How Much the Average Person Paid in Taxes the Year You Were Born

It’s tax time, which certainly causes some headaches. As you’re filling out your 1040, you might be wondering how much taxes have changed over the years.

Find Out: What Are the 2020-2021 Federal Tax Brackets and Tax Rates?

It’s safe to say the numbers for federal income taxes have changed dramatically — both the taxes paid, but also household median income. Take a trip back in time by reading on, and see how much the average person paid in federal taxes the year you were born.

1960

• Household Median Income: $5,620
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,058
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,074
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.11%

Read: Tax Year Deadline Dates You Need To Know

1961

• Household Median Income: $5,737
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,163
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,099
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.16%

Find Out: New or Improved Tax Credits and Breaks for Your 2020 Return

1962

• Household Median Income: $5,956
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,360
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,146
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.25%

Find Out: Most Popular Things To Do With Your Tax Refund — and How To Do It Smarter

1963

• Household Median Income: $6,249
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,624
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,210
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.36%

1964

• Household Median Income: $6,569
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,912
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,136
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.29%

Read: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes

1965

• Household Median Income: $6,957
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $6,261
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,117
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.06%

See: How To Fill Out a W-4: A Complete Guide

1966

• Household Median Income: $7,500
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $6,750
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,225
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.33%

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1967

• Household Median Income: $7,933
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $7,140
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,311
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.52%

Read: Lost Your W-2? Here’s What To Do

1968

• Household Median Income: $8,632
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $7,769
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,449
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.79%

See: Why the Bonus Tax Rate Is Bad News for Your Tax Refund

1969

• Household Median Income: $9,433
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $8,490
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,623
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.20%

Find Out: How To Itemize Deductions Like a Tax Pro

1970

• Household Median Income: $9,867
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $8,767
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,660
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.55%

More: How To Avoid Paying Taxes Legally — and the 11 Craziest Ways People Have Done It

1971

• Household Median Income: $10,285
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $9,235
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,764
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.15%

Read: Trump’s Tax Tricks and 12 Loopholes Only the Rich Know

1972

• Household Median Income: $11,116
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $9,816
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,898
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.07%

Discover: The Wildest Things Your Taxes Are Paying For

1973

• Household Median Income: $12,050
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $10,750
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,128
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.66%

Related: Take Advantage of These 15 Commonly Missed Tax Deductions

1974

• Household Median Income: $11,100
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $9,800
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,894
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.06%

See: What Can I Write Off On My Taxes?

1975

• Household Median Income: $11,800
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $10,200
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,990
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.86%

Find Out: 30 Ways To Prevent a Tax Audit

1976

• Household Median Income: $12,686
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $10,986
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,187
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.24%

More: This Is Where Your Tax Dollars Actually Go

1977

• Household Median Income: $13,572
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $11,372
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,750
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.89%

Related: The 5 IRS Forms You’ll Need To Get Your Refund

1978

• Household Median Income: $15,064
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $12,864
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,106
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.98%

Read: How To Report Tax Fraud

1979

• Household Median Income: $16,461
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $14,161
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,275
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.82%

See: What To Do When You Can’t Pay Your Tax Bill

1980

• Household Median Income: $17,710
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $15,410
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,583
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 26%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 14.58%

More: The Major Tax Changes for 2021 You Need To Know About

1981

• Household Median Income: $19,074
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $16,774
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,937
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 26%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 15.40%

Read On: Do I Have to File Taxes? 3 Times You Can Skip It

1982

• Household Median Income: $20,171
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $17,871
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,882
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 14.29%

See: How To File Taxes Early — and Get Your Refund Faster

1983

• Household Median Income: $20,885
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $18,585
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,768
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.25%

More: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes

1984

• Household Median Income: $22,415
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $20,115
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,994
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.36%

Read: Find Out If You Can Really Write Off That Holiday Donation

1985

• Household Median Income: $23,618
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $21,218
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,184
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.48%

See: What Can I Write Off on My Taxes?

