In Santa Cruz County, California, an income tax is imposed on a certain percentage of the income of all individuals and businesses. Generally, income from all sources may be taxed. The federal government has had explicit constitutional authority to impose an income tax since 1916, with the passage of the 16th Amendment. This came after the Supreme Court had consistently found a federal income tax to be unconstitutional. States, including California, have always been allowed to impose whatever type of income tax they liked.

Everyone 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 Santa Cruz County, California if you aren't clear about what system your state has.

Income Tax Deductions in Santa Cruz 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 reduction 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 usually reduce your tax liability far more than a tax reduction of the same amount.

Under federal law, numerous expenses in Santa Cruz County are tax-deductible, including interest paid on a mortgage, charitable donations, the price of tax advice, and union or professional dues, among many others.

How Can A Santa Cruz County, California Tax Attorney Help?

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