How to calculate effective tax rate from tax return
This means you’d need to find a taxable savings account, CD, or bond paying at least 3.33% in order to achieve the same effective rate of return as the 2.5% municipal bond. In this example, we only account for the savings in federal taxes. If the municipal bond were also free from state taxes, the real rate of return would be that much higher. Both reduce your tax bill, but in different ways. Tax credits directly reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar for dollar. A tax credit valued at $1,000, for instance, lowers your tax bill by $1,000. Tax deductions, on the other hand, reduce how much of your income is subject to taxes.