What is the percentage of federal taxes withheld from the average gross income?

Answer 1

On average, almost 50% of workers actually don't pay any tax. So averages mean very little...and less when it involves taxable income.

It depends on many, many things...not the least of which is what you consider tax. Many people group all their withholdings as a type of tax, but many may not be. Workers Comp, Unemployment, even FICA are all really more an insurance payment than a withholding against an income tax. Some vary not just by State, but by company...or job in the company.

The amount (or percentage) of income tax withheld also depends on many other things...obviously which state (or even city) your in (although that may be a surprisingly small variable), the amount of income your projected on earning over the year (because that helps determine your tax bracket and the percent that may be needed), as well as your filing status, number of dependents and other deductions. And other possible income. And some things are taken out as a straight percentage up to a certain amount of income being earned in a year, and then stop (like FICA). All these things can be adjusted for your circumstances by properly and completely filling out (or changing) the Form W-4 all employers ask you to. Understand that the definition of income changes with each application...your income from your employer is one thing, but the taxable income is different for the IRS, the State, and each other.

Finally, there are a number of different legal ways for the payroll provider to calculate certain aspects of the amount to withhold...but overall they make only a small difference. Remember, anything withheld is just being done as an estimated installment payment toward whatever tax, if any, you do ultimately owe. If too much is withheld, it is refunded. (Too little, and you could pay a penalty). Again, adjusting your W-4 is the way to correct for any of these circumstances.