What is a marginal tax rate?
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A marginal tax rate is the rate applied to the last rupee of income earned in the highest tax bracket.
The marginal tax rate is the tax rate that applies to the final rupee of income you make. In simple terms, it's the tax rate on the next dollar you make. In a progressive tax system, people with greater incomes pay more taxes. This is fair because people who make more money pay a bigger share of taxes.
If your income falls into more than one tax band, the marginal tax rate is the rate that applies to the income in the highest bracket. Knowing how this works can help you plan your finances, deal with your taxes, and make smart choices about your pay or investments.
India has a progressive taxation system, which means that different parts of a person's income are taxed at different rates. The initial part of your income may not be taxed at all, or it may be taxed at a low rate. The next parts of your income will be taxed at higher rates. The marginal tax rate only applies to the income that is in the highest bracket, not to all of it.
This method keeps things fair by making higher earnings pay more and lower earners pay less in taxes.
For the fiscal year 2025-26:
Let's say you make ₹21,75,000 a year. The new tax brackets would look like this:
Up to ₹4,00,000: 0% means no tax
₹4,00,001 to ₹8,00,000: 5% of ₹4,00,000 is ₹20,000.
₹8,00,001 to ₹12,00,000: 10% of ₹4,00,000 is ₹40,000.
₹12,00,001 to ₹16,00,000: 15% of ₹4,00,000 is ₹60,000.
₹16,00,001 to ₹20,00,000: 20% of ₹4,00,000 is ₹80,000.
₹20,00,001 – ₹21,75,000: 25% of ₹1,75,000 is ₹43,750.
The total tax due is ₹2,43,750.
The marginal tax rate here is 25%, and it only applies to income between ₹20,00,001 and ₹21,75,000. The next slab of 30% would apply if income went over ₹24,00,000.
There are a few steps you have to take to determine what your marginal tax rate is.
Determine your taxable income: Add up all of your sources of income, such as your salary, business income, fixed-deposit interest, and any other taxable income.
Determine which tax bracket you fall into: Using your total taxable income, look up the income tax slab that applies to you and your filing status.
Calculating your Tax: Your marginal tax rate only applies to the portion of your income in the very uppermost tax bracket.
Use the tax rate: To calculate the extra tax owed, you simply multiply the additional income by the applicable tax percentage of that tax bracket.
Consider any deductions or credits: The use of any tools such as a PPF, ELSS, NPS, or any other exemptions will reduce your taxable income as well as your effective marginal tax rate.
Understanding your marginal tax rate can have a big influence on many financial choices:
Planning taxes: Placing investment in certain options may not push you into a higher marginal tax bracket if you know your marginal tax rate. Doing so can help keep tax costs smaller.
Investment choices: Tax-saving instruments like ELSS, PPF, and NPS can lower taxable income and thus also lower the marginal tax rate.
Negotiating a salary: It is often important to understand what marginal tax rate applies when you receive a raise because any increase above a certain level will push you into a higher marginal tax rate. Planning will allow you to ensure that the increase in salary is greater than any additional increase in taxes.
In India, corporate taxes are determined by marginal tax rates based on income slabs. For AY 2025–26, domestic companies with turnover up to ₹400 crore face a base tax of 25%. A surcharge of 7% applies for taxable income between ₹1 crore and ₹10 crore, increasing to 12% for income above ₹10 crore.
Additionally, a Health and Education Cess of 4% is levied on the total of tax and surcharge, making the maximum effective rate 29.12%. Companies opting for the concessional tax regime under Section 115BAA pay a lower base rate of 22% with a 10% surcharge and 4% cess.
This regime simplifies taxation by removing certain deductions and exemptions, offering a competitive and streamlined tax structure for businesses.
The maximum marginal tax rate for persons changes depending on the regime:
Old Tax Regime: For incomes over ₹5 crore, the highest rate is 42.744%, which includes a 37% surcharge and a 4% cess.
New Tax Regime: The highest rate is 39%, which includes a 25% surcharge and a 4% cess.
The progressive tax system makes sure that people who make less money pay lower taxes, while people who make more money pay more taxes. This helps make taxes fair.
Basis for Comparison | Marginal Tax Rate | Effective Tax Rate |
Definition | The tax rate applied to the last rupee of income earned. | The average tax rate is calculated on your total taxable income. |
Scope | Only affects income that falls in the highest tax bracket. | Covers all income and shows the overall tax burden as a percentage. |
Planning | Helps estimate tax on extra income or new earnings. | Helps understand total tax liability and overall financial planning. |
The effective tax rate shows how much you pay in taxes on all of your income, whereas the marginal tax rate shows how much you pay on extra income.
The marginal tax rate is an important part of preparing your taxes and finances in India. It is the tax that applies to the biggest part of your income and shows you how extra money will be taxed. Individuals and businesses can use this knowledge to make smart decisions about investments, pay increases, and lowering their tax bills.
Knowing your marginal tax rate is an important part of managing your own money and your company's strategy. It helps you make smart financial decisions under a system with progressive taxes.
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A marginal tax rate is the rate applied to the last rupee of income earned in the highest tax bracket.
Your marginal tax rate determines the amount of tax you pay on additional income earned, making it essential for tax planning.
While the marginal tax rate applies to the highest bracket of income, the effective tax rate is the average tax rate on your total income.
Calculate your total income, identify the applicable tax bracket, and apply the rate to the income in that bracket to determine the marginal tax rate.
Yes, corporations are also subject to marginal tax rates based on income slabs and company size.
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