Question

What are the main categories of U.S. federal government taxes?

Short answer

The main categories of U.S. federal government taxes are 1) individual income taxes, which are progressive taxes on individuals' income; 2) social insurance (payroll) taxes, which fund programs like Social Security and Medicare and are shared between employers and employees; 3) corporate income taxes, which tax corporations' profits at a flat rate; 4) excise taxes, applied to specific goods or services; 5) estate and gift taxes, levied on wealth transfers through inheritance or gifts; and 6) customs duties, taxes on imported goods designed to protect domestic industries.

Step-by-step solution

1. List the main categories of U.S. federal government taxes

The main categories of U.S. federal government taxes are: 1. Individual income taxes 2. Social insurance (payroll) taxes 3. Corporate income taxes 4. Excise taxes 5. Estate and gift taxes 6. Customs duties

2. Explain each category

1. Individual income taxes: These are taxes levied on the wages, salaries, and other income earned by individuals in the United States. The tax rates are progressive, which means that higher income earners pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes. 2. Social insurance (payroll) taxes: These taxes fund specific government social insurance programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. Payroll taxes are generally split between employers and employees, with both contributing a percentage of the employee's wages. 3. Corporate income taxes: These are taxes levied on the profits of corporations. The corporate income tax rate is a flat rate applied to a corporation's taxable income. 4. Excise taxes: These are taxes levied on the sale or use of specific goods or services, such as gasoline, alcohol, and tobacco. Excise taxes are typically passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices for the affected goods or services. 5. Estate and gift taxes: These taxes are levied on the transfer of wealth from one person to another, either through an inheritance (estate tax) or a gift (gift tax). The estate tax is applied to the value of the deceased person's estate, while the gift tax is applied to the value of gifts given by an individual during their lifetime. 6. Customs duties: These are taxes levied on imported goods as they enter the United States. Customs duties are designed to protect domestic industries by raising the price of imported goods and discouraging their consumption.