The IRS has released its inflation adjustments for the 2025 tax year—applying to returns filed in 2026—which impact both your tax bracket and the standard deduction, among other updates.
Tax rates aren’t changing in 2025, but the thresholds for each bracket are rising to account for inflation and “bracket creep,” which pushes filers into higher tax brackets (or reduces the value of deductions and credits) without an actual increase in income. That said, tax rates could increase in 2026 unless provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire are extended.
The adjustments for 2025 are the smallest in recent years at under 3%.
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2025 income tax brackets
These are the changes for single filers:
- 37% for incomes over $626,350 (up from $609,350)
- 35% for incomes over $250,525 (up from $243,725)
- 32% for incomes over $197,300 (up from $191,950)
- 24% for incomes over $103,350 (up from $100,525)
- 22% for incomes over $48,475 (up from $47,151)
- 12% for incomes over $11,925 (up from $11,600)
- 10% for incomes of $11,925 or less
- For married filing jointly, these are the updated thresholds:
- 37% for incomes over $751,600 (up from $731,200)
- 35% for incomes over $501,050 (up from $485,450)
- 32% for incomes over $394,600 (up from $383,900)
- 24% for incomes over $206,700 (up from $201,050)
- 22% for incomes over $96,950 (up from $94,300)
- 12% for incomes over $23,850 (up from $23,200)
- 10% for incomes of $23,850 or less
Remember that these tax rates are marginal, not flat, so you don’t pay the same rate on your entire income. If you are a single filer, the first $11,925 you make is taxed at 10% (or up $1,192), the amount between $11,926 and $48,475 is taxed at 12%, and so on.
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Standard deduction increase
The IRS has also announced an increase in the standard deduction in 2025 to $15,000 for single filers (up from $14,600) and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly (up from $29,200). The standard deduction—used by around 90% of tax filers—lowers your taxable income, possibly decreasing what you owe or increasing your refund. Itemizing on your return may make sense if your deductions exceed these thresholds.
Other tax changes for 2025
There are a few other tax updates for next year that will impact some filers.
For example: Income thresholds for capital gains tax—owed on the sale of assets that have appreciated in value—will rise, with single filers who earn up to $48,350 and married couples earning up to $96,700 paying 0% on gains. Single filers will pay 15% if they earn between $48,350 and $533,400 (between $96,700 and $600,050 for married couples) and 20% if their income is higher than $533,400 ($600,050 for married couples). The estate tax exclusion is rising from $13.61 million to $13.99 million, and gifts up to $19,000 are tax-free (up from $18,000 in 2024).
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The Earned Income Tax Credit for low- to moderate-income filers is increasing from $632 to $649 for single filers, and the maximum for qualifying households with three or more children is rising from $7,830 to $8,046.
