2001 Federal Tax Brackets
The official IRS tax brackets for tax year 2001, frozen as filed — for amended returns, back taxes and research. 5 rates from 15% to 39.1%; standard deduction $4,550 single / $7,600 joint.
In 2001, federal income tax rates were 15%, 27.5%, 30.5%, 35.5%, 39.1%. The top rate applied above $297,350 (single).
- Rates15% · 27.5% · 30.5% · 35.5% · 39.1%
- Std. deduction (single / joint)$4,550 / $7,600
- Personal exemption$2,900
- SourceIRS Rev. Proc. 2001-13 + EGTRRA blended rates
Enter taxable income (after deductions). Ordinary-income brackets only — capital gains, credits, AMT and phase-outs are separate.
2001 brackets — all filing statuses
Single
| Rate | 2001 taxable income |
|---|---|
| 15% | $0 – $27,050 |
| 27.5% | $27,051 – $65,550 |
| 30.5% | $65,551 – $136,750 |
| 35.5% | $136,751 – $297,350 |
| 39.1% | $297,351 and up |
Married filing jointly
| Rate | 2001 taxable income |
|---|---|
| 15% | $0 – $45,200 |
| 27.5% | $45,201 – $109,250 |
| 30.5% | $109,251 – $166,500 |
| 35.5% | $166,501 – $297,350 |
| 39.1% | $297,351 and up |
Head of household
| Rate | 2001 taxable income |
|---|---|
| 15% | $0 – $36,250 |
| 27.5% | $36,251 – $93,650 |
| 30.5% | $93,651 – $151,650 |
| 35.5% | $151,651 – $297,350 |
| 39.1% | $297,351 and up |
Married filing separately
| Rate | 2001 taxable income |
|---|---|
| 15% | $0 – $22,600 |
| 27.5% | $22,601 – $54,625 |
| 30.5% | $54,626 – $83,250 |
| 35.5% | $83,251 – $148,675 |
| 39.1% | $148,676 and up |
Standard deduction & exemption
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $4,550 |
| Married filing jointly | $7,600 |
| Head of household | $6,650 |
| Married filing separately | $3,800 |
Personal exemption: $2,900 per person.
The 2001 brackets in today’s dollars
Adjusted with the CPI-U (2001 annual average → May 2026), a factor of ×1.89. Useful for comparing bracket creep across eras.
| Single-filer threshold | 2001 dollars | Today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5% bracket started at | $27,051 | ≈ $51,200 |
| 30.5% bracket started at | $65,551 | ≈ $124,000 |
| 35.5% bracket started at | $136,751 | ≈ $258,800 |
| 39.1% bracket started at | $297,351 | ≈ $562,700 |
Note: EGTRRA cut rates mid-2001; these are the blended rates actually used for 2001 returns. The new 10% bracket arrived as the Rate Reduction Credit (the 2001 rebate checks), not in the rate schedule.
← 2000 bracketsAll years2002 brackets →
Frequently asked questions
What were the federal tax brackets in 2001?
There were 5 rates in 2001: 15%, 27.5%, 30.5%, 35.5%, 39.1%. For single filers the top 39.1% rate applied to taxable income over $297,350.
What was the standard deduction in 2001?
$4,550 for single filers, $7,600 married filing jointly, $6,650 head of household; the personal exemption was $2,900.
Marginal vs. effective rate — what's the difference?
Your marginal rate is the tax on your last dollar (your bracket). Your effective rate is total tax divided by taxable income — always lower, because earlier dollars fill the lower brackets first. The calculator above shows both.
Why would I need 2001 brackets now?
Filing or amending a 2001 return, negotiating back taxes for that year, checking an audit figure, or research. Brackets never change retroactively once the year closes.
Sources & methodology
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2001-13 + EGTRRA blended rates · All years: Tax Foundation historical brackets.
Figures transcribed from the primary source listed and cross-checked against the Tax Foundation and Tax Policy Center datasets. Not tax advice.