The math isn't adding up for a single individual with $58,000 income according to IRS website

What you're experiencing is actually pretty common! The IRS calculations can seem confusing because there are several factors at play beyond just the tax brackets. For a single filer with $58,000 income, here's what's probably happening: The IRS calculator is likely factoring in the standard deduction automatically (which is $13,850 for single filers in 2023, and will be higher for 2024/2025). This means you're not actually being taxed on the full $58,000, but rather on your taxable income after the standard deduction is applied. So if your taxable income is around $44,150 ($58,000 minus $13,850), that puts you in the 22% bracket - but remember, you don't pay 22% on ALL your income. You pay 10% on the first portion, then 12% on the next portion, and 22% only on the amount that falls within that bracket. Are you calculating using the progressive tax brackets or applying a single percentage to your entire income? That's often where the confusion comes from.

I had the exact same issue last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me figure out what was going on with my calculations. I was getting frustrated with the discrepancies between what I thought I should owe and what the IRS calculator was showing. The site analyzed my previous tax returns and helped me understand that I wasn't accounting for the qualified business income deduction that applied to my side gig income. It also showed me how the tax brackets actually work step by step so I could see exactly where my manual calculations were going wrong.

Coming back to say I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was exactly what I needed! I uploaded my last year's return and it immediately showed me that I'd been calculating my self-employment tax wrong all along. For my $58k income situation (similar to OP), it showed exactly how the progressive tax brackets work in real numbers, and pointed out several deductions I could take that I hadn't considered. The breakdown of how my side hustle income affects my overall tax picture was super helpful. Definitely cleared up the "math not mathing" problem I was having too!

If you're still having issues understanding your tax situation, you might want to speak directly with the IRS. Of course, getting through to them is nearly impossible these days... I spent HOURS on hold last month trying to resolve a similar tax calculation issue. Finally discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of the 2+ hour wait I was experiencing before. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with walked me through exactly how they calculate tax on a $58k income and explained all the factors their website calculator takes into account that most people miss when doing manual calculations. Saved me from making a big mistake on my quarterly estimated payments.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I've been trying to reach the IRS for WEEKS about a similar tax calculation issue. Not only did it work, but I got through to an agent in about 20 minutes when I'd previously been disconnected after waiting over 3 hours. The agent explained that for a $58,000 income (which is close to what I make), the confusion happens because the online calculators account for pre-tax deductions like health insurance and retirement contributions that lower your taxable income before even applying the standard deduction. In my case, that was creating almost a $7,000 difference between my manual calculations and what the IRS system showed. Mystery solved!

I think people miss that the tax bracket percentage is only applied to the income within that bracket, not your total income. So for 2023, a single filer pays: - 10% on the first $11,000 - 12% on income from $11,001 to $44,725 - 22% on income from $44,726 to $95,375 With $58,000 income, minus the $13,850 standard deduction = $44,150 taxable income. So that's: $1,100 (10% of the first $11,000) + $4,038 (12% of the next $33,725) = $5,138 in federal income tax That's about 8.9% of your total income, even though you're in the 22% bracket.

Did anyone consider that maybe the IRS calculator is including self-employment tax? If any of that $58,000 is from self-employment, you'd owe an additional 15.3% on that portion for Social Security and Medicare taxes. That could make a HUGE difference in the final number.

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing when I first started doing my own taxes. The key thing that helped me understand the discrepancy was realizing that the IRS online calculators often include assumptions about your filing status, deductions, and credits that you might not be accounting for in your manual calculations. A few things to double-check: 1. Are you using the correct tax year's brackets and standard deduction amounts? 2. Do you have any pre-tax deductions from your paycheck (like health insurance, 401k contributions, HSA contributions) that reduce your taxable income before the standard deduction is even applied? 3. Are you eligible for any tax credits that the calculator might be automatically including? Also, if you're getting a W-2, your employer has already been withholding taxes throughout the year based on your filing status and allowances, so your actual tax owed might be different from what you calculate as your total tax liability. The IRS calculator might be showing you what you still owe or your refund amount rather than your total tax. Try using the IRS's Interactive Tax Assistant tool - it walks you through step by step and explains each calculation, which might help you identify where the discrepancy is coming from.