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There are a variety of taxes you may have to pay, such as Income tax, capital gains tax, sales tax, and property tax. Whether you’re new to the workforce or a seasoned retiree, taxes can be complicated to understand and to pay.

This guide can help. Here, you’ll learn more about what taxes are, the different types of taxes to know about, and helpful tax filing ideas. Read on to raise your tax I.Q.

What Are Taxes?

At a high level, taxes are involuntary fees imposed on individuals or corporations by a government entity. The collected fees are used to fund a range of government activities, including but not limited to schools, road maintenance, health programs, and defense measures.

Different Types of Taxes to Know

Here’s a detailed look at what are many of the different types of taxes that can be levied and the ways in which they are typically calculated and imposed, plus insights into how they might impact your checking account.

Income Tax

The federal government collects income tax from people and businesses, based upon the amount of money that was earned during a particular year. There can also be other income taxes levied, such as state or local ones. Specifics of how to calculate this type of tax can change as tax laws do.

The amount of income tax owed will depend upon the person’s tax bracket; it will typically go up as a person’s income does. That’s because the U.S. has a progressive tax system for federal income tax, meaning individuals who earn more are taxed more.

If you’re wondering what tax bracket you are in, know that there are currently seven different federal tax brackets. The amount owed will also depend on filing categories like single; head of household; married, filing jointly; and married, filing separately.

Deductions and credits can help to lower the amount of income tax owed (which might leave you with more money in your savings account).

And if a federal or state government charges you more than you actually owed, you’ll receive a tax refund. It can be helpful to check the IRS website or online tax help centers to learn more about income tax.

Property Tax

Property taxes are charged by local governments and are one of the costs associated with owning a home.

The amount owed varies by location and is calculated as a percentage of a property’s value. The funds typically help to fund the local government, as well as public schools, libraries, public works, parks, and so forth.

Property taxes are considered to be an ad valorem tax, which means they are based on the assessed value of the property.

Payroll Tax

Employers collect payroll taxes to pay for the Medicare and Social Security programs. Also known as Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes, these taxes fund your contributions to qualify for Medicare and Social Security.

The Social Security tax rate is 12.4% but is split between employees and employers (6.2% each). This tax only applies up to an annual wage base limit, which is adjusted each year.

The Medicare tax is 2.90%, also split between you and your employer (1.45% each). There is no wage limit for the standard Medicare tax. Employees who earn above a certain income threshold pay an additional 0.9% on the amount over the limit.

Because this tax is applied uniformly, rather than based on income throughout the system, payroll taxes are considered to be a regressive tax.

Inheritance/Estate Tax

These are actually two different types of taxes.

•   The first — the inheritance tax — can apply in certain states when someone inherits money or property from a deceased person’s estate. The beneficiary would be responsible for paying this tax if they live in one of several different states where this tax exists and the inheritance is large enough.

•   The federal government does not have an inheritance tax. Instead, there is a federal estate tax that is calculated on the deceased person’s money and property. It’s typically paid out from the assets of the deceased before anything is distributed to their beneficiaries.

There can be exemptions to these taxes and, in general, people who inherit from someone they aren’t related to can anticipate higher rates of tax.

Regressive, Progressive, and Proportional Taxes

These are the three main categories of tax structures in the U.S. (two of which have already been mentioned above). Here are definitions that include how they impact people with varying levels of income.

What’s a Regressive Tax?

Because a regressive tax is uniformly applied, regardless of income, it takes a bigger percentage from people who earn less and a smaller percentage from people who earn more.

As a high-level example, a $500 tax would be 1% of someone’s income if they earned $50,000; it would only be half of one percent if someone earned $100,000, and so on. Examples of regressive taxes include state sales taxes and user fees.

What’s a Progressive Tax?

A progressive tax works differently, with people who are earning more money having a higher rate of taxation. In other words, this tax (such as an income tax) is based on income.

This system is designed to allow people who have a lower income to have enough money for cost of living expenses.

What’s Proportional Tax?

A proportional tax is another way of saying “flat tax.” No matter what someone’s income might be, they would pay the same proportion. This is a form of a regressive tax and proportional taxes are more common at the state level and less common at the federal level.

Capital Gains Tax

Next up, take a closer look at the capital gains tax that an investor may be responsible for paying when having stocks in an investment portfolio. This can happen, for example, if they sell a stock that has appreciated in value over the purchase price.

The difference in the increased value from purchase to sale is called “capital gains” and, typically, there would be a capital gains tax levied.

