In San Diego, California, an income tax is imposed on a certain percentage of the income of all individuals and businesses. Typically, income from all sources can be taxed. The federal government has had explicit constitutional power to impose an income tax since 1916, with the passage of the 16th Amendment. This came after the Supreme Court had repeatedly found a federal income tax to be unconstitutional. States, including California, have always been free to impose whatever type of income tax they liked.
Everybody in the United States must pay the federal income tax. However, you only have to pay the state income tax of the state in which you reside. You should speak with an accountant or tax lawyer in San Diego, California if you aren't clear about what system your state has.
Income Tax Deductions in San Diego, California
A tax deduction is an expense which, in whole or in part, is subtracted from a person's taxable income. For example, if you make ,000 in a year, and the tax rate is 10%, a deduction of ,000 results in only ,000 being taxed. This means that you will pay ,900 instead of ,000.
This should not be confused with a tax credit, which is a reduction of a person's tax bill. A tax credit almost always results in a lower tax burden than a tax deduction of the same amount.
Many common expenses in San Diego can be deducted from your taxable income. They include mortgage interest, charitable donations (if property documented, of course), the cost of tax advice, union dues, and many others.
How Can A San Diego, California Tax Attorney Help?
Income tax laws are notoriously complex. If you live in San Diego, California and run into any type of tax problems, including an audit or wage garnishment, a local tax Attorney would almost certainly be able to help.