Annual salary. Enter your gross annual salary; enter your spouse's gross annual salary separately.

Estimate your taxable income. Enter your expected total income from wages and other sources (minus any pre-tax contributions to a 401(k) or other retirement plan) and subtract the following:

• Your standard deduction (for 2010, $11,400 for joint returns, $8,400 for head of household and $5,700 for individual and married filing seperate returns) or your total itemized deductions (from Schedule A)
• Exemptions for yourself, your spouse and dependents ($3,650 each in 2010)
• Deductible contributions to IRAs (individual retirement accounts), SIMPLE and Keogh plans
• Job-related moving expenses
• Any penalty paid on early withdrawal of savings
• The deduction for 50% of the self-employment tax paid by self-employed taxpayers
• Alimony payments
• Up to $2,500 of interest on higher education loans

If you need help, consult last year's tax return. Look for your taxable income on line 43 if you filed IRS Form 1040, on line 27 if you filed Form 1040A or line 6 if you used Form 1040EZ.

Your federal tax rate. Locate your taxable income in the appropriate table below and enter the corresponding tax rate for 2010.

Note: If your taxable income is close to a lower bracket, your flexible spending account contributions could lower your tax rate. Complete the calculator, then add up your expenses, subtract them from your taxable income and check these tables again. If your tax rate changes, re-enter your information using the lower rate.
Single
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)
Married filing separately
Head of household

Your state tax rate. This is the percent tax rate that will be levied by your state in 2010. Consult your tax records for your state tax rate schedule, or find links to your state tax agency or find links to your state tax agency from the Federation of Tax Administrators.

Estimated dependent care expenses. Total dependent care expenses cannot exceed $5,000, or $2,500 if you’re married and you and your spouse file separate returns.