{"id":79699,"date":"2022-12-08T13:59:51","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=79699"},"modified":"2022-12-09T06:32:56","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T06:32:56","slug":"what-tax-does-every-american-have-to-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/tax\/what-tax-does-every-american-have-to-pay\/","title":{"rendered":"What Tax Does Every American Have to Pay?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the U.S., it\u2019s a legal requirement to file a tax return every year for yourself, a joint return for you and your partner, or a household return if you\u2019re the head of the family. If you have a business or assets or spend a lot of time abroad, it\u2019s also essential to file a federal tax return<\/a> disclosing your worldwide income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US tax system is based on citizenship, not residency. Only two countries run a citizenship-based taxation system, the United States and Eritrea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US expects their citizens and Green Card holders to disclose their worldwide income and assets on their US tax returns each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because there are so many different taxes to file based on your personal circumstances, you must understand precisely what you need to pay or what refunds you\u2019re due to avoid any penalties for filing incorrectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do We Pay Taxes?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first income taxes were issued in 1913 when the Constitution gave Congress the power to impose taxes as a recovery method due to the effects of the Civil War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the taxes we pay today were issued in the 1920s and 30s, but never taxes, such as the wealth tax, are being brought into law today to maintain the country\u2019s stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should think ourselves lucky, though, as income tax used to apply to everyone, regardless of income or status, and wouldn\u2019t account for filing jointly or as the head of a household. That means that if you were a low-income earner before, you\u2019d still have to pay a relatively sizable tax too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Taxes<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are 3 main types of tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n