The taxation of individuals, as it applies to income, is referred to as personal income taxation. This system of taxation is used by governments to collect revenue for individual transactions, goods, services and investments.
In the U.S., personal income taxes are levied at the federal, state and local levels, although the federal income tax is the main source of taxation. The federal income tax is set up so the percentage of income paid depends on the total income earned by the individual. The higher the income, the higher the rate of tax paid.
The U.S. federal income tax system has seven individual tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Rates are fixed to a certain income level, known as a marginal tax bracket. This means that the rate of tax paid to the government rises as the income earned increases.
For example, an individual making $50,000 per year pays 10% of that income as federal tax while someone making $200,000 pays 10% on the first $19,750, 12% on income between $19,751 and $80,250, 22% between $80,251 and $171,050, and 24% on everything above that.
The total amount of federal income tax paid by an individual is the sum of all these marginal tax brackets. However, an individual making more than $200,000 per year can benefit from a number of deductions and credits that can reduce the amount of federal income tax owed.
In addition to the federal income tax, individuals also pay taxes at the state and local levels. State income tax rates vary from 0% to 13%. Local income taxes are generally smaller and rate from 0% to 5%.
Income taxes can also be affected by other factors, such as marital status and the number of children one has. For example, individuals who are married and filing jointly get to benefit from a lower effective tax rate than those who are single. Similarly, families with children typically have a higher income threshold for a given tax rate than those without children.
Taxes can also be reduced by taking advantage of various deductions and credits. For example, individuals can deduct expenses related to job-searching, charitable donations, and retirement contributions. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit designed to help low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with the amount varying depending on the number of children one has and the amount of income earned.
Overall, the percentage of income paid as personal income tax depends on the total income earned and various other factors such as marital status and deductions. While paying taxes is a necessary part of prosperity, taking advantage of exemptions and deductions can reduce the amount of tax paid.