Married couples who file a joint tax return are typically subject to the best tax rates, as well as those who are eligible to file under the qualifying widow(er) status using the same rates as married couples. Those who file separately from their spouse under a married filing separately status receive the highest tax rates, although that shouldn’t sway your decision to file separately. In some cases, a married couple filing separately may be more appropriate depending on the circumstances.

If you aren’t married but have dependent children at the end of the tax year, you shouldn’t immediately assume that you need to file using the single status. You may be eligible to file as head of household, which can grant you tax rates that are more satisfactory than those for single filers, provided your child lives with you in the home that you pay to maintain.

You may be able to file as head of household even if you are married. In these cases, you have to have lived with your child separately from your spouse for the last six months of the year. You can’t file a joint tax return, but using head of household rates are better than married filing separately in these cases.

Taxpayers whose spouse passed away at some point in the two years preceding the current tax year, may file as a qualifying widow(er) if they have kept a house for themselves and a dependent child. This status offers better tax rates, equal to those of couples who file jointly.

The marginal rate for regular income (think salary and interest payments) ranges between 10% and 39.6%, and is dependent on the amount of taxable income you earn. Dividend and net capital gains are subject to rates of 0%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or 28%, which is determined by the asset sold and additional income. These rates are normally lower than those for regular income. Depending on what your top bracket rate is for your regular income, your rate for qualified dividends and capital gains ranges between 0% and 20%.