So how much do you pay the federal government in taxes? It depends on the tax bracket you fit into.

Your bracket is determined by both your taxable income — ordinary income such as wages, investment interest, and retirement distributions minus adjustments and deductions — and whether you file as a single taxpayer, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household.

Each filing status has seven tax brackets with rates (detailed below) that get progressively higher as your income increases. Because of the new tax law that went into effect in 2018, the highest tax bracket was reduced and many taxpayers found themselves subject to lower rates.

“Right now, tax rates are at historic lows in the nation’s history,” said Logan Allec, a certified public accountant, who noted that rates at times have exceeded 90% in the past. “There have become fewer tax brackets and rates have generally become lower — especially at the higher-end of the spectrum.”

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Tax brackets by filing status

Here’s how the tax brackets look for 2019. Each year, the income limits for the tax brackets are adjusted for inflation.

Single taxpayers:

• 10% on taxable income over $0

• 12% on taxable income over $9,700

• 22% on taxable income over $39,475

• 24% on taxable income over $84,200

• 32% on taxable income over $160,725

• 35% on taxable income over $204,100

• 37% on taxable income over $510,300

Married filing jointly or qualifying widow:

• 10% on taxable income over $0

• 12% on taxable income over $19,400

• 22% on taxable income over $78,950

• 24% on taxable income over $168,400

• 32% on taxable income over $321,450

• 35% on taxable income over $408,200

• 37% on taxable income over $612,350

Head of household:

• 10% on taxable income over $0

• 12% on taxable income over $13,850

• 22% on taxable income over $52,850

• 24% on taxable income over $84,200

• 32% on taxable income over $160,700

• 35% on taxable income over $204,100

• 37% on taxable income over $510,300

Married filing separately:

• 10% on taxable income over $0

• 12% on taxable income over $9,700

• 22% on taxable income over $39,475

• 24% on taxable income over $84,200

• 32% on taxable income over $160,725

• 35% on taxable income over $204,100

• 37% on taxable income over $306,175

Progressive, marginal, and effective tax rates

It’s important to understand that the tax rate you pay isn’t flat. Instead, it’s progressive, so that taxpayers pay higher rates as their income increases.

“People get confused and think that as they move up into a higher tax bracket, all of their income will be taxed at a higher rate,” Nathan Rigney, lead tax research analyst at H&R Block. “No matter how much money you earn, everyone will pay 10% in tax up to a certain threshold.”