The income tax in Steilacoom, 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 Steilacoom, Washington if you aren't clear about what system your state has.

Income Tax Deductions in Steilacoom, Washington

A tax deduction is simply a reduction in the portion of a person's income which is taxable. For example, if someone makes ,000 per year, and gets a ,000 tax deduction, their taxable income is ,000.

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.

Many common expenses in Steilacoom 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 Steilacoom, 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 Steilacoom, Washington tax Attorney to avoid the consequences of under-paying, and to prevent you from over-paying.