The income tax in Lakewood, Washington is a tax imposed on all of the income earned or received by a person or corporation during a given year. Under federal law, almost any type of income 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 Washington, were free to impose income taxes as they saw fit.
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 Lakewood, Washington if you aren't clear about what system your state has.
Income Tax Deductions in Lakewood, Washington
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 simply a reduction in somebody's tax bill. A tax credit will typically reduce your tax liability far more than a tax deduction of the same amount.
Many common expenses in Lakewood 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 Lakewood, Washington Tax Attorney Help?
Income tax laws can get quite complex, especially when large amounts of money from multiple sources are involved. It would not be a bad idea to call a Lakewood, Washington tax Attorney to avoid the consequences of under-paying, and to prevent you from over-paying.