Top federal marginal tax rates, 1952–2009

Earned income Capital gains Corporate income
1952 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1953 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1954 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1955 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1956 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1957 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1958 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1959 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1960 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1961 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1962 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1963 91.0% 25.0% 52.0%
1964 77.0% 25.0% 50.0%
1965 70.0% 25.0% 48.0%
1966 70.0% 25.0% 48.0%
1967 70.0% 25.0% 48.0%
1968 75.3% 26.9% 53.0%
1969 77.0% 27.9% 53.0%
1970 71.8% 32.3% 49.0%
1971 60.0% 34.3% 48.0%
1972 50.0% 36.5% 48.0%
1973 50.0% 36.5% 48.0%
1974 50.0% 36.5% 48.0%
1975 50.0% 36.5% 48.0%
1976 50.0% 39.9% 48.0%
1977 50.0% 39.9% 48.0%
1978 50.0% 39.9% 48.0%
1979 50.0% 28.0% 46.0%
1980 50.0% 28.0% 46.0%
1981 50.0% 23.7% 46.0%
1982 50.0% 20.0% 46.0%
1983 50.0% 20.0% 46.0%
1984 50.0% 20.0% 46.0%
1985 50.0% 20.0% 46.0%
1986 50.0% 20.0% 46.0%
1987 38.5% 28.0% 40.0%
1988 28.0% 28.0% 34.0%
1989 28.0% 28.0% 34.0%
1990 28.0% 28.0% 34.0%
1991 31.0% 28.0% 34.0%
1992 31.0% 28.0% 34.0%
1993 39.6% 28.0% 35.0%
1994 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
1995 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
1996 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
1997 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
1998 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
1999 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
2000 42.5% 28.0% 35.0%
2001 42.0% 20.0% 35.0%
2002 41.5% 20.0% 35.0%
2003 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%
2004 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%
2005 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%
2006 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%
2007 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%
2008 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%
2009 37.9% 15.0% 35.0%

Source: Saez, Slemrod, and Giertz (2009)

View the underlying data on epi.org.