How Much the Average Person Paid in Taxes the Year You Were Born

Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto

It's tax time, which certainly causes some headaches. As you're filling out your 1040, you might be wondering how much taxes have changed over the years.

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It's safe to say the numbers for federal income taxes have changed dramatically -- both the taxes paid, but also household median income. Take a trip back in time by reading on, and see how much the average person paid in federal taxes the year you were born.

Last updated: Oct. 22, 2021

AJ_Watt / Getty Images
AJ_Watt / Getty Images

1960

  • Household Median Income: $5,620

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,058

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,074

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.11%

Get Started: Make a Debt-Free Future Your Reality

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Shutterstock.com

1961

  • Household Median Income: $5,737

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,163

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,099

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.16%

See: Ways Investing Will Change in the Next 25 Years

princessdlaf / iStock.com
princessdlaf / iStock.com

1962

  • Household Median Income: $5,956

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,360

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,146

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.25%

Find Out: Most Popular Things To Do With Your Tax Refund — and How To Do It Smarter

Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1963

  • Household Median Income: $6,249

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,624

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,210

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.36%

diego_cervo / Getty Images/iStockphoto
diego_cervo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1964

  • Household Median Income: $6,569

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $5,912

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,136

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.29%

Read: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes

PeopleImages / Getty Images
PeopleImages / Getty Images

1965

  • Household Median Income: $6,957

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $6,261

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,117

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.06%

See: How To Fill Out a W-4: A Complete Guide

davidf / Getty Images/iStockphoto
davidf / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1966

  • Household Median Income: $7,500

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $6,750

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,225

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.33%

Find Out: Can I Claim My Boyfriend or Girlfriend As a Dependent?

kupicoo / Getty Images
kupicoo / Getty Images

1967

  • Household Median Income: $7,933

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $7,140

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,311

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.52%

Read: Lost Your W-2? Here’s What To Do

Indypendenz / Shutterstock.com
Indypendenz / Shutterstock.com

1968

  • Household Median Income: $8,632

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $7,769

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,449

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 22%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.79%

See: Why the Bonus Tax Rate Is Bad News for Your Tax Refund

Rawpixel Ltd / iStock.com
Rawpixel Ltd / iStock.com

1969

  • Household Median Income: $9,433

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $8,490

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,623

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.20%

Find Out: How To Itemize Deductions Like a Tax Pro

Kinga / Shutterstock.com
Kinga / Shutterstock.com

1970

  • Household Median Income: $9,867

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $8,767

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,660

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 19.55%

More: How To Avoid Paying Taxes Legally -- and the 11 Craziest Ways People Have Done It

mdilsiz / iStock.com
mdilsiz / iStock.com

1971

  • Household Median Income: $10,285

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $9,235

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,764

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.15%

Read: Trump’s Tax Tricks and 12 Loopholes Only the Rich Know

PeopleImages / Getty Images
PeopleImages / Getty Images

1972

  • Household Median Income: $11,116

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $9,816

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,898

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.07%

Discover: The Wildest Things Your Taxes Are Paying For

kate_sept2004 / iStock.com
kate_sept2004 / iStock.com

1973

  • Household Median Income: $12,050

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $10,750

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,128

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.66%

Related: Take Advantage of These 15 Commonly Missed Tax Deductions

kate_sept2004 / Getty Images
kate_sept2004 / Getty Images

1974

  • Household Median Income: $11,100

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $9,800

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,894

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.06%

See: What Can I Write Off On My Taxes?

mediaphotos / Getty Images/iStockphoto
mediaphotos / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1975

  • Household Median Income: $11,800

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $10,200

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,990

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 16.86%

Find Out: 30 Ways To Prevent a Tax Audit

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Shutterstock.com

1976

  • Household Median Income: $12,686

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $10,986

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,187

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 17.24%

More: This Is Where Your Tax Dollars Actually Go

Blend Images - Jose Luis Pelaez  / Getty Images
Blend Images - Jose Luis Pelaez / Getty Images

1977

  • Household Median Income: $13,572

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $11,372

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $1,750

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.89%

Related: The 5 IRS Forms You’ll Need To Get Your Refund

emmgunn / iStock.com
emmgunn / iStock.com

1978

  • Household Median Income: $15,064

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $12,864

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,106

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.98%

Read: How To Report Tax Fraud

AtnoYdur / Getty Images/iStockphoto
AtnoYdur / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1979

