $800 above 2021). The 37% bracket began at $539,900 single / $647,850 MFJ. For a single filer with $85,000 taxable income, 2022 federal income tax was approximately $11,000, an effective rate of 12.94%. The legislative story of 2022 was the Inflation Reduction Act (passed August 2022) - but its tax provisions targeted corporations (15% AMT, 1% stock buyback tax) and clean-energy incentives, not individual income tax brackets. The American Rescue Plan Act's enhanced Child Tax Credit ($3,000-$3,600 per child, fully refundable, with advance monthly payments) reverted to pre-pandemic levels for tax year 2022 - the credit returned to $2,000 per child with the standard $1,400 refundable portion. The expanded EITC for childless workers under 25 also expired.

Single
$12,950
Standard deduction
Married Filing Jointly
$25,900
Standard deduction
Head of Household
$19,400
Standard deduction
Married Filing Separately
$12,950
Standard deduction

2022 Tax Brackets - Single

Marginal rate Taxable income Tax owed at top of bracket
10% $0 - $10,275 $1,028
12% $10,276 - $41,775 $4,808
22% $41,776 - $89,075 $15,214
24% $89,076 - $170,050 $34,648
32% $170,051 - $215,950 $49,336
35% $215,951 - $539,900 $162,718
37% Over $539,901 -

2022 Tax Brackets - Married Filing Jointly

Marginal rate Taxable income Tax owed at top of bracket
10% $0 - $20,550 $2,055
12% $20,551 - $83,550 $9,615
22% $83,551 - $178,150 $30,427
24% $178,151 - $340,100 $69,295
32% $340,101 - $431,900 $98,671
35% $431,901 - $647,850 $174,254
37% Over $647,851 -

2022 Tax Brackets - Head of Household

Marginal rate Taxable income Tax owed at top of bracket
10% $0 - $14,650 $1,465
12% $14,651 - $55,900 $6,415
22% $55,901 - $89,050 $13,708
24% $89,051 - $170,050 $33,148
32% $170,051 - $215,950 $47,836
35% $215,951 - $539,900 $161,219
37% Over $539,901 -

2022 Tax Brackets - Married Filing Separately

Marginal rate Taxable income Tax owed at top of bracket
10% $0 - $10,275 $1,028
12% $10,276 - $41,775 $4,808
22% $41,776 - $89,075 $15,214
24% $89,076 - $170,050 $34,648
32% $170,051 - $215,950 $49,336
35% $215,951 - $323,925 $87,127
37% Over $323,926 -

Worked example: $85,000 single filer in 2022

Gross income $85,000 minus the 2022 single standard deduction ($12,950) = $72,050 taxable.

10% on $10,275 = $1,028
12% on $31,500 = $3,780
22% on $30,275 = $6,661
Total federal tax: $11,468
Effective rate: 13.49%

Notes for 2022

2022 was the fifth year of TCJA's bracket structure. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 made no changes to individual income tax brackets but added a 15% corporate AMT and 1% stock buyback excise tax beginning in 2023.

Modeling 2022 retroactively

The tax bracket calculator handles 2022 brackets when 2022 is selected. The paycheck calculator runs 2022 federal and state withholding tables. Note the Child Tax Credit reversion meant many families with children owed materially more 2022 federal tax than they had in 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the top marginal federal tax rate in 2022?
2022 kept the 37% top marginal rate established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 2022 was year 5 of the TCJA bracket structure.
What was the 2022 standard deduction?
For tax year 2022, the standard deduction was $12,950 for single filers, $25,900 for married filing jointly, $19,400 for head of household, and $12,950 for married filing separately.
Are 2022 tax brackets still relevant?
2022 brackets apply to income earned during 2022 (filed by April of the following year). They're useful for amended returns, late filings, prior-year tax planning, and historical comparisons. The current-year brackets are different - see the /tax-brackets/2026/ page for current rates.
How do marginal tax brackets actually work?
Federal tax brackets are marginal: only the income above each threshold is taxed at that rate. A single filer with $100,000 of taxable income doesn't pay 22% on all of it. They pay 10% on the first portion, then 12%, then 22% on the remainder. Effective tax rate (total tax ÷ total income) is always lower than the headline marginal rate.

Related Calculators

Educational content only. 2022 tax brackets apply to income earned during 2022, generally filed in April 2023. For amended returns or current-year planning, consult a qualified CPA or tax advisor.