Revenue Act of 1940

The Revenue Act of 1940 temporarily and permanently increased individual income tax rates, temporarily and permanently increased corporate tax rates (top rate rose from 19% to 33%), and temporarily increased most excise tax rates to 30-50%.

The personal exemption fell from $2,500 to $2,000 (married couples).

Tax on corporations

Normal tax

A Normal Tax was levied on the net income of corporations as shown in the following table.

Revenue Act of 1940 Tax on Corporations 53 Stat. 863
Net Income (dollars)	Rate (percent)
0	19
25,000	33

Tax on individuals

A normal tax and a surtax were levied against the net income of individuals as shown in the following table.

Revenue Act of 1940 Normal Tax and Surtax on Individuals 53 Stat. 5
Net Income (dollars)	Normal Rate (percent)	Surtax Rate (percent)	Combined Rate (percent)
0	4	0	4
4,000	4	4	8
6,000	4	6	10
8,000	4	8	12
10,000	4	10	14
12,000	4	12	16
14,000	4	15	19
16,000	4	18	22
18,000	4	21	25
20,000	4	24	28
22,000	4	27	31
26,000	4	30	34
32,000	4	33	37
38,000	4	36	40
44,000	4	40	44
50,000	4	44	48
60,000	4	47	51
70,000	4	50	54
80,000	4	53	57
90,000	4	56	60
100,000	4	58	62
150,000	4	60	64
200,000	4	62	66
250,000	4	64	68
300,000	4	66	70
400,000	4	68	72
500,000	4	70	74
750,000	4	72	76
1,000,000	4	73	77
2,000,000	4	74	78
5,000,000	4	75	79

• Exemption of $800 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples and heads of family. A $400 exemption for each dependent under 18.