Direct Taxes

Taxes that are paid straight or directly to the government

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What are Direct Taxes?

Direct taxes are one type of taxes an individual pays that are paid straight or directly to the government, such as income tax, poll tax, land tax, and personal property tax. Such direct taxes are computed based on the ability of the taxpayer to pay, which means that the higher their capability of paying is, the higher their taxes are.

Direct Taxes

For example, in the case of income taxation, an individual who earns more pays higher taxes. It is computed as a percentage of the total income. Additionally, direct taxes are the responsibility of the individual and should be fulfilled by no one else but him.

Example of Direct Taxes

As mentioned above, one good example of direct taxes is a person’s income tax. Usually, income tax is filed annually, although deductions from one’s salary can be done on a monthly basis. If, for example, an individual incurs tax amounting to $30,000 a year for his annual salary of $120,000, the $30,000 is his direct tax.

Types of Direct Taxes

1. Income tax

It is based on one’s income. A certain percentage is taken from a worker’s salary, depending on how much he or she earns. The good thing is that the government is also keen on listing credits and deductions that help lower one’s tax liabilities.

2. Transfer taxes

The most common form of transfer taxes is the estate tax. Such a tax is levied on the taxable portion of the property of a deceased individual, including trusts and financial accounts. A gift tax is also another form wherein a certain amount is collected from people who are transferring properties to another individual.

3. Entitlement tax

This type of direct tax is the reason why people enjoy social programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. The entitlement tax is collected through payroll deductions and is collectively grouped as the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.

4. Property tax

Property tax is charged on properties such as land and buildings and is used for maintaining public services such as the police and fire departments, schools and libraries, as well as roads.

5. Capital gains tax

This tax is charged when an individual sells assets such as stocks, real estate, or a business. The tax is computed by determining the difference between the acquisition amount and the selling amount.

Advantages of Direct Taxes

Though it is strictly implemented on every individual who does not qualify for an exemption, there are actually numerous advantages of paying taxes directly. They include:

1. Promotes equality

Since direct taxes are based on the ability of a person to pay, it promotes equality among payers and citizens. Every person is charged a different amount, depending on how much they make.

2. Promotes certainty

The good thing about direct taxes is that they are determined and made final before they are even paid. In the case of income tax, the annual tax is the same every year as long as the salary does not change.

3. Promotes elasticity

Taxes are the earnings of the government, and when they fluctuate, the earnings also change. They can go higher or lower.

4. Saves time and money

The government does not need to spend on the collection of taxes because they are already taken right at the source of the income. Some companies use automatic payroll deduction systems, which help save time and money.

Direct Taxes vs. Indirect Taxes

There are basically two types of taxes – direct and indirect taxes. The following are the differences between the two:

  • Direct taxes refer to taxes that are filed and paid by an individual directly to the government. Indirect taxes, on the other hand, are taxes that can be transferred to another entity. Therefore, the burden of paying them can be put on another person’s shoulders.
  • Direct taxes can be evaded in the absence of proper collection administration. Indirect taxes cannot be escaped from because these are charged automatically on goods and services.
  • Direct taxes can help address inflation while indirect taxes can lead to inflation.
  • Direct taxes lessen the savings of earners, but indirect taxes encourage the opposite because they make products and services more expensive and unaffordable.
  • Direct taxes are imposed only on people that belong to various income brackets. Indirect taxes, on the other, can be felt by everyone who buys goods and avails services.

Additional Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Direct Taxes. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful:

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