An exception can be when an investor sells increased-in-value stocks through a tax-deferred retirement investment inside of the account. Meanwhile, dividends are taxed as income, not as capital gains.

It’s also important for investors to know the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains taxes. In the U.S. tax code, short-term is one year or less, while long-term is anything longer. Gains made by short-term investments are generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains tax rates are 0%, 15%, and 20%, depending on your income.

Recommended: High-Yield Savings Account Calculator

Ideas For Tax-Efficient Investing

Ideas for tax-efficient investing can include to select certain investment vehicles, such as:

•   Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): These are baskets of securities that trade like a stock. They can be tax-efficient because they typically track an underlying index, meaning that while they allow investors to have broad exposure, individual securities are potentially bought and sold less frequently, creating fewer events that will likely result in capital gains taxes.

•   Index mutual funds: These tend to be more tax efficient than actively managed funds for reasons similar to ETFs.

•   Treasury bonds: There are no state income taxes levied on earned interest.

•   Municipal bonds: Interest, in general, is exempted from federal taxes; if the investor lives within the municipality where these local government bonds are issued, they can typically be exempt from state and local taxes, as well.

VAT Consumption Tax

In the U.S., taxpayers are charged a regressive form of tax, a sales tax, on many items that are purchased. In Europe, the system works differently. A VAT tax is a form of consumption tax that’s due upon a purchase, calculated on the difference between the sales price and what it cost to create that product or service. In other words, it’s based on the item’s added value.

Here’s one big difference between a sales tax and a VAT tax:

•   Sales tax is charged at the final part of the sales transaction.

•   VAT, on the other hand, is calculated throughout each supply chain step and then built into the final purchase price.

This leads to another difference. Sales taxes are added onto the purchase price that’s listed; VAT contains those fees within the price and so nothing extra is added onto the price tag that a buyer would see.

Sales Tax

Ka-ching! You are probably used to sales tax being added to many of your purchases. It’s a method that governments use to collect revenue from citizens, and in America, it can vary by state and local area.

Funds collected via sales tax are frequently used for local and state budget items. These might include school, road, and fire department expenses.

Excise Tax

An excise tax is one that is applied to a specific item or activity. Some common examples are the taxes added to alcoholic beverages, amusement/betting pursuits, cigarettes (yes, the “sin taxes,” as they are sometimes called, gasoline, and insurance premiums.

These taxes are primarily paid by businesses but are sometimes passed along to consumers, who may or may not be aware that these taxes can be rolled into retail prices. Some excise taxes, however, are paid directly by consumers, such as property taxes and certain taxes on retirement accounts.

Luxury Tax

Luxury tax is just what it sounds like: tax on purchases that aren’t necessities but are pricey purchases. It can be paid by a business and possibly passed along to the consumer. Typical examples of items that are subject to a luxury tax include expensive boats, airplanes, cars, and jewelry.

The revenue that’s raised by these taxes may fund an array of government programs designed to benefit U.S. citizens.

Corporate Tax

Here’s another tax with a name that tells the story. Corporate tax is, quite simply, a tax on a corporation’s profits, or taxable income. This is based on a business’ revenue once a variety of expenses are subtracted, such as administrative expenses, the cost of any goods sold, marketing and selling costs, research and development expenses, and other related and operating costs.

Corporate taxes are specific to each country, with some having higher rates than others, and there are a variety of ways to lower them via loopholes, subsidies, and deductions.

Tariffs

Tariffs represent a protectionist tool that governments may use. That is, they are taxes levied on imported goods at the border. The idea is typically that this will help boost the cost of imports and hopefully nudge consumers to buy items made on home soil.

Surtax

A surtax is an additional tax levied by the government in addition to other taxes. It is typically paid by consumers when the government needs to raise funds for a specific program. For instance, a 10% surtax was levied on individual and corporate income by the Johnson administration in 1968. The funds were collected to help fund the war effort in Vietnam.

Tax Filing Ideas

Now that you know what the different types of taxes are, consider the event that makes many of us contemplate this topic: filing taxes. It’s an annual ritual that may trigger anxiety for many, but if you spend a little time educating yourself about the process, it’s not so scary. Here, a few ways to help make preparing for tax season easier:

•   Consider how you’d like to file. Choose the method that best suits your needs and comfort level. You might want to work with a professional tax preparer to assist you, or perhaps use tax software to help you through the process. (Some taxpayers will qualify for the IRS Free File service, which is a free guided software tool.)

