How is an excise tax different from a sales tax?

Excise taxes are sales taxes that apply to particular products. Unlike general sales taxes, excise taxes are usually applied on a per-unit basis instead of as a percentage of the purchase price. For instance, cigarette excise taxes are calculated in cents per pack.

Is profit from selling house taxable?

Typically, when you sell an asset you must pay capital gains tax (CGT) on any profit made on the sale. For most of us, the most valuable asset we own is our family home . The tax law provides an automatic exemption for any capital gain (or loss) that arises from the sale of a taxpayer’s main residence.

Which is a proportional tax?

A proportional tax is an income tax system that levies the same percentage tax to everyone regardless of income. A proportional tax is the same for low, middle, and high-income taxpayers. In contrast, a progressive tax or marginal tax system adjusts tax rates progressively by income.

Do I have to pay tax on stocks if I sell and reinvest?

The Internal Revenue Code is full of provisions that allow people to take proceeds from sales of property and reinvest it without having to recognize capital gain. If they’ve owned the stock for a year or less, then they’ll pay short-term capital gains tax at their ordinary income tax rate on the profit.

Which is an example of excise tax?

These include tobacco, alcohol, firearms and gambling. Excise taxes levied for this purpose are often called “sin taxes.” Similarly, governments use excise taxes to help cover costs related to the taxed item. For example, excise taxes on gasoline help pay for new highway construction.

Who is liable for excise tax?

The general rule is that the producer of a product is the one liable for the excise tax. However, if the tax is unpaid and possession is transferred to the buyer, the buyer/possessor of the product can be made liable for the excise tax.

Is it true that under a proportional income tax structure a person who earns a high-income will pay more in taxes than a person who earns a low income?

A proportional tax applies the same tax rate to all individuals regardless of income. A progressive tax imposes a greater percentage of taxation on higher income levels, operating on the theory that high-income earners can afford to pay more.

What is regressive tax example?

Regressive tax, tax that imposes a smaller burden (relative to resources) on those who are wealthier. Consequently, the chief examples of specific regressive taxes are those on goods whose consumption society wishes to discourage, such as tobacco, gasoline, and alcohol. These are often called “sin taxes.”

Do you pay capital gains if you lose money?

Capital losses can offset capital gains If you sell something for less than its basis, you have a capital loss. If you have $50,000 in long-term gains from the sale of one stock, but $20,000 in long-term losses from the sale of another, then you may only be taxed on $30,000 worth of long-term capital gains.

What type of taxes is sales tax?

A sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by the government on the sale of goods and services. A conventional sales tax is levied at the point of sale, collected by the retailer, and passed on to the government.

What are some examples of sales tax?

In general, sales taxes take a percentage of the price of goods sold. For example, a state might have a 4% sales tax, a county 2%, and a city 1.5%, so that residents of that city pay 7.5% total.

What states collect sales tax?

While the vast majority of states collect a sales tax ranging from 3% to 7% or more, there are five states where most purchases can be made sales-tax-free. These states are New Hampshire, Alaska, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana.

Do I need to pay tax on selling a home?

In most cases, you won’t pay tax on the money you make from selling your home. This is the case if it was your principal residence every year since you bought it. You may generate an income with your home. If that’s the case, you must report the sale of your home on your tax return.