How to figure out your income tax rate
The Average Tax Rate Formula. Your average tax rate on that $85,000 – including the bonus $5,000 – works out to 17 percent, not 22 percent. You'd pay $987, or 10 percent, on your first $9,875 in income; $3,630, or 12 percent, on your income above that threshold up to $40,125; and $9,872, or 22 percent, on your income over $40,125. The corporate income tax rate in the United States uses a progressive structure, so the more money the company makes, the higher its rate of taxes. If the company just barely reaches a higher bracket, most of its income isn't taxed at that rate. Thus the effective tax rate is a better measure of the company's expenses. What's your state tax rate? Use this map to find information on your state's income, sales, property, estate and other taxes.