Ch. 12 AP Microeconomics (The Design of the Tax System)

Income Tax

Shares of individual wages and corporate revenues collected by the government. The Sixteenth Amendment explicitly authorized Congress to levy a tax on income.

progressive tax

a tax for which high-income taxpayers pay a larger fraction(percentage) of their income than do low-income taxpayers

401 k

A defined contribution plan that automatically takes out money from an employee's paycheck before income taxes and invests it in mutual funds for purposes of retirement savings.

Benefits principle

A principle of taxation, states that people should pay taxes based on the BENEFITS they receive from government services. Tries to make public goods more like private goods.

Transfer Payment

A public expenditure (as for unemployment compensation or veteran's benefits, or social security(the largest)) that is not for goods and services

proportional tax

A tax for which the Percentage of income paid in taxes remains the same for all income levels

Corporate Income tax

A tax levied on a corporation's income BEFORE dividends are distributed to stockholders. 3rd largest source of income to the Federal government. Is actually a bigger burden to consumers and workers than to the owners because their elasticity is greater.

value added tax

A tax on increased value of a product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale

consumption tax

A tax on spending, or on the difference between what people earn and what they save, regardless of how much they earned, also called a national sales tax, is an alternate system that economists believe would work better.

Property taxes

A tax on the value of property (capital, land, stocks and bonds, and other assets) owned by firms and households. This is a state government tax.

regressive tax

A tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction(percentage) of their income than people with higher incomes. (Sales taxis an example).

flypaper theory of tax incidence

A unbelievably stupid and untrue theory of tax incidence that states wherever the tax lands first pays the brunt of the tax. You would know by now that you must first analyze the elasticity.

16th Amendment

Amendment passed in 1913 giving the Federal Govt the power to tax. The more you make, the more you're taxed (Progressive Tax System).

Social Security

An act passed in 1935 gave government-payed pensions to American citizens over the age 65 as well as provided help for the unemployed, the disabled, and the needy. Largest transfer payment in U.S. SPENDING.

Budget Deficit

An excess of government spending over government receipts(revenue).

Budget Surplus

An excess of tax revenue over government spending

Corporation

An organization that is authorized by law to carry on an activity but treated as though it were a single person(or single legal entity). Usually owned by stockholders who share in its profits but are not personally responsible for its debts

Lump sum taxes

Everyone owes the same amount(in dollar amount), regardless of earnings; Most efficient tax possible, but the least equitable.

Marginal tax rate

Tax rate that applies to the next dollar of taxable income, that increases as the amount of taxable income increases, DO NOT BE confused by this. For the first amount of money every pays the same at each level. (Just ask me if you don't get it). Is more useful than the average tax rate at showing how the current tax system distorts incentives.

Sales Taxes

Taxes assessed on the prices paid on most goods and services. Is a State and local government tax NOT Federal Government. Are usually 6 or 7 percent in states. Make up the vast majority of taxes in states and counties.

Social insurance taxes

Taxes collected from employees and employers to pay for major social programs; also known as PAYROLL TAXES, and unemployment compensation programs; regressive taxes

Federal Government

The U.S. __________ ___________ collects about 2/3 3 of the total taxes in our economy, around $2,568 billion in 2007, an average of about $8, 503 per person. Most of it is from the income tax, uses it to correct externalities that cannot be made efficient by private markets.

Tax incidence

The actual division of the burden of a tax between buyers and sellers in a market

tax liability

The amount of total tax due the IRS after any credits and before taking into account any advance payments (withholding, estimated payments, etc.) made by the taxpayer.

Education

The biggest expenditure for state and local governments is _________. Is followed by public welfare, then highways, and other miscellaneous stuff you could probably just guess.

Net Interest

The difference between interest paid and interest received by firms

richer

The general trend when comparing GDP and taxes over time shows the ______ a country gets the more taxes that it has.

vertical equity

The idea that taxpayers with a greater ability to pay taxes should pay larger amounts, is a corollary of the ability to pay principle. It's sister corollary is horizontal equity.

horizontal equity

The idea that taxpayers with similar abilities to pay taxes should pay the same amount , is a corollary of the ability to pay principle, It's sister corollary is vertical equity.

Ability to pay principle

The principle that taxes should be levied on a person according to how well that person can shoulder the burden. Sometimes is stated that "Individuals must make an equal sacrifice" Leads to two corollary notions of equity :vertical and horizontal.

Deadweight losses

The reduction in economic surplus resulting from a market not being in competitive equilibrium, usually caused by a tax.

National Defense

The second largest transfer payment of the federal government after social security.

Payroll Tax

The tax on wages and salaries to finance Social Security and Medicare costs. 2nd largest source of revenue for the Federal Goverment.

average tax rate

The total tax paid divided by total (taxable) income, as a percentage, is more useful than the marginal tax rate to determine the sacrifices made by taxpayers.

Ronald Reagan

U.S. President during the conservative ascendancy of the 1980's. Argued that high tax rates distorted economic incentives to work and save. While in office he signed huge cuts in the tax rate.

tax evasion

Willful failure to pay taxes.