Income Tax

A tax charged as a percentage of the income an individual or household earns, paid to federal and, in most states, state governments.

Often confused with

Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains tax applies to profit on a sold asset; income tax applies to earnings, usually at a higher rate.
Payroll Taxes
Income tax funds general government spending; payroll taxes fund specific insurance programs.

Taught in

See also

5.1.A.1 · 5.1.A.2