Jake Tuff 
If paying taxes stresses you out, it’s important to understand that there are many different types of taxes. This will help you make better financial decisions.
For example, it’s helpful to know if you are dealing with a seller privilege tax (as in New York) or a consumer excise tax. This is because each has a different way of handling who is responsible for the tax.
Income Tax
Taxes are involuntary fees imposed on citizens and corporations by government entities for a variety of services, such as maintaining roads and funding education and health programs. There are many different types of taxes that can be levied, but some of the most important include the income tax, sales tax and property tax.
The income tax is levied on the wages, salaries, investments and other forms of income that an individual earns throughout the year. It can be imposed at the federal level, state level or local level. It is typically a progressive tax, which means that the rate of taxes increase as a person’s income increases.
The sales tax is a type of ad valorem tax, which means that it is based on the value of a good or service, including classic sin taxes like those on alcohol and tobacco. This is a popular way for local governments and states to raise revenue. These taxes are often collected at the point of sale, and may be accompanied by other fees, such as excise tax.
Sales Tax
Often called retail sales tax, consumer use tax or a local excise tax, this type of consumption tax is levied at the state, county, city and/or municipal level on the purchase, exchange, storage or sale of tangible personal property. It’s one of the most prevalent taxes in the United States.
The main function of this tax is to provide revenue for state and local governments. However, some states also levy it on the use of certain types of tangible personal property (like boats or structural additions to a home) and on certain services.
Unlike the income tax, which is a progressive form of taxation, a sales tax is generally considered to be regressive. This is because it extracts more money from individuals who consume more. In fact, some people pay as much as 7% in total state, county and city sales taxes on the same purchase. Consumers can offset this by claiming sales tax credits on their returns.
Property Tax
A property tax is an ad valorem tax that applies to the value of real estate and some tangible personal property. The proceeds from this tax are used to fund community services, including local schools, street and road maintenance, fire and police departments and more.
The scope of this type of tax varies widely. This is because legal factors, administrative realities, tradition, and the availability of other sources of revenue all play a role in how much a property tax is levied.
In the end, taxes have a profound impact on how we live our lives. Understanding the different types of taxes will help us understand how government revenues are collected, where they go and how we can make them work for our communities. By gaining a better understanding of the different types of taxes, we can become smarter taxpayers and improve our financial literacy. In doing so, we will be able to reduce our tax burdens and boost our bottom line.
Consumption Tax
Whether you’re a self-employed individual or running an established business, you need to understand consumption taxes. These US taxes touch on nearly every aspect of your operation, and they play a big role in how much you keep at the end of the day after filing your tax returns.
Unlike income and payroll taxes, which are levied on what people earn or pay in wages, consumption taxes are charged on things that are bought or sold. A sales tax or excise tax on a particular good like fuel is one example of a consumption tax. Some economists and political candidates have advocated for a national consumption tax to replace income taxes, payroll taxes and taxes on capital gains.
Each type of tax has different nuances, but the bottom line is that they’re all involuntary fees that you and your customers pay to fund government activities. Understanding these taxes can make the annual ritual of filing your taxes a little less stressful and daunting.
