Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Tax deduction: A way to reduce the amount of taxes you owe by subtracting certain expenses or items from your taxable income. This can include things like charitable donations, healthcare costs, and business expenses. The amount you can deduct varies depending on where you live and whether you are an individual or a business. You can either use the standard deduction or itemize your deductions, but you can't use both. The standard deduction is a set amount that everyone can use, while itemized deductions are specific to your situation.
Tax deduction is a way to reduce the amount of taxes a person or organization owes in a given year. It is an item or expense that can be subtracted from the total taxable income, which can significantly lower the amount of taxes owed.
For example, if an individual made $50,000 in a year and had $10,000 worth of tax deductions, their taxable income would be reduced to $40,000. This means they would owe less in taxes than if they did not have any deductions.
Some common tax deductions include:
The amount and types of deductions that can be claimed vary depending on the jurisdiction and whether the tax is for an individual or organization. In the United States, individuals can choose to either use the standard tax deduction or itemize their deductions. The standard deduction is a fixed amount that varies based on filing status and age. For example, in 2021, single filers have a standard deduction of $12,550, and married filers have a standard deduction of $25,100.
Itemizing deductions means using all the specific deductions applicable to an individual. However, they can only use one or the other. A person generally will use the much simpler standard deduction unless their itemized deductions will total more than the standard deduction.
Overall, tax deductions are a way to reduce the amount of taxes owed and can be a significant benefit for individuals and organizations.