Fresh Batch of Federal Income Tax Data October 11, 2005 Andrew Chamberlain Andrew Chamberlain We’ve just updated our popular “Summary of Federal Individual Income Tax Data” page with the latest numbers from the IRS. Here’s one of the more interesting tables: average tax rates for various income groups over time. Average Tax Rate, 1980-2003 (% of AGI paid in income taxes) Year Total Top 1% Top 2-5% Top 5% Top 6-10% Top 10% Top 11-25% Top 25% Top 26-50% Top 50% Bottom 50% 1980 15.31% 34.47% 21.71% 26.85% 17.13% 23.49% 14.80% 19.72% 11.91% 17.29% 6.10% 1981 15.76% 33.37% 22.08% 26.59% 18.16% 23.64% 15.53% 20.11% 12.48% 17.73% 6.62% 1982 14.72% 31.43% 20.44% 25.05% 16.61% 22.17% 14.35% 18.79% 11.63% 16.57% 6.10% 1983 13.79% 30.18% 18.77% 23.64% 15.54% 20.91% 13.20% 17.62% 10.76% 15.52% 5.66% 1984 13.68% 29.92% 18.41% 23.42% 15.57% 20.81% 12.90% 17.47% 10.48% 15.35% 5.77% 1985 13.73% 29.86% 18.44% 23.50% 15.69% 20.93% 12.83% 17.55% 10.41% 15.41% 5.70% 1986 14.54% 33.13% 19.10% 25.68% 15.99% 22.64% 12.97% 18.72% 10.48% 16.32% 5.63% Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 13.12% 26.41% 18.13% 22.10% 14.43% 19.77% 11.71% 16.61% 9.45% 14.60% 5.09% 1988 13.21% 24.04% 17.85% 21.14% 14.07% 19.18% 11.82% 16.47% 9.60% 14.64% 5.06% 1989 13.12% 23.34% 17.97% 20.71% 13.93% 18.77% 12.08% 16.27% 9.77% 14.53% 5.11% 1990 12.95% 23.25% 17.60% 20.46% 13.63% 18.50% 12.01% 16.06% 9.73% 14.36% 5.01% 1991 12.75% 24.37% 17.10% 20.62% 13.96% 18.63% 11.57% 15.93% 9.55% 14.20% 4.62% 1992 12.94% 25.05% 17.21% 21.19% 13.99% 19.13% 11.39% 16.25% 9.42% 14.44% 4.39% 1993 13.32% 28.01% 17.48% 22.71% 14.01% 20.20% 11.40% 16.90% 9.37% 14.90% 4.29% 1994 13.50% 28.23% 17.93% 23.04% 14.20% 20.48% 11.57% 17.15% 9.42% 15.11% 4.32% 1995 13.86% 28.73% 18.19% 23.53% 14.46% 20.97% 11.71% 17.58% 9.43% 15.47% 4.39% 1996 14.34% 28.87% 18.68% 24.07% 14.74% 21.55% 11.86% 18.12% 9.53% 15.96% 4.40% 1997 14.48% 27.64% 18.78% 23.62% 14.87% 21.36% 12.04% 18.18% 9.63% 16.09% 4.48% 1998 14.42% 27.12% 19.14% 23.63% 14.79% 21.42% 11.63% 18.16% 9.12% 16.00% 4.44% 1999 14.85% 27.53% 19.68% 24.18% 15.06% 21.98% 11.76% 18.66% 9.12% 16.43% 4.48% 2000 15.26% 27.45% 20.07% 24.42% 15.48% 22.34% 12.04% 19.09% 9.28% 16.86% 4.60% 2001 14.23% 27.50% 19.12% 23.68% 14.89% 21.41% 11.58% 18.08% 8.91% 15.85% 4.09% 2002 13.03% 27.25% 18.15% 22.95% 13.87% 20.51% 10.47% 16.99% 7.67% 14.66% 3.21% 2003 11.90% 24.31% 16.58% 20.74% 12.22% 18.49% 9.54% 15.38% 7.12% 13.35% 2.95% Stay informed on the tax policies impacting you. Subscribe to get insights from our trusted experts delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Share Tweet Share Email Topics Center for Federal Tax Policy Individual Income and Payroll Taxes