Another option is to fill out either the IRS form 1040 or 1040-SR by hand and mail it in, but given how this can open you up to human error and handwriting or typing mistakes, it’s not recommended.

•   Gather all your paperwork. Being organized can be half the battle here. Develop a system that works for you (you might want to use a tax-preparation checklist) to collect such items as:

◦   Your W-2s and/or 1099 forms reflecting your income

◦   Proof of any mortgage interest paid or property taxes

◦   Retirement account contributions

◦   Interest earned on investments or money held in bank accounts

◦   State and local taxes paid

◦   Donations to charities

◦   Educational expenses

◦   Medical bills that were not reimbursed

•   Even if you are lower-income and don’t need to file, consider doing so. It may be to your financial benefit. For instance, you might qualify for certain tax breaks, such as the earned income tax credit (EITC) or, if you’re a parent, the child credit.

•   Whether you owe money or are getting a refund, know how to settle your account with the IRS. If you’ll be receiving a tax refund, you may want to request that it be sent via direct deposit to make the process as seamless and speedy as possible. If, on the other hand, you owe money, there are an array of ways to send funds, including payment plans. Do a little research to see what suits you best.

By getting ahead of tax filing deadlines in these ways, you can likely make this annual ritual a little less intimidating and time-consuming.

Recommended: Guide to Filing Taxes for the First Time

The Takeaway

Understanding the different kinds of taxes can help you boost your financial literacy and your ability to budget well. You’ll know a bit more about why you pay federal and any state and local taxes and also be aware of other charges like luxury taxes and sales taxes.

Here’s another way to help your finances along: by partnering with a bank that puts you first.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

FAQ

What are the most common taxes people use?

The most common taxes that Americans pay are income tax on their earnings, sales tax on purchases, and property tax on their homes.

How many categories of taxes are there?

There are easily more than a dozen kinds of taxes levied in the U.S. Which ones you are liable for will depend on a variety of factors, such as whether you are an individual or represent a business, whether you purchase luxury items, and so forth.

Will I use all of these forms of taxes?

Which forms of taxes you will be liable for will likely depend upon the specifics of your situation. For example, among the most common taxes are income, property, and sales taxes, but if you rent rather than own your home, you won’t owe property taxes. If you purchase a boat, you might pay a luxury tax; if you like to frequent casinos, you could be paying excise taxes.

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There are several ways investment income is taxed: You may be familiar with capital gains taxes — the taxes imposed when one sells an asset that has gained value — but it’s important to also understand the tax implications of dividends, interest, retirement account withdrawals, and more.

In some cases, for certain types of accounts, taxes are deferred until the money is withdrawn, but in general, tax rules apply to most investments in one way or another.

Being well aware of all the tax liabilities your investments hold can minimize headaches and help you avoid a surprise bill from the IRS. Being tax savvy can also help you plan ahead for different income streams in retirement, or for your estate.

Types of Investment Income Tax

There are several types of investment income that can be taxed. These include:

•   Dividends

•   Capital Gains

•   Interest Income

•   Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

Taking a deeper look at each category can help you assess whether — and what — you may owe.

Tax on Dividends

Dividends are distributions that are sometimes paid to investors who hold a certain type of dividend-paying stock. Dividends are generally paid in cash, out of profits and earnings from a corporation.

•   Most dividends are considered ordinary (or non-qualified) dividends by default, and these payouts are taxed at the investor’s income tax rate.

•   Others, called qualified dividends because they meet certain IRS criteria, are typically taxed at a lower capital gains rate (more on that in the next section).

Generally, an investor should expect to receive form 1099-DIV from the corporation that paid them dividends, if the dividends amounted to more than $10 in a given tax year.

More About Capital Gains Tax

Capital gains are the profit an investor sees when an investment they hold gains value when they sell it. Capital gains taxes are the taxes levied on the net gain between purchase price and sell price.

For example, if you buy 100 shares of stock at $10 ($1,000 total) and the stock increases to $12 ($1,200), if you sell the stock and realize the $200 gain, you would owe taxes on that stock’s gain.

There are two types of capital gains taxes: Long-term capital gains and short-term capital gains. Short-term capital gains apply to investments held less than a year, and are taxed as ordinary income; long-term capital gains are held for longer than a year and are taxed at the capital-gains rate.

For 2025 and 2026, the long-term capital gains tax rates are typically no higher than 15% for most individuals. Some individuals may qualify for a 0% tax rate on capital gain — but only if their taxable income for the 2025 tax year is $96,700 or less (married filing jointly), or $48,350 or less for single filers and those who are married filing separately.

