In St. Joseph, Missouri, the income tax is a tax imposed on money received (income) during a certain set time period. Under federal law, and the laws of most states, income from any source can be taxed. The federal government imposes an income tax on all persons and entities present in the United States. The power to tax incomes was granted to the federal government in 1913 with the ratification of the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. Before that time, the Supreme Court had found a federal income tax unconstitutional, prompting the passage of the amendment. Of course, individual states, including Missouri, were free to impose income taxes as they saw fit.

While the federal government levies an income tax against every person and corporation in the U.S., the income taxes imposed by the states vary widely. Some states have relatively high income taxes, and a few have none at all. You should consult with a St. Joseph, Missouri tax Attorney if you don't know what type of tax system your state has.

Income Tax Deductions in St. Joseph, Missouri

A tax deduction is a reduction in the portion of a person's income that is taxable, resulting in a lower tax liability. For example, suppose your income tax rate is 10%, and you had ,000 in income last year. If you got a ,000 tax deduction, your taxable income would be ,000, and you would have to pay 10% on that. So, it would reduce your tax liability from to .

There is also something called a tax credit, which is treated as a partial payment of the income tax. A tax credit almost always results in a lower tax bill than a deduction of the same amount.

Lots of expenses that are common in St. Joseph are tax deductible. Federal tax deductions include mortgage interest, union dues, interest paid on mortgages, and others.

How Can A St. Joseph, Missouri Tax Attorney Help?

Income tax laws are notoriously complex. If you live in St. Joseph, Missouri 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.