Free tax-equivalent yield calculator. Compare municipal bond yields to taxable bond yields after accounting for federal and state tax rates. Find the true after-tax return.
The Tax-Equivalent Yield Calculator converts a tax-free municipal bond yield into its taxable equivalent, helping you compare muni bonds to taxable bonds on an apples-to-apples basis. Municipal bonds are exempt from federal income tax, and if issued in your state, they may also be exempt from state and local taxes.
Because higher-bracket investors save more on taxes, the value of a muni bond increases with your marginal rate. A 3.5% muni yield may be equivalent to 5%+ for someone in the 32% bracket, making munis a powerful tool for tax-efficient investing.
Enter the municipal bond yield, your federal marginal rate, and optional state tax rate to see the taxable-equivalent yield and determine which option provides the better after-tax return. The tax-equivalent yield concept is especially important for investors in high tax brackets, where the tax savings from municipal bonds can more than compensate for their typically lower stated yields. Including state tax exemption in the calculation further increases the advantage for investors in states with high income tax rates.
Comparing a 4% taxable bond to a 3% muni bond is misleading because the taxable bond's yield shrinks after taxes. This calculator converts both to the same after-tax basis, instantly showing which investment provides higher real returns for your specific tax situation. Without this conversion, comparing municipal and taxable bonds is like comparing apples to oranges.
Tax-Equivalent Yield = Municipal Yield / (1 − Combined Tax Rate) Combined Rate = Federal Rate + State Rate × (1 − Federal Rate) [if SALT deductible] Or simply: Combined Rate = Federal Rate + State Rate [if not itemizing] After-Tax Taxable Yield = Taxable Yield × (1 − Combined Tax Rate)
Result: Tax-equivalent yield: 5.56% | Muni wins by 0.56%
At a combined 37% tax rate (32% federal + 5% state for in-state muni), the 3.5% muni yield is equivalent to 5.56% taxable. Since the taxable bond only yields 5%, the muni provides a better after-tax return by 0.56%.
If you purchase municipal bonds issued by your home state, the interest is typically exempt from both federal and state income tax (double tax-free). Some states, like California and New York, have high income tax rates, making in-state munis especially valuable. Out-of-state munis are usually subject to state income tax on the interest.
Tax-efficient investing means placing the right assets in the right accounts. Munis should be held in taxable accounts where their tax exemption provides maximum benefit. High-yield taxable bonds and REITs belong in tax-deferred accounts (IRAs, 401k) where they're shielded from annual taxation. Growth stocks with low dividends can go in either.
Investors above the NIIT threshold ($200K single, $250K MFJ) face an additional 3.8% tax on investment income from taxable bonds. Municipal bond interest is exempt from this surtax, making the true tax advantage even larger than the basic federal rate suggests. At the top bracket, a muni's effective advantage can exceed 40% combined.
Tax-equivalent yield (TEY) is the yield a taxable bond would need to offer to match the after-tax return of a tax-exempt municipal bond. It adjusts for the tax savings of the muni to create an apples-to-apples comparison. The formula is: TEY = Muni Yield / (1 − Tax Rate).
Municipal bonds are issued by state and local governments to fund public projects. The federal government exempts the interest from federal income tax to make borrowing cheaper for municipalities. If you buy bonds from your own state, the interest is typically also exempt from state income tax.
Generally, munis become advantageous for investors in the 24% federal bracket and above. At lower brackets, the tax benefit may not compensate for the typically lower nominal yield of munis compared to taxable bonds. The exact break-even depends on the specific yields available.
No. Holding munis in an IRA or 401(k) wastes the tax exemption since those accounts already shelter income from taxes. Munis belong in taxable brokerage accounts where you can benefit from the tax-free income. Use taxable bonds in tax-advantaged accounts instead.
Most muni interest is exempt from federal tax, but some "private activity bonds" may be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Also, if you sell a muni bond at a gain, the capital gain is taxable. Only the interest income receives the tax exemption.
Municipal bond interest is generally exempt from the 3.8% NIIT as well, making the tax advantage even larger for high-income investors. This means the effective combined rate for comparison should include the NIIT for taxable bonds, further favoring munis.