Single std. deduction
+$100
$6,200 → $6,300 · higher in 2015
20142015
2014 vs 2015 Federal Tax Brackets
Both years use the pre-tcja schedule; differences are mainly inflation indexing. Single standard deduction $6,200 vs $6,300; top rate 39.6% vs 39.6%.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2015
MFJ std. deduction
+$200
$12,400 → $12,600
Top marginal rate
Unchanged
39.6% → 39.6%
Side-by-side scoreboard
2014
$6,200
single standard deduction
- MFJ std. ded.
- $12,400
- Top rate
- 39.6%
- SS wage base
- $117,000
Pre-TCJA schedule
2015
$6,300
single standard deduction
- MFJ std. ded.
- $12,600
- Top rate
- 39.6%
- SS wage base
- $118,500
Pre-TCJA schedule
Single filer brackets
Inclusive taxable-income ceilings for each statutory rate. Open each year profile for MFJ and head-of-household tables.
2014 single
$0–$9,07510%
$9,075–$36,90015%
$36,900–$89,35025%
$89,350–$186,35028%
$186,350–$405,10033%
$405,100–$406,75035%
Over $406,75039.6%
2015 single
$0–$9,22510%
$9,225–$37,45015%
$37,450–$90,75025%
$90,750–$189,30028%
$189,300–$411,50033%
$411,500–$413,20035%
Over $413,20039.6%
Tax on taxable income (single)
Ordinary tax only—no credits, AMT, or NIIT. Amounts are taxable income after deductions, not gross wages.
| Taxable income | 2014 | 2015 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $8,356 | $8,294 | $-62 |
| $100,000 | $21,176 | $21,071 | $-104 |
| $250,000 | $66,358 | $66,106 | $-252 |
$50,000 taxable
2014$8,356
2015$8,294
Difference: $-62
$100,000 taxable
2014$21,176
2015$21,071
Difference: $-104
$250,000 taxable
2014$66,358
2015$66,106
Difference: $-252
Education
How to read the 2014 vs 2015 differences
Standard deduction deltas
A higher standard deduction lowers taxable income before brackets apply. The single deduction moved $100 (up from 2014 to 2015); MFJ moved $200. Large jumps usually mean a law change (TCJA) or a high-inflation COLA year.
Rate schedule vs indexing
Both years use the pre-tcja schedule, so most differences are inflation-adjusted thresholds—not new rate percentages.
Taxable-income examples
The sample tax table holds taxable income fixed so you can isolate bracket/threshold changes. Real paychecks also change with deductions, FICA wage bases, and credits—so treat the dollar differences as directional, not a full return comparison.
What this page is for
Use it to research historical law, explain a COLA, or brief a before/after TCJA story. For tax years 2020–2026, open the matching US paycheck calculator (for example /calculator/us/2020 or current /calculator/us) to run a full estimate with that year’s brackets.
Compare other years
Compare any two tax years
Standard deductions, top rates, and bracket thresholds side by side.
Related tools
US paycheck calculatorCurrent federal and state rulesTax bracket calculatorMarginal vs effective brackets401(k) & IRA limits by yearHistorical contribution ceilingsCapital gains tax by stateState gain treatmentState tax compareSide-by-side take-homeSalary comparison by stateTake-home ladders by state
Current-year paycheck estimate
Historical brackets are for reference. The US calculator models today’s federal rules.
Open US calculatorFAQs
For single filers, the standard deduction went from $6,200 in 2014 to $6,300 in 2015 ($100 change). For married filing jointly, it went from $12,400 to $12,600. Head of household moved from $9,100 to $9,250.
2014 topped out at 39.6%; 2015 tops out at 39.6%. These are statutory marginal rates on taxable income in the highest bracket—not effective rates on total income.
Both years use the pre-tcja schedule. Differences are mainly inflation indexing of bracket thresholds and the standard deduction.
2014: $3,950. 2015: $4,000.
Using only the statutory brackets (no credits): about $8,356 in 2014 vs $8,294 in 2015. That illustration is taxable income after deductions—not gross wages.
Ordinary tax would be about $21,176 in 2014 vs $21,071 in 2015 under the published brackets alone.
The OASDI taxable wage base was $117,000 in 2014 and $118,500 in 2015 ($1,500 change). FICA rates are separate from income-tax brackets.
2015 was higher ($6,300 vs $6,200).
No. These pages compare federal ordinary income-tax brackets and standard deductions only. State rates, local taxes, FICA, AMT, NIIT, and credits are outside this comparison.
Not for 2014 or 2015—the US paycheck calculator engines on this site cover 2020–2026. These earlier years are published here as IRS/CRS reference tables.