Tax Terms

Handy definitions that will clear up your questions about tax lingo.

1040PC

A 1040PC is a paper tax return prepared on a computer using the approved IRS tax preparation software. Taxpayers mail the form (return) to the IRS and the IRS can directly deposit refunds into savings and checking accounts. It's that simple.

ABILITY TO PAY

Jane makes a ton of money each year, and flies (on her private jet) to and from her houses in Miami and New York. Tough life. John earns a more modest salary and rents a small apartment. Jane and John do NOT pay the same amount in taxes. Their ability to pay differs vastly. John pays less, for his amount of income (wages, interests, profits) and assets (houses, cars, stocks, savings accounts) is less than Jane's.

ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME

A person's entire income reduced by adjustments including a deduction for an IRA (Individual Retirement Account), medical savings accounts, and alimony paid to an ex-spouse. Note to the wise: Saving money now in an IRA for your retirement (yes, even though it seems like a million years away) could be one of your smartest moves yet.

BENEFITS RECEIVED

When people pay taxes according to the amount of government aid (benefits) they receive. Examples of benefits the American public receives include (to name only a few): welfare, child care, Medicare, Medicaid. Some people believe it's only fair that people pay taxes based on the amount of government aid they receive.

BUSINESS TAXES

Are you a budding entrepreneur? Just remember that businesses pay taxes to federal, state and local governments. Businesses pay taxes on their profits. Businesses also pay unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, social security and Medicare insurance.

CREDITS

If you have a store credit, you can use the credit to purchase merchandise free of charge. If you have a tax credit, your taxes are reduced by the amount of your credit. You can get tax credits for purposes such as child care expenses and the earned income credit for low-income taxpayers.

DEPENDENT

A person who relies on someone else for financial support. Sound like a mooch? Not really. Think about it- most "young adults" (under 21 years old) are supported by their parents. Is this you? If it is, your parents can claim an exemption for you-their adorable dependent-if dependency tests are met.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

When you give the IRS the go-ahead, they'll send your refund directly to your bank account. It's the fastest way to get your cash.

DIRECT TAX

A direct tax cannot be shifted to others (unlike an indirect tax). A good example of a direct tax is the Federal income tax. You just gotta pay it.

DIVIDENDS

Are you a stockholder? If you are, you receive dividends, or a portion of a company's earnings and profits.

EARNED INCOME

In simple English: All the money you earn. This includes any wages, salaries, tips, net earnings (if you're self-employed), and any other income received for personal services. Add it all up, it's all earned income.

EARNED INCOME CREDIT

Not exactly rolling in dough? Low-income workers can file a tax return to get an earned income credit, even if no income tax was withheld from the worker's pay.

ELECTRONIC FILING (IRS e-file)

It pays to be computer savvy! Taxpayers can now file their tax information with personal computers and tax preparation software. The information goes directly to the IRS and the IRS can directly deposit refunds into the taxpayer's bank account. Electronic filing allows taxpayers to get their refunds quickly. Check out IRS e-file.

ELECTRONIC FILING (IRS e-file) OPTIONS

IRS e-file options allow you to file Federal income tax returns (and some state returns) through a tax professional, through your home computer or even through your telephone. It may also be available in many other places in your local community.

EXCISE TAXES

Excise taxes are taxes on the sale or use of certain products or transactions. So every time you make a telephone call, buy a plane ticket, or ride in a car (to name but a few) you'll be paying excise taxes.

EXEMPT (from withholding)

Have you ever been exempt from taking an exam because your average was high enough? What a feeling! Well, taxpayers can be exempt from paying a certain amount of federal income tax if they meet certain income, tax liability, and dependency requirements. In fact, you could be exempt from having certain taxes taken out of your paycheck. If you have a job, be smart and check into this.

EXEMPT (from tax liability)

Before a taxpayer pays taxes, he/she can claim a set amount of tax deductions for him/herself, a spouse and eligible dependents. The total amount is subtracted from the adjusted gross income. Then the tax on the remaining income is figured out.

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act)

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) consists of both a Social Security (retirement) payroll tax and a Medicare (hospital insurance) tax. The tax is levied on employers, employees, and certain self-employed individuals.

FEDERAL/STATE ELECTRONIC FILING

Cutting edge! Certain states allow taxpayers to file tax information for both federal and state income tax returns with home computers and tax preparation software.

FILE A RETURN

To file a return is to send in your completed tax forms, or return ("return" is the official term-use it, you'll sound smarter). All your tax information appears on the return, including income and tax liability.

FILING STATUS

Your filing status determines your tax bracket and amount of taxes you must pay. Factors such as marital status affect your filing status.

FORM 1040EZ

This form is great if you're single or married, don't have any dependents and aren't rolling in dough. If your income is $50,000 or less and your interest income is $400 or less --- use this easy (get it, EZ) IRS form to file your return.

