Tax Bracket History Explorer
One chart, three dimensions — see how Year, Tax Rate and Income Range have evolved together for Married Filing Jointly since 1913.
How to read the chart: Each vertical bar is one year. The colored segments stacked inside it are tax brackets — the taller a segment, the wider the income range taxed at that rate. Hover over any segment to see the exact rate and dollar range. Use the year slider below to highlight a specific year and view its details in the table.
Selected: 2026
Year × Tax Rate × Income Range
Each stacked bar = one year. Segments = brackets (rate & income range).
Bracket Color Legend
Bracket Count
The U.S. had up to 16 brackets in the early 1980s. After the 1986 reform the system collapsed to just 2–5 brackets, then settled at 7 since 2018.
Top Rate Trend
The top marginal rate went from 70 % (1979–1981) down to 28 % (1988–1990), back up to 39.6 %, and currently sits at 37 %.
Inflation Indexing
Since the mid-1980s, bracket thresholds are adjusted for inflation each year, which is why thresholds climb even when rates stay the same.
2026 Bracket Details
Married Filing Jointly
| Tax Rate | Income From | Income To | Bracket Width |
|---|