  • Household Median Income: $16,461

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $14,161

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,275

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.82%

See: What To Do When You Can’t Pay Your Tax Bill

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Shutterstock.com

1980

  • Household Median Income: $17,710

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $15,410

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,583

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 26%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 14.58%

More: The Major Tax Changes for 2021 You Need To Know About

how-to-file-taxes-for-a-deceased-relative.jpg
how-to-file-taxes-for-a-deceased-relative.jpg

1981

  • Household Median Income: $19,074

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $16,774

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,937

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 26%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 15.40%

Read On: Do I Have to File Taxes? 3 Times You Can Skip It

David Sacks / Getty Images
David Sacks / Getty Images

1982

  • Household Median Income: $20,171

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $17,871

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,882

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 23%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 14.29%

See: How To File Taxes Early -- and Get Your Refund Faster

kate_sept2004 / Getty Images
kate_sept2004 / Getty Images

1983

  • Household Median Income: $20,885

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $18,585

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,768

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.25%

More: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes

kali9 / Getty Images
kali9 / Getty Images

1984

  • Household Median Income: $22,415

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $20,115

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $2,994

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.36%

Read: Find Out If You Can Really Write Off That Holiday Donation

Geber86 / Getty Images
Geber86 / Getty Images

1985

  • Household Median Income: $23,618

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $21,218

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,184

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.48%

See: What Can I Write Off on My Taxes?

mediaphotos / Getty Images/iStockphoto
mediaphotos / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1986

  • Household Median Income: $24,897

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $22,417

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,401

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 24%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.66%

More: 5 Common Reasons Why You Might Owe Taxes This Year

Geber86 / iStock.com
Geber86 / iStock.com

1987

  • Household Median Income: $26,061

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $23,521

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,496

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 28%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 13.41%

Find Out: Your Step-by-Step Guide To Approaching Taxes in 2021

PeopleImages / Getty Images
PeopleImages / Getty Images

1988

  • Household Median Income: $27,225

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $22,825

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,424

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.58%

See: What Actually Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Taxes

RomanR / Shutterstock.com
RomanR / Shutterstock.com

1989

  • Household Median Income: $28,906

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $24,356

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,653

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.64%

Related: Doing Your Own Taxes? Make Sure You Follow These 15 Tips

Milan_Jovic / Getty Images
Milan_Jovic / Getty Images

1990

  • Household Median Income: $29,943

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,193

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,779

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.62%

More: 10 Tax Loopholes That Could Save You Thousands

Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1991

  • Household Median Income: $30,126

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,126

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,769

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.51%

Read: New Homeowners: Here’s What You Need To Know for Your Taxes

mapodile / Getty Images
mapodile / Getty Images

1992

  • Household Median Income: $30,636

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,386

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,808

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.43%

Find Out: Medical Expenses You Can Deduct From Your Taxes

MartinPrescott / Getty Images/iStockphoto
MartinPrescott / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1993

  • Household Median Income: $31,241

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $25,791

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $3,869

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.38%

Read: Here’s How To Cheat Your Tax Bracket — Legally

vladans / Getty Images/iStockphoto
vladans / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1994

  • Household Median Income: $32,264

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $26,664

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,000

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.40%

Related: How To File Your Taxes If You Got Married in 2020

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Shutterstock.com

1995

  • Household Median Income: $34,076

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $28,326

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,249

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.47%

More: These 10 Countries Pay Less in Taxes Than Americans

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Shutterstock.com

1996

  • Household Median Income: $35,492

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $29,592

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,439

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.51%

Discover: The Major Tax Changes for 2021 You Need To Know About

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Shutterstock.com

1997

  • Household Median Income: $37,005

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $30,955

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,643

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.55%

See: How Much Money Gets Taken Out of Paychecks in Every State

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Shutterstock.com

1998

  • Household Median Income: $38,885

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $32,635

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,895

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.59%

Read: Why You Shouldn't Do Your Own Taxes Anymore

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Shutterstock.com

1999

  • Household Median Income: $40,696

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $34,346

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,152

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.66%

More: Raising Taxes: Where Does Joe Biden Stand?