FORM W-2

By January 31 of each year --- your employer (even if you don't work there anymore) will provide you with a statement of how much you earned in wages, tips and other compensation from the previous year. This form will reflect state and federal taxes, social security, Medicare wages, and tips withheld. It also includes a lot of other really important information you will need to file your return.

FORM W-4 (Employee's withholding allowance certificate)

If you have or had a part-time or summer job, you probably completed this form on your first day of work. This form determines how much of your paycheck is withheld for federal income taxes.

FORMAL TAX LEGISLATION PROCESS

There are strict steps (that involve the President and Congress) that a proposed tax must pass through before it becomes a law.

GROSS INCOME

This deals with all the money, goods and property you receive that must be included as taxable income. Fact: people who use the barter system (exchanging non-monetary goods/services as payment) have to include whatever they've bartered for as part of their gross income.

HORIZONTAL EQUITY

Horizontal equity says that people in the same income groups should be taxed at the same rate. "Equals should be taxed equally."

INCOME TAXES

These are taxes on income, both earned income (salaries, wages, tips, commissions) and unearned income (interest from savings accounts, dividends if you hold stock). Individuals and businesses are subject to income taxes.

INDIRECT TAX

You might not think you're paying this tax, but you probably are. It's the type of tax that can be shifted to others: hence the name. For example: A company might have to pay a specific tax to the government, let's say a fuel tax. The company pays the tax but can increase the cost of their products so consumers are actually paying the tax indirectly by paying more for the company's products.

INFORMAL TAX LEGISLATION PROCESS

Ever joined a book club? What about a study group? Well, if you're interested, there are also informal tax legislation meetings where individuals and interest groups get together to discuss tax issues. Once you become a steady wage earner, these are meetings you probably won't want to miss.

INTEREST INCOME

You deposit your money into a savings account for a reason, right? So you can earn interest on your money. People also earn interest from lending money to people. We're not talking about you lending your buddy Dave a couple bucks to buy lunch, we're talking about lending lots of money so the interest really accumulates on the loan. Well, add up all that interest you accumulate and there's your interest income. Not to burst your bubble, but that interest income is all fully taxable.

LOCAL TAXES

In addition to federal and state taxes, your local town or city may also need tax money to operate services such as garbage pick-up, water treatment, and street-cleaning.

MEDICARE

The Medicare program funds the federal health program for people over 65. It helps out people at a time in their lives when they may have health problems but may not have a lot of money.

PAYROLL TAXES

Your employer deducts a certain amount from your paycheck to pay for taxes. This tax money funds many finance specific programs, including social security, health care and worker's disability. These programs might not mean a whole lot to you now, but you may likely benefit from them when you're older. Check out It's Payday!

PERSONAL INCOME TAX

Everyone pays a tax on his/her yearly total amount of taxable income. Remember that the personal income tax is not a tax on the taxpayers total income (the taxpayer can take deductions). Deductions are subtracted first from the taxpayer's income and then he/she pays the tax on the remaining amount.

PROGRESSIVE TAX

This type of tax takes a larger percentage of income from higher income groups than from low-income groups. Is this fair? Check out What is Fair?

PROPERTY TAXES

It's likely you've landed on "property tax" when playing Monopoly. In real life, people pay taxes on property, including real estate, boats, cars, recreational vehicles, and business inventories. Something to think about before you buy that new car. Check out What is Fair?

PROPORTIONAL TAX

Proportional taxes take the same percentage of income from everyone regardless of how much (or little) a person earns. This type of tax is not currently in use, but some feel it's the way to go. What do you think? Check out What is Fair?

PUBLIC GOODS AND SERVICES

Do you attend a public school? Ever wonder who pays for your education? Taxpayers! Tax money is used for a variety of public goods and services-all available for use by the public (that includes you and your friends). Some examples of public goods are national defense, street lights, and roads and highways. Public services include welfare programs, sanitation, law enforcement, and education.

REDEVELOPMENT OR ENTERPRISE ZONE

The government can designate an area as a redevelopment or enterprise zone, meaning that the area is in desperate need of some serious improvements. No, your room probably wouldn't make the cut-you'll have to do that restoration on your own. A neighborhood in complete disarray (burned out buildings, broken sidewalks, potholes in the street, etc.), on the other hand, could qualify as such an area and taxpayer money could help fund the restoration process.

REFUND

When your employer deducts too much money from your paycheck, the government owes you that money back. When they pay it, it's called a refund.

REGRESSIVE TAX

This is the tax that takes a smaller percentage from those with high income than from those with lower income. Is this fair? What do you think?

SALES TAXES

You gotta have that new CD, but do you have enough cash? Don't forget to add the sales tax to the price. Depending on the state you live in, you pay an extra percentage of sales tax for items purchased.

SCHEDULE

Your class schedule essentially organizes your day, right? Taxpayers have to be organized too. They use certain schedules (or forms) to itemize specific sources of income or specific expenses they claim should be deducted from their taxes. It can pay to be organized!

SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security is America's government-run retirement plan. One day, when you're your grandparents' age, you'll get the money back.

STANDARD DEDUCTION

Some taxpayers choose to take a standard amount instead of itemizing all of their deductions. This is a fixed amount that is generally based on a person's filing status.

STATE TAXES

There are all kinds of taxes which are used to pay for all sorts of things. Some of our money goes to the Federal government, which pays for services like Interstate highways, the armed forces, the FBI, and a lot more. Your state also needs money for schools, roads, state troopers-to name just a few. At the end of the tax year, you will need to send one form to the Federal government, and another to your state government.

TARIFF DUTY (Customs Duty or Import Duty)

Ever travel abroad and do a little duty-free shopping at the airport? You're buying tax-free products. When you buy that same product at your corner store (assuming it's not a duty-free shop), you're paying a tariff duty or tax on the product.

TAX CREDITS

The amount of money that tax payers can deduct directly from their taxes.

TAX DEDUCTIONS

The amount that a person or business can subtract from their taxable income. The more you can deduct, the less you pay.

TAX EXEMPTIONS

Pretty excited when you're exempt from gym class? Taxpayers are pretty happy when they see there's a part of their total income on which no tax is imposed. That's a tax exemption.

TAX LIABILITY (or total tax bill)

There's no getting out of it- tax liability is the total amount of tax that a person must pay. Taxpayers pay this through withholdings, estimated tax payments, and payments attached to their yearly tax forms.

TAX PREPARATION SOFTWARE

This is software created specifically with the IRS in mind. It's designed to help you prepare your taxes on a computer. The software works with the e-filing system to let you file quickly and accurately. Check the Digital Daily for software recommended by the IRS.

TAX SHIFT

One lucky person or group is able to shift a tax that they're supposed to pay to someone else.

TAX WITHHOLDING

There's a portion that your employer takes from your (and other employees) paycheck to pay part or all of your taxes. Check out It's Payday!

TAXABLE INCOME

Everything you earn that can be taxed.

TAXES

Taxes are required payments of money to the government. This money is used to make your life better. You might not even realize it, but tax money provides public goods and services for the community as a whole (think roads, schools, law enforcement, public libraries, etc.). Show a little gratitude, pay your fair share.

TELEFILE

The IRS knows that lots of people don't have access to a home computer. Most people do have a touch-tone phone, though. TeleFile lets you use your phone to send tax information to the IRS computer. The IRS must send you the booklet. Check out IRS Telefile

TIPS

Here's a tip on receiving tips: If you earn more than $20 a month in tips, you must report the amount to your employer. To keep track of your tips keep a daily "tips-earned log" where you write down the exact amount of tips you earn each day. Share the monthly total with your employer who will make certain federal, state, and local taxes are paid. Remember, it still pays to be nice . . . so don't forget to smile. Check out It's Payday! Publication 1244 contains forms for daily record keeping of tips and for reporting tips to your employer. The freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view this publication.

TRANSACTION TAXES

The sale of all goods and services have transaction taxes. These taxes can be a set percentage of a sales value or a set amount of a physical quantity. What's that all about? Let's say you buy a CD-you pay a set amount in sales tax, but when you fill up your tank with gas, you pay a tax per gallon.

VERTICAL EQUITY

Who said all taxpayers are created equal? Vertical equity states that people in different income groups should pay different rates of taxes. Our current tax system is one of vertical equity.

VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE

Your mom might order you to clean up your room. Well, the IRS doesn't have time to tell every single taxpayer to file taxes correctly and on time . . . there are millions of taxpayers in this country after all. This system relies on citizens to report their income, calculate tax liability and file tax returns on time. Everyone's gotta grow up sometime. Check out It's Payday!

VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)

Available in most communities are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to help with tax return preparation. People volunteer their time to help their neighbors. The service is free to those with limited or moderate income people, non-English speaking, the elderly and the disabled. Some VITA sites even offer free electronic filing. If you want to know more about a VITA site in your community or volunteering your time, call your local District Taxpayer Education Coordinator. Check out IRS e-file

WALK-IN ELECTRONIC FILING

If you need help preparing your taxes visit the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) office nearest you. Many VITA offices have IRS representatives who can help you fill out your forms and then transmit the information on your forms electronically.

WITHHOLDING ("Pay-as-you-earn" taxation)

Your employer takes out a certain amount from your check for the government. You are credited for these taxes when you file your return. This money is used to pay for your federal income taxes, federal social security, and Medicare taxes, and state and local income taxes. Check out It's Payday!

WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCE

When you fill out the Form W-4 your employer can figure out the total amount in taxes to deduct from your paycheck. Your withholding allowance is the total number of allowances, or exemptions you claim. The employer also uses your total amount of income earned and marital status to figure out these allowances and exactly how much income tax to withhold from wages.