5 Ways to Avoid Bumping Your Income into a Higher Tax Bracket

Updated for tax year 2024.

If your income level fluctuates from year to year, you may find yourself paying more than you expect at tax time. This is because when your income increases, you may be pushed into a higher tax bracket, resulting in higher tax rates for higher income levels.

So, how can you avoid paying higher tax rates when you have a year with more income than usual? Let’s look at some options.

Federal income tax brackets for tax year 2024

The following chart shows your income tax rates at different income levels based on your filing status.

 source: IRS Publication 505

Find out which IRS tax bracket you are in. Estimate your tax year 2024 and 2025 tax rates with our tax bracket calculator.

Why higher tax brackets shouldn’t scare you

As you can see, the tax rate jumps as much as 10% from one level to the next, which can be significant when your earnings spike during the year. But you can’t always fight the move into a higher tax bracket — nor would you want to!

Deliberately embracing a higher tax bracket might sound counterintuitive, but this strategy can be beneficial in the long run. For example, staying in the lowest 10% tax bracket necessitates having $11,600 or less in taxable income (after tax deductions), which is hardly an ideal situation for most. Inevitably, as you ascend the income ladder, you’ll end up paying more in taxes.

However, the real challenge comes when your income varies from year to year.

Dealing with variable income

Is your taxable income much higher in some years than others? If so, you may be paying more income tax than you would if your tax liability were spread out more evenly over the years. Those years with a spike in income may cost you plenty in higher income taxes.

But don’t worry — there are tax strategies you can use to balance out your taxable income over time and avoid higher tax brackets. For example, you can delay paying tax on certain income until retirement or move income and deductions around. By being proactive, you can take control of your finances and feel confident about your tax situation.

Tax Tip: Don’t forget to consider state tax as well if you live or work in a state with income tax.

Five ways to avoid spiking into a higher tax bracket this year

Here are our top financial planning tips to avoid getting bumped into a higher tax bracket if you anticipate earning more income than usual this year.

1. Contribute to retirement plans or other pre-tax accounts.

Putting pre-tax money into your traditional IRA, 401(k) plan, or other retirement account reduces your income now when you may be in a higher tax bracket.

Sure, you’ll pay tax on distributions when you take money out in retirement. But if you’re in a lower tax bracket after you retire, you’ll pay far less income tax that way.

For example, say you are in the 24% tax bracket now while working. You contribute to a traditional IRA, reducing your taxable income by up to $7,000 in 2024 (married couples can essentially double that to $14,000 for both of you combined). When you withdraw the money after retirement, you may only be in a 12% or 22% tax bracket — meaning you’ll pay less tax when you withdraw the money than you would have if you were taxed on your contribution immediately.

You can also contribute to a pre-tax health savings account (HSA) or medical savings account (MSA). Distributions from these accounts are typically tax-free as long as you spend the money on qualified medical expenses.

2. Avoid selling too many assets in one year.

Say you have a stock that’s gone up in a short period. You’d like to sell it and cash in on those capital gains.

If investment income from selling the stock would put you in a higher tax bracket, consider selling some of the shares in one year and some the next. This approach could preserve your position in a lower tax bracket while unlocking the potential for long-term capital gains tax rates, which are typically lower than regular income tax rates.

3. Time your income and business expenses.

If you’re self-employed, you have some control over when you get paid and make expenditures. Using the cash method of accounting, for example, you claim revenue in the year you receive it, even if you did the work in the previous year.

Let’s say you have a banner year and need to buy equipment for your business. You might consider purchasing the equipment by the end of the year so you can turn right around and deduct that expense in the coming tax year, further reducing your taxable income.

On the other hand, if you’ve had a slow year and you expect to be in a higher tax bracket next year, you may want to put off making business expenditures until Jan. 1 or later.

4. Pay deductible expenses and make contributions in high-income years.

Planning to make significant contributions to a charitable organization? Make sure you write that check or put it on your credit card in the year you’re in the highest tax bracket.

To put it into perspective, a $100 charitable contribution will save you $32 in federal income taxes when you are in the 32% tax bracket and already itemizing deductions. However, if you make the same $100 contribution in a year when you’re in the 24% tax bracket, it only saves you $24 in federal income taxes.

You can also opt to make your January mortgage payment by Dec. 31 if your income is higher this year. Your January mortgage payment covers December interest expense, so you may as well pay it in December and take the mortgage interest deduction if that applies to you.

5. If you’re a farmer or fisherman, use income averaging.

Some taxpayers are allowed to smooth their income out over a three-year period, using a process called income averaging. This can help keep income spikes from pushing you into a higher tax bracket.

Prior to 1987, all taxpayers could use income averaging. Now, you must be in a farming business or working as a fisherman to benefit from it.

What if I can’t avoid bumping into the next tax bracket when my income rises?

Sometimes getting bumped into a higher tax bracket is inevitable. Just remember, all else being equal, you’re still better off making more money and paying a slightly higher tax on it than you would be making less. Don’t forget these are marginal tax rates — the higher tax bracket only applies to your earned income that exceeds the last tax bracket limit.

To better understand how tax brackets work, check out How Tax Brackets Work: Examples and Myth Busting.

The bottom line

Managing your income to avoid jumping into a higher tax bracket can save you money and help you feel more in control of your tax situation. By contributing to retirement accounts, timing your income and expenses, and being strategic with asset sales, you can minimize your tax burden in high-income years. Remember, planning ahead is key to making the most of your finances while keeping your tax obligations in check!

This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.