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Shutterstock.com

2000

  • Household Median Income: $41,990

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $35,540

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,382

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 28%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.82%

See: Can You Claim an Adult as a Dependent? Here Are the Rules

Anchiy / Getty Images
Anchiy / Getty Images

2001

  • Household Median Income: $42,228

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $35,578

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,337

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 12.64%

More: 23 Ridiculous Tax Loopholes

Blend Images / JGI / Jamie Grill
Blend Images / JGI / Jamie Grill

2002

  • Household Median Income: $42,409

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $35,509

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,826

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.38%

Read: What Is a Tax Deduction and How Do Tax Deductions Work?

elenaleonova / iStock.com
elenaleonova / iStock.com

2003

  • Household Median Income: $43,318

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $36,318

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $4,948

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.42%

Find: 11 Tips for Dealing With Back Taxes

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

2004

  • Household Median Income: $44,334

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $37,184

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,068

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.43%

More: Don’t Fall For One of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams

RichVintage / Getty Images/iStockphoto
RichVintage / Getty Images/iStockphoto

2005

  • Household Median Income: $46,326

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $39,026

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,331

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.51%

See: What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

2006

  • Household Median Income: $48,201

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $40,651

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,560

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.54%

Find Out: 23 Celebrities Convicted of Tax Evasion

Eva-Katalin / Getty Images
Eva-Katalin / Getty Images

2007

  • Household Median Income: $50,233

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,383

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,797

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.54%

Related: Free State Tax Filing Options

Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

2008

  • Household Median Income: $50,303

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,303

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,773

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.48%

Read: How To File Your Taxes Early — and Get Your Refund Faster

Steve Debenport / Getty Images
Steve Debenport / Getty Images

2009

  • Household Median Income: $49,777

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $41,427

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,617

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.28%

See: 7 Ways You’re Accidentally Committing Tax Fraud

mediaphotos / iStock.com
mediaphotos / iStock.com

2010

  • Household Median Income: $49,276

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $40,876

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,534

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.23%

Discover: 9 Tax Tips Every Married Couple Must Know

Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com
Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com

2011

  • Household Median Income: $50,054

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $41,554

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,626

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.24%

More: Sales Tax by State: Here’s How Much You’re Really Paying

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Shutterstock.com

2012

  • Household Median Income: $51,017

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,317

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,728

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.23%

Find Out: Fortune 500 Companies That Haven’t Paid Federal Taxes Recently

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Shutterstock.com

2013

  • Household Median Income: $51,939

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $42,989

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,811

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.19%

Read: 10 Signs You Really Do Need Professional Help Filing Your Taxes

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

2014

  • Household Median Income: $53,657

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $44,557

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,036

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.25%

Related: How To Itemize Deductions Like a Tax Pro

can-you-deduct-your-moving-expenses-from-your-taxes.jpg
can-you-deduct-your-moving-expenses-from-your-taxes.jpg

2015

  • Household Median Income: $56,516

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $47,266

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,432

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.38%

See: Are Your Taxes About to Change? Find Out Now With This Handy Checklist

UberImages / Getty Images
UberImages / Getty Images

2016

  • Household Median Income: $59,039

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $49,739

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,798

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.52%

See: Tax Season Has Begun — 26 Things To Do This Month To Be Prepared

Pixabay / Pexels
Pixabay / Pexels

2017

  • Household Median Income: $61,136

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $51,786

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $7,199

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 25%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 11.78%

Related: The Average American’s Tax Bill in the 20 Biggest US Cities

RomanR / Shutterstock.com
RomanR / Shutterstock.com

2018

  • Household Median Income: $63,179

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $45,179

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $6,097

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 15%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 9.65%

More: All the Numbers You Need To Know for Your 2020 Taxes

nicexray / iStock.com
nicexray / iStock.com

2019

  • Household Median Income: $68,703

  • Taxable Income after Standard Deduction: $50,353

  • Federal Income Tax Paid: $5,770

  • Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate: 12%

  • Effective Federal Income Tax Rate: 8.40%

More From GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates used the US Census Bureau’s historical income data and Current Population Survey to source the median family income in America from 1960-1973 and the median household income in America from 1974 – 2019. With these figures, GOBankingRates then found each corresponding year's standard deduction for a head of household, as sourced from TaxPolicyCenter.org, to find each year’s (1) taxable income for the median household. GOBankingRates then used an in-house income tax calculator as well as Tax Foundation’s archive of federal income tax brackets to find: (2) federal income taxes paid; (3) marginal federal income tax rate; and (4) effective federal income tax rate for a household with the national median income each year. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 26, 2021.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much the Average Person Paid in Taxes the Year You Were Born