The Federal Income Tax Brackets. The U.S. currently has seven federal income tax brackets, with rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. If you’re one of the lucky few to fall into the 37% bracket, that doesn’t mean that the entirety of your taxable income will be subject to a 37% tax. Instead, 37% is your top marginal tax rate. These income tax brackets dictate how much federal income tax you will pay when you file your tax returns this April. Remember, however, that these are marginal tax rates. That means that the highest rate applies only to money you earn above and beyond the upper limit of the lower rate. The average tax rate will always be lower than the marginal tax rate. In 2017, the first $9,325 that a taxpayer earns will be taxed at a rate of 10 percent, and the highest is 39.6 percent, which