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Your Money : SPOTLIGHT ON TAXES : How Much Will You Owe?

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Here are some of the key figures for people wishing to estimate how much tax they will owe. Note that taxable income is income after exemptions and deductions.

* $38,000: For married people filing jointly, this is the point where the tax rate takes its biggest marginal jump, from 15% to 28%. For singles, this occurs at $22,700; for unmarried or legally separated people who are heads of households, $30,500; for married people filing separately, $19,000. Under those levels, you pay 15%.

* 28%: Maximum federal tax rate on long-term capital gains. There is talk of lowering this next year, so take that into consideration.

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* 39.6%: Maximum federal tax rate on wages or dividend or interest income, applicable to people with taxable income in excess of $250,000.

* 36%: A 36% rate kicks in for people with taxable income above $140,000 (married filing jointly) or $115,000 (single).

* 31%: A 31% rate applies above $91,850 (married) or $55,100 (single).

* 28%: The effective rate above $38,000 (married) or $22,750 (single). On income below that, a 15% rate applies.

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* $9,240: Maximum that an employee can elect to invest in a 401(k) plan in 1994, up from $8,994 in 1993. Including employer contributions, the ceiling is $30,000 or 25% of taxable compensation.

* $40,000 to $50,000: Income level between which IRA deductions phase out, for married people with retirement plan coverage at work. For singles with such coverage, IRAs are fully deductible for income below $25,000 and not at all deductible above $35,000.

* 59 1/2: Age below which a 10% penalty may apply on early withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, variable annuities and other retirement vehicles.

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