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The types of tax imposed at each level of government vary, in part due to constitutional restrictions. Income taxes are imposed at the federal and most state levels. Taxes on property are typically imposed only at the local level, although there may be multiple local jurisdictions that tax the same property.
State tax levels indicate both the tax burden and the services a state can afford to provide residents. States use a different combination of sales, income, excise taxes, and user fees. Some are levied directly from residents and others are levied indirectly. This table includes the per capita tax collected at the state level.
The rate of tax at the federal level is graduated; that is, the tax rates on higher amounts of income are higher than on lower amounts. Federal individual tax rates vary from 10% to 37%. [8] Some states and localities impose an income tax at a graduated rate, and some at a flat rate on all taxable income. [9]
George S. Boutwell was the first Commissioner of Internal Revenue under President Abraham Lincoln.. In July 1862, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln and Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1862, creating the office of commissioner of internal revenue and enacting a temporary income tax to pay war expenses.
Poll taxes are a fixed tax on individuals, regardless of income; voters must pay the tax before they are permitted to cast a ballot. These taxes were occasionally paired with literacy tests to prove qualification to vote. [3] Revenue from poll taxes acted as a major source of funding for state governments.
For most governments around the world, the majority of government spending takes place at the federal/national level. As of 2019, in the United States, approximately 55% of government spending is spent by the federal government, while the remaining 45% of government spending is spent by state and local government.
There are some main reasons why government needs to collect taxes: [3] Market failure - mainly to discourage purchases of that product (any tax creates a disincentive, so consumers will reduce their purchases and seek alternatives). Taxes can create incentives promoting desirable behavior and disincentives for unwanted behavior.
Tax rates were 3% on income exceeding $600 and less than $10,000, and 5% on income exceeding $10,000. [8] This tax was repealed and replaced by another income tax in the Revenue Act of 1862. [9] After the war when the need for federal revenues decreased, Congress (in the Revenue Act of 1870) let the tax law expire in 1873. [10]