Taxes are mandatory contributions levied on individuals or corporations by a government entity, whether local, regional, or national.
The ABCs of income taxes provide a beginner’s guide to understanding the basics of how income taxes work.
Whether you’re a first-time taxpayer or just looking to refresh your knowledge, here are the fundamental concepts you need to know:
A – Annual Income:
Your annual income includes all the money you earn within a calendar year, including wages from employment, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, interest, and other sources of income.
B – Taxable Income:
Taxable income is the portion of your annual income that is subject to taxation. It is calculated by subtracting deductions and exemptions from your total income.
C – Credits and Deductions:
Tax credits and deductions can reduce the amount of taxes you owe. Tax credits directly reduce your tax liability, while deductions lower your taxable income before calculating taxes.
D – Dependents:
Dependents are individuals who rely on you for financial support, such as children, elderly parents, or disabled family members. Claiming dependents can provide tax benefits, including dependency exemptions and certain credits.
E – Exemptions:
An exemption is an amount of income that is excluded from taxation. In the past, taxpayers could claim personal and dependent exemptions, but recent tax law changes have eliminated personal exemptions.
F – Filing Status:
Your filing status determines how you calculate your taxes and the tax rates that apply to your income. Common filing statuses include single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, and qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child.
G – Gross Income:
Gross income is your total income before any deductions or exemptions are applied. It includes wages, salaries, tips, rental income, interest, dividends, and other sources of income.
H – Head of Household:
Head of household is a filing status available to unmarried taxpayers who pay more than half the cost of maintaining a home for a qualifying dependent, such as a child or elderly relative.
I – Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN):
An ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the IRS to individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number but have tax filing or reporting obligations.
J – Joint Return:
Married couples can file a joint tax return, combining their incomes and deductions. Filing jointly often results in lower tax liability compared to filing separately.
K – Kiddie Tax:
The kiddie tax is a special tax rule that applies to unearned income (e.g., investment income) of children under a certain age. It aims to prevent parents from shifting income to their children to take advantage of lower tax rates.
L – Tax Liability:
Your tax liability is the total amount of taxes you owe to the government after taking into account credits, deductions, and other adjustments.
M – Marginal Tax Rate:
Your marginal tax rate is the tax rate that applies to the last dollar of your taxable income. It’s essential to understand marginal tax rates when evaluating the impact of additional income or deductions.
N – Net Income:
Net income is the amount of income left after all deductions and exemptions have been subtracted from your gross income. It represents your final taxable income.
O – Overpayment (Tax Refund):
If you paid more in taxes than your tax liability, you will receive a tax refund, which is the excess amount you overpaid.
P – Progressive Tax System:
The U.S. tax system follows a progressive tax structure, meaning that higher-income taxpayers pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes compared to lower-income taxpayers.
Q – Qualified Retirement Accounts:
Qualified retirement accounts, such as Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, offer tax advantages, such as tax-deferred growth or tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
R – Tax Return:
Your tax return is the document you file with the IRS, reporting your income, deductions, credits, and tax liability for a specific tax year.
S – Standard Deduction:
The standard deduction is a fixed amount that reduces your taxable income without the need for itemizing deductions. The amount varies based on your filing status.
T – Tax Withholding:
Tax withholding is the amount of income tax that your employer deducts from your paycheck and remits to the IRS on your behalf.
U – Underpayment (Tax Owed):
If you didn’t pay enough in taxes throughout the year, you may owe additional taxes when you file your return.
V – Voluntary Compliance:
The U.S. tax system operates on a voluntary compliance basis, which means taxpayers are responsible for accurately reporting their income and deductions.
W – W-2 and 1099 Forms:
W-2 forms are issued by employers to report wages and taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks, while 1099 forms report various types of non-employee income.
X – Tax Extension:
If you need more time to file your tax return, you can request a tax extension, giving you an additional six months to file without facing late-filing penalties.
Y – Year-End Tax Planning:
Year-end tax planning involves making financial decisions before the end of the year to optimize your tax situation and potentially reduce your tax liability.
Z – Zero Tax Bracket:
Certain low-income taxpayers may fall into the zero tax bracket, meaning they have no federal income tax liability for the year.
Remember, this beginner’s guide to income taxes is just a starting point. Tax laws can be complex and change regularly, so it’s essential to seek professional advice or use reputable tax software to ensure accurate and compliant tax preparation.