1986

• Household Median Income: $24,897
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $22,417
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,401
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.66%

More: 5 Common Reasons Why You Might Owe Taxes This Year

1987

• Household Median Income: $26,061
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $23,521
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,496
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 28%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.41%

Find Out: Your Step-by-Step Guide To Approaching Taxes in 2021

1988

• Household Median Income: $27,225
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $22,825
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,424
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.58%

See: What Actually Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Taxes

1989

• Household Median Income: $28,906
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $24,356
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,653
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.64%

Related: Doing Your Own Taxes? Make Sure You Follow These 15 Tips

1990

• Household Median Income: $29,943
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,193
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,779
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.62%

More: 10 Tax Loopholes That Could Save You Thousands

1991

• Household Median Income: $30,126
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,126
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,769
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.51%

1992

• Household Median Income: $30,636
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,386
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,808
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.43%

Find Out: Medical Expenses You Can Deduct From Your Taxes

1993

• Household Median Income: $31,241
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,791
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,869
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.38%

Read: Here’s How To Cheat Your Tax Bracket — Legally

1994

• Household Median Income: $32,264
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $26,664
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,000
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.40%

Related: How To File Your Taxes If You Got Married in 2020

1995

• Household Median Income: $34,076
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $28,326
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,249
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.47%

More: These 10 Countries Pay Less in Taxes Than Americans

1996

• Household Median Income: $35,492
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $29,592
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,439
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.51%

Discover: The Major Tax Changes for 2021 You Need To Know About

1997

• Household Median Income: $37,005
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $30,955
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,643
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.55%

See: How Much Money Gets Taken Out of Paychecks in Every State

1998

• Household Median Income: $38,885
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $32,635
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,895
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.59%

1999

• Household Median Income: $40,696
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $34,346
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,152
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.66%

More: Raising Taxes: Where Does Joe Biden Stand?

2000

• Household Median Income: $41,990
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $35,540
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,382
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 28%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.82%

See: Can You Claim an Adult as a Dependent? Here Are the Rules

2001

• Household Median Income: $42,228
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $35,578
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,337
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.64%

More: 23 Ridiculous Tax Loopholes

2002

• Household Median Income: $42,409
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $35,509
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,826
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.38%

Read: What Is a Tax Deduction and How Do Tax Deductions Work?

2003

• Household Median Income: $43,318
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $36,318
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,948
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.42%

Find: 11 Tips for Dealing With Back Taxes

2004

• Household Median Income: $44,334
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $37,184
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,068
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.43%

More: Don’t Fall For One of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams

2005

• Household Median Income: $46,326
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $39,026
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,331
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.51%

See: What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State

2006

• Household Median Income: $48,201
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $40,651
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,560
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.54%

Find Out: 23 Celebrities Convicted of Tax Evasion

2007

• Household Median Income: $50,233
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,383
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,797
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.54%

Related: Free State Tax Filing Options

2008

• Household Median Income: $50,303
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,303
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,773
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.48%

Read: How To File Your Taxes Early — and Get Your Refund Faster

2009

• Household Median Income: $49,777
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $41,427
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,617
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.28%

See: 7 Ways You’re Accidentally Committing Tax Fraud

2010

• Household Median Income: $49,276
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $40,876
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,534
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.23%

Discover: 9 Tax Tips Every Married Couple Must Know

2011

• Household Median Income: $50,054
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $41,554
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,626
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.24%

More: Sales Tax by State: Here’s How Much You’re Really Paying

2012

• Household Median Income: $51,017
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,317
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,728
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.23%

Find Out: Fortune 500 Companies That Haven’t Paid Federal Taxes Recently

2013

• Household Median Income: $51,939
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,989
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,811
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.19%

Read: 10 Signs You Really Do Need Professional Help Filing Your Taxes

2014

• Household Median Income: $53,657
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $44,557
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,036
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.25%

Related: How To Itemize Deductions Like a Tax Pro

2015

• Household Median Income: $56,516
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $47,266
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,432
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.38%

See: Are Your Taxes About to Change? Find Out Now With This Handy Checklist

2016

• Household Median Income: $59,039
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $49,739
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,798
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.52%

See: Tax Season Has Begun — 26 Things To Do This Month To Be Prepared

2017

• Household Median Income: $61,136
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $51,786
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $7,199
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.78%

Related: The Average American’s Tax Bill in the 20 Biggest US Cities

2018

• Household Median Income: $63,179
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $45,179
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,097
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 9.65%

More: All the Numbers You Need To Know for Your 2020 Taxes

2019

• Household Median Income: $68,703
• Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $50,353
• Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,770
• Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 12%
• Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 8.40%

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GOBankingRates used the US Census Bureau’s historical income data and Current Population Survey to source the median family income in America from 1960-1973 and the median household income in America from 1974 – 2019. With these figures, GOBankingRates then found each corresponding year’s standard deduction for a head of household, as sourced from TaxPolicyCenter.org, to find each year’s (1) taxable income for the median household. GOBankingRates then used an in-house income tax calculator as well as Tax Foundation’s archive of federal income tax brackets to find: (2) federal income taxes paid; (3) marginal federal income tax rate; and (4) effective federal income tax rate for a household with the national median income each year. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 26, 2021.