In Half Moon Bay, 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.

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 Half Moon Bay, California tax Attorney if you don't know what type of tax system your state has.

Income Tax Deductions in Half Moon Bay, 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 conflated with a tax credit, which is a reduction in one's tax bill. A tax credit normally results in a greater reduction in tax liability than a deduction in the same amount.

Many common expenses in Half Moon Bay can be deducted, in whole or in part, from your taxable income. Federal tax deductions include charitable donations, union dues, interest paid on a mortgage, and state and local taxes.

How Can A Half Moon Bay, California 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 Half Moon Bay, California tax Attorney to avoid the consequences of under-paying, and to prevent you from over-paying.