How much do you pay in taxes?

Some presidential candidates claim the rich pay a lower rate than many middle-class workers or that the poor pay nothing. But on average neither is true, at least when measuring effective tax rates - the percent of one's total income paid in federal taxes. Here are estimated average effective tax rates for 2015.

  • Income*

    % of income paid in federal taxes*

  • Source: Tax Policy Center; Published: January 13, 2016
    Notes

    *Income includes work and investment income, employer-provided benefits (e.g., health insurance subsidies, 401(k) matches) and food stamps.

    Federal taxes refer to income and payroll taxes paid after accounting for tax breaks.

    Payroll taxes include employee and employer contributions to Social Security and Medicare.

    **Rules for the child credit and Earned Income Tax Credit don’t offset the tax bill of the lowest income filers as much as they do for those who make above $10,000.