War Revenue Act of 1917

The United States War Revenue Act of 1917 greatly increased federal income tax rates while simultaneously lowering exemptions.

The 2% bracket had previously applied to income below $20,000. That amount was lowered to $2,000. The top bracket (on income above $2 million) was raised from 15% to 67%.

The act was applicable to incomes for 1917.

War Income Tax for Individuals

In addition to the Normal Tax and an Additional Tax levied against the net income of individuals in the Revenue Act of 1916 a "like normal" tax and a "like additional" tax were levied against the net income of individuals as shown in the following table.

Revenue Act of 1917
War Income Tax on Individuals

40 Stat. 300 [1]

Tax Rates from 1916 Act Tax Rates from 1917 Act
Net Income
(dollars)		 Normal Rate
(percent)		 Additional Rate
(percent)		 Like Normal Rate
(percent)		 Like Additional Rate
(percent)		 Combined Rate
(percent)
0 2 0 2 0 4
5,000 2 0 2 1 5
7,500 2 0 2 2 6
10,000 2 0 2 3 7
12,500 2 0 2 4 8
15,000 2 0 2 5 9
20,000 2 1 2 7 12
40,000 2 2 2 10 16
60,000 2 3 2 14 21
80,000 2 4 2 18 26
100,000 2 5 2 22 31
150,000 2 6 2 25 35
200,000 2 7 2 30 41
250,000 2 8 2 34 46
300,000 2 9 2 37 50
500,000 2 10 2 40 54
750,000 2 10 2 45 59
1,000,000 2 11 2 50 65
1,500,000 2 12 2 50 66
2,000,000 2 13 2 50 67

Inflation-adjusted numbers

Corrected for inflation by CPI:

1917 dollars 2005 dollars
$2,000 $30,516
$20,000 $305,156
$2,000,000 $30,515,625

Notes

  1. ↑ Facsimile from Statutes at Large