For the 2026 tax year, individuals may qualify for a 0% tax rate on long-term capital gains if their taxable income is $98,900 or less for those married and filing jointly, and $49,450 or less for single filers and those who are married and filing separately.

The opposite of capital gains are capital losses — when an asset loses value between purchase and sale. Sometimes, investors use losses as a way to offset tax on capital gains, a strategy known as tax-loss harvesting.

Recommended: Is Automated Tax-Loss Harvesting a Good Idea?

Capital losses can also be carried forward to future years, which is another strategy that can help lower an overall capital gains tax.

Capital gains and capital losses only become taxable once an investor has actually sold an asset. Until you actually trigger a sale, any movement in your portfolio is called unrealized gains and losses. Seeing unrealized gains in your portfolio may lead you to question when the right time is to sell, and what tax implications that sale might have. Talking through scenarios with a tax advisor may help spotlight potential avenues to mitigate tax burdens.

▶️ Watch the video: Unrealized Gains: Explained

Taxable Interest Income

Interest income on investments is taxable at an investor’s ordinary income level. This may be money generated as interest in brokerage accounts, or interest from assets such as CDs, bonds, Treasuries, and savings accounts.

One exception are investments in municipal (muni) bonds, which are exempted from federal taxes and may be exempt from state taxes if they are issued within the state you reside.

Interest income (including interest from your bank accounts) is reported on form 1099-INT from the IRS.

Tax-exempt accounts, such as a Roth IRA or 529 plan, and tax-deferred accounts, such as a 401(k) or traditional IRA, are not subject to interest taxes.

Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT), also sometimes referred to as the Medicare tax, is a 3.8% flat tax rate on investment income for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above a certain level — $200,000 for single filers; $250,000 for filers filing jointly. Per the IRS, this tax applies to investment income including, but not limited to: interest, dividends, capital gains, rental and royalty income, non-qualified annuities, and income from businesses involved in trading of financial instruments or commodities.

For taxpayers with a MAGI above the required thresholds, the tax is paid on the lesser of the taxpayer’s net investment income or the amount the taxpayer’s MAGI exceeds the MAGI threshold.

For example, if a taxpayer makes $150,000 in wages and earns $100,000 in investment income, including income from rental properties, their MAGI would be $250,000. This is $50,000 above the threshold, which means they would owe NIIT on $50,000. To calculate the exact amount the taxpayer would owe, one would take 3.8% of $50,000, or $1,900.

💡 Quick Tip: How long should you hold onto your investments? It can make a difference with your taxes. Profits from securities that you sell after a year or more are taxed at a lower capital gains rate. Learn more about investment taxes.

Tax-Efficient Investing

One way to mitigate the effects of investment income is to create a set of tax efficient investing strategies. These are strategies that may minimize the tax hit that you may experience from investments and may help you build your wealth. These strategies can include:

•   Diversifying investments to include investments in both tax-deferred and tax-exempt accounts. An example of a tax-deferred account is a 401(k); an example of a tax-exempt account is a Roth IRA. Investing in both these vehicles may be a strategy for long-term growth as well as a way to ensure that you have taxable and non-taxable income in retirement.

   Remember that accounts like traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs, as well as 401(k) plans and some other employer-sponsored accounts, are tax-deferred — meaning that you don’t pay taxes on your contributions the year you make them, but you almost always owe taxes whenever you withdraw these funds.

•   Exploring tax-efficient investments. Some examples are municipal bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Treasury bonds, and stocks that don’t pay dividends.

•   Considering tax implications of investment decisions. When selling assets, it can be helpful to keep taxes in mind. Some investors may choose to work with a tax professional to help offset taxes in the case of major capital gains or to assess different strategies that may have a lower tax hit.

The Takeaway

Investment gains, interest, dividends — almost any money you make from securities you sell — may be subject to tax. But the tax rules for different types of investment income vary, and you also need to consider the type of account the investments are in.

Underreporting or ignoring investment income can lead to tax headaches and may result in you underpaying your tax bill. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep track of your investment income, and be mindful of any profits, dividends, and interest that may need to be reported even if you didn’t sell any assets over the course of the year.

Some investors may find it helpful to work with a tax professional, who may help them see the full scope of their liabilities and become aware of potential investment strategies that might help them minimize their tax burden, especially in retirement. A tax professional should also be aware of any specific state tax rules regarding investment taxes.

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Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.