Taxes are compulsory charges or levies collected by states or anything that functions like a state. In a modern society, taxes are usually levied in money. Taxes have always been gathered in one way or the other. Tribal governments used to collect taxes either in the form of labor, produce or even gold.
In the past, taxes have sometimes funded wars or projects. In the modern context, taxes are essential to help a country build infrastructure, offer education, maintain law and order, finance economic structures, roads, administration, defense, etc.
In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson set up the Federal Income Tax. This income tax system deducted about 1% to 7% of a person’s income. Ever since then, new taxes have been added, and after World War I, the American Tax Code has become four times bigger.
In America, citizens who earn above a certain level are expected to file tax returns, and pay taxes if applicable. You are not expected to file returns if you have salaries and pensions taxed under Pay As You Earn (PAYE). This is because the correct amount of tax is being deducted at source.
Tax returns are essentially forms given by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in which all the details of income and incurred expenses have to be given. The taxes that you have to pay are calculated based on this. An individual can calculate these taxes, or the IRS could do it.
The form has one page, which everyone has to complete, and nine supplementary forms, which people with specific types of income have to file. There is also a supplementary booklet that helps to file taxes.
You are expected to file returns if you are self-employed, have other income received in gross and from which taxes have not been cut, such as rental income from property, interest in a national savings income account, etc. Returns would also have to be filed if the taxation rate is high or complex.
Sometimes the IRS many issue tax return forms to you even if you pay taxes under PAYE. This happens if you have changed jobs and it is to check if your taxation is in order.
Always file your tax returns if you know that the correct amount of tax has not been paid on your income. Do not wait for the IRS to send you a tax return. If you fail to do so you may pay a fine or incur a penalty. Several people have gone to prison for failing to file their taxes correctly.
Send your tax returns back to the local tax office by January 31st after the end of the tax year; otherwise you will automatically incur penalties. If you want the IRS to do the tax calculations, you must send the completed return to the local tax office by September 30th following the end of the tax year.
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