Taxes

The facts you need

Not many people, except perhaps certified public accountants and IRS employees, like taxes. But we all have to pay them sooner or later, whether it's through income taxes, payroll taxes or sales taxes. The positive side of taxes is that they support everything from schools and roads to social services and law enforcement.

The more you know about taxes, the less burdensome they may seem. Here are some basic facts to help you better understand our income tax system.

Income tax brackets

The United States income tax system is progressive—meaning the higher your income, the higher your tax rate. The rates are also different depending on whether you're a single filer or married filing jointly.

For more details on tax brackets, see the Tax Rate Tables.

Ways to reduce your tax bill

Your taxable income is usually lower than your actual income. That's because there are certain ways to lower your tax bill through deductions, exemptions and credits, including:

• Making a contribution to your retirement account
• Making a charitable contribution
• Getting a credit for dependent care
• Qualifying for the earned income tax credit

Who needs to file a federal income tax return?

Not everyone is required to file a tax return. But even if your income falls below the filing requirement, you could benefit from filing a return. Every year, many low-income people forfeit tax refunds simply because they didn't file a return. To quickly find out if your income is below the filing requirement, go to the IRS withholding calculator.