Taxes are an important part of life in the United States, and understanding the different tax rates is essential for making sure you pay the right amount. Your tax bracket is determined by your marital status and taxable income, and taxes are calculated by applying a tax rate to your taxable income. In the US, payroll taxes are used to fund Social Security and Medicare, while income taxes are used to fund state and federal funds. April 15 is the deadline for filing federal tax returns and many state and local returns. The Supreme Court has held that taxes on real estate rents, personal property interest income, and other personal property income (including dividend income) are treated as direct property taxes and must be distributed among states according to their population.
Tax credits can save you more than deductions, and Americans may qualify for a variety of credits. Below is a table of historical marginal income tax rates for married couples who file taxes together. States generally give residents a credit for income taxes paid to other states, usually limited to the amount of income taxes paid in other states. Fortunately, no matter what category you fall into, you won't pay that tax rate on your entire income. However, people pay lower taxes on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends (see below).
Several provisions of the tax code, including the income thresholds that determine federal tax categories, are adjusted annually to reflect inflation. If you hold an equity asset for one year or less, any gain from the sale is considered a short-term capital gain and is taxed at the ordinary income rates listed above. Many countries, but not all, tax resident individuals and corporations on their worldwide income, but few allow a credit for foreign taxes. Tax rules are based on principles similar to accounting standards in many ways, but there are significant differences. Americans can also use education tax credits, tax credits for child care and dependent care costs, and tax credits for having children, among others. Effective tax rates are often lower than marginal rates due to various deductions, and some people have a negative responsibility. However, long-term capital gains brackets are configured so that you generally pay taxes at a lower rate than if ordinary tax rates and brackets were applied.
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