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At least		But Less ThanSingleMarried Filing JointlyHead of Household

\$5,050		\$5,100\$505\$505\$505

\$5,100		\$5,150\$510\$510\$510

\$5,150		\$5,200\$515\$515\$515

\$5,200		\$5,250\$520\$520\$520






Maria's taxable income is \$5,100 and filing status is single. Using the tax table excerpt above, how much does Maria owe in federal income tax?



(1) \$505 - from the row just below \$5,100

(2) \$510 - from the row starting at \$5,100

(3) \$515 - round up to the next row

(4) \$5,100 - tax equals taxable income

Verified Answer :

  • Identify the correct row in the tax table by matching Maria's income of \(\$5,100\) with the 'At Least' condition of the second row.
  • Note that the 'At Least' condition is inclusive, so \(\$5,100\) belongs to the row covering \(\$5,100\) to \(\$5,150\).
  • Select the tax value for 'Single' status in that row, which is \(\$510\).
  • The correct option is (2), so the final answer is \(\boxed{\$510}\).

Explanation

  1. Analyzing Taxable Income and Filing Status

To determine Maria's federal income tax, we first analyze the given tax table and Maria's financial situation. Maria's taxable income is \(\$5,100\) and her filing status is 'Single'. The provided table contains rows that define income brackets using an 'At Least' (inclusive) and 'But Less Than' (exclusive) structure. We need to find the correct row where her income of \(\$5,100\) fits.

  1. Locating the Correct Tax Bracket

We look at the first two rows of the tax table:

  • The first row covers income that is 'At Least \(\$5,050\)' but 'Less Than \(\$5,100\)'.
  • The second row covers income that is 'At Least \(\$5,100\)' but 'Less Than \(\$5,150\)'.

Since Maria's income is exactly \(\$5,100\), she falls into the second row because the 'At Least' condition is inclusive of the value \(\$5,100\).

  1. Determining the Tax Amount

Now, we identify the tax amount for a 'Single' filer in the second row. According to the table, for an income in the range \(\$5,100\) to \(\$5,150\), the tax for a single filer is \(\$510\). This matches option (2) from the provided choices. Therefore, Maria owes \(\$510\) in federal income tax.

Examples

Tax tables are commonly used by taxpayers to quickly determine their tax liability based on their annual income and filing status. Understanding how to read these tables—specifically the inclusive and exclusive boundaries—helps individuals ensure they correctly report their taxes and avoid common filing errors. For instance, if an individual earns exactly the threshold amount, knowing whether that bracket includes or excludes that specific amount is essential for accurate calculations.

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