The average tax bill in 2024 came to $12,582 across federal income taxes, state income taxes and payroll taxes, according to an estimate based on Census Bureau data. The total can look very different from one household to another, so compare the figures with care: averages include households that owe no federal income tax.
The average tax bill in 2024 reached $12,582
Federal income tax made up the largest share of the average bill, at about $7,250. Workers also paid an estimated $3,412 in FICA payroll taxes and $1,920 in state income taxes. The figures offer a broad benchmark, not a forecast of what any one person owes.
| Tax category | 2024 average | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | About $7,250 | The mean includes households with no federal income tax liability. |
| FICA payroll tax | About $3,412 | Applies to most workers’ paychecks. |
| State income tax | About $1,920 | Varies with state and household circumstances. |
| All three combined | About $12,582 | A national average, not an individual tax bill. |
Taxpayers ages 46 to 55 had the highest average total, about $18,672. Among people who paid taxes, the average combined amount for federal and state income taxes and FICA exceeded $24,000. Those amounts use different population groups, so they should not be treated as directly comparable.
About 40% of households owe no federal income tax
A Tax Policy Center analysis estimates that roughly 40% of households owe no federal income tax. Most are lower income households. Because the national federal average includes them, it falls below the average bill among people who do owe federal income tax.
Payroll taxes tell a different part of the story. FICA applies to most workers, including many people who owe no federal income tax. For lower income earners, payroll taxes can be their largest federal tax expense. That is why checking only federal income tax withholding can leave out a meaningful part of the total.
To get a more useful personal comparison, add up federal income tax, state income tax and FICA separately. Review a recent pay stub and your prior return, then check whether your state and federal withholding reflect your current income and household situation. Your age group’s average is context, not a target or a bill estimate.
More than 100 tax code changes shape 2025 filings
The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act made more than 100 changes affecting 2025 tax returns filed in 2026. A Tax Foundation analysis estimates those changes will reduce the average taxpayer’s bill by about $611. Middle and upper income groups are expected to receive the largest reductions relative to their income.
Early figures from the 2026 filing season show refunds 10.9% higher than at the same point a year earlier, the IRS reported. A larger refund does not by itself show that someone paid less tax overall. Refunds also reflect how much tax was paid during the year compared with the final amount owed.
The underlying 2024 estimates draw on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement tax model, accessed through IPUMS data. It simulates federal income, state income and FICA liabilities, providing a more recent estimate than IRS tax year data, which at the time covered only 2022.