A tax credit is a tax incentive which allows certain taxpayers to subtract the amount of the credit they have accrued from the total they owe the state. It may also be a credit granted in recognition of taxes already paid or a form of state "discount" applied in certain cases. Another way to think of a tax credit is as a rebate.
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👉 Tax credit in the context of Income tax in the United States
The United States federal government and most state governments impose an income tax. They are determined by applying a tax rate, which may increase as income increases, to taxable income, which is the total income less allowable deductions. Income is broadly defined. Individuals and corporations are directly taxable, and estates and trusts may be taxable on undistributed income. Partnerships are not taxed (with some exceptions in the case of federal income taxation), but their partners are taxed on their shares of partnership income. Residents and citizens are taxed on worldwide income, while nonresidents are taxed only on income within the jurisdiction. Several types of credits reduce tax, and some types of credits may exceed tax before credits. Most business expenses are deductible. Individuals may deduct certain personal expenses, including home mortgage interest, state taxes, contributions to charity, and some other items. Some deductions are subject to limits, and an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) applies at the federal and some state levels.
The federal government has imposed an income tax since the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1913, and 42 U.S. states impose state income taxes. Income taxes are levied on wages as well as on capital gains, and fund federal and state governments. Payroll taxes are levied only on wages, not gross incomes, but contribute to reducing the after-tax income of most Americans. The most common payroll taxes are FICA taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. Capital gains are currently taxable at a lower rate than wages, and capital losses reduce taxable income to the extent of gains.
In this Dossier
- ⭐ Core Definition: Tax credit
- 👉 Tax credit in the context of Income tax in the United States
- Tax credit in the context of Revenue service
- Tax credit in the context of Tax deduction
- Tax credit in the context of Renewable energy credit
- Tax credit in the context of Child tax credit
- Tax credit in the context of Working Tax Credit
- Tax credit in the context of Scholarship Tax Credit
- Tax credit in the context of Tax deductions
Tax credit in the context of Revenue service
A revenue service, revenue agency or taxation authority is a government agency responsible for the intake of government revenue, including taxes and sometimes non-tax revenue. Depending on the jurisdiction, revenue services may be charged with tax collection, investigation of tax evasion, or carrying out audits.
In certain instances, they also administer payments to certain relevant individuals (such as statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay) as well as targeted financial support (welfare) to families and individuals (through payment of tax credits or transfer payments).
Tax credit in the context of Tax deduction
A tax deduction or benefit is an amount deducted from taxable income, usually based on expenses such as those incurred to produce additional income. Tax deductions are a form of tax incentives, along with exemptions and tax credits. The difference between deductions, exemptions, and credits is that deductions and exemptions both reduce taxable income, while credits reduce tax.
Tax credit in the context of Renewable energy credit
A Renewable energy credit (REC) is a certificate corresponding to the environmental attributes of energy produced from renewable sources such as wind or solar. RECs were created as a means to track progress towards and compliance with states' Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), meant to support a cleaner generation mix.
RECs should not be confused with the tax credits that renewable energy projects are eligible to receive. In the United States, as part of the 2009 economic stimulus package, renewable Energy Rebate Programs are in place. Currently, solar is eligible for a 30% federal tax credit.
Tax credit in the context of Child tax credit
A child tax credit (CTC) is a tax credit for parents with dependent children given by various countries. The credit is often linked to the number of dependent children a taxpayer has and sometimes the taxpayer's income level. For example, with the Child Tax Credit in the United States, only families making less than $400,000 per year may claim the full CTC. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the tax credit was only available for families making less than £42,000 per year.
Tax credit in the context of Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit (WTC) was a state benefit in the United Kingdom made to people who worked and received a low income. It was introduced in April 2003 and was a means-tested benefit. Despite the name, the payment was not a tax credit linked to a person's tax bill, but a payment used to top-up low wages. The amount of WTC received could exceed the amount of tax paid. Unlike most other benefits, WTC was paid by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
WTC could be claimed by working individuals, childless couples and working families with dependent children. In addition, some other people were also entitled to Child Tax Credit (CTC) if they were responsible for any children. WTC and CTC were assessed jointly and families remained eligible for CTC even if no adult was working or they had too much income to receive WTC.
Tax credit in the context of Scholarship Tax Credit
In the United States, scholarship tax credits, also called tax credit scholarships, education tax credits or tuition tax credits, are a form of school choice that allows individuals or corporations to receive a tax credit from state taxes against donations made to non-profit organizations that grant private school scholarships. At the start of the 2014–2015 school year, fourteen states had scholarship tax credit programs.
Tax credit in the context of Tax deductions
A tax deduction is an amount deducted from taxable income, usually based on expenses such as those incurred to produce additional income. Tax deductions are a form of tax incentives, along with exemptions and tax credits. The difference between deductions, exemptions, and credits is that deductions and exemptions both reduce taxable income, while credits reduce tax.