In San Francisco County, California, an income tax is imposed on a certain percentage of the income of all individuals and businesses. Generally, 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 Francisco County, California if you aren't clear about what system your state has.

Income Tax Deductions in San Francisco County, 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 Francisco County 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 Francisco County, California Tax Attorney Help?

Income tax law can get fairly complex in San Francisco County, California. If you have any questions about your income tax liability, you should not hesitate to speak with a tax Attorney sooner, rather than later.