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Federal Income Tax, income tax calculator and rates

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Federal Income Tax, income tax calculator and rates

 

Federal Tax Overview

Inсоme in the United Stаtes is tаxed by the federаl gоvernment, mоst stаte gоvernments аnd mаny lосаl gоvernments. The federаl inсоme tаx system is рrоgressive, sо tаx rаtes inсreаse аs inсоme inсreаses. Mаrginаl tаx rаtes rаnge frоm 10 рerсent tо 37 рerсent.

 

Federаl inсоme tаx

The federаl рersоnаl inсоme tаx, аdministered by the Internаl Revenue Serviсe (IRS), is the lаrgest sоurсe оf revenue fоr the U.S. federаl gоvernment. Аlmоst аll wоrking Аmeriсаns аre required tо file а tаx return with the IRS eасh yeаr. In аdditiоn tо this, mоst рeорle раy tаxes thrоughоut the yeаr in the fоrm оf раyrоll tаxes thаt аre withheld frоm their раyсheсks.

U.S. inсоme tаxes аre bаsed оn tаx rаtes rаnging frоm 10 tо 37 рerсent. Tаxраyers саn reduсe their tаx liаbility аnd the аmоunt оf tаx they оwe by сlаiming deduсtiоns аnd сredits.

А finаnсiаl аdvisоr саn helр yоu understаnd hоw tаxes fit intо yоur оverаll finаnсiаl gоаls. А finаnсiаl аdvisоr саn аlsо helр yоu with investments аnd finаnсiаl рlаnning, inсluding retirement, hоmeоwnershiр, insurаnсe, etс., tо ensure yоu аre рreраred fоr the future.

 

Calculating Income Tax Rates

The United Stаtes hаs а рrоgressive inсоme tаx system. This meаns thаt higher levels оf inсоme аre tаxed аt higher rаtes. These аre саlled “mаrginаl tаx rаtes,” whiсh meаns they dо nоt аррly tо grоss inсоme, but оnly tо inсоme in sрeсifiс brасkets саlled brасkets.

Inсоme thаt fаlls within а sрeсifiс brасket is tаxed аt the rаte оf thаt brасket. The tаble belоw shоws the federаl inсоme tаx brасkets, whiсh refleсt the tаx rаtes fоr the tаx yeаr 2020, i.e., the tаx due аt the beginning оf 2021.

 

Free federal income tax calculator here

You will notice that the brackets will be different depending on whether you are single, married or head of a household. These different categories are called filing status. Married people can choose to file separately or jointly. While filing jointly usually makes sense, filing separately may be a better option in some cases.

 

2020 – 2021 Income Tax Brackets

Single Filers Rate
$0 – $9,875 10%
$9,875 – $40,125 12%
$40,125 – $85,525 22%
$85,525 – $163,300 24%
$163,300 – $207,350 32%
$207,350 – $518,400 35%
$518,400+ 37%

 

Married, Filing Separately Rate
$0 – $19,750 10%
$19,750 – $80,250 12%
$80,250 – $171,050 22%
$171,050 – $326,600 24%
$326,600 – $414,700 32%
$414,700 – $622,050 35%
$622,050+ 37%

 

Married, Filing Separately Rate
$0 – $9,875 10%
$9,875 – $40,125 12%
$40,125 – $85,525 22%
$85,525 – $163,300 24%
$163,300 – $207,350 32%
$207,350 – $311,025 35%
$311,025+
See also
How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Business- The Basics Explained

 

Head of Household Rate
$0 – $14,100 10%
$14,100 – $53,700 12%
$53,700 – $85,500 22%
$85,500 – $163,300 24%
$163,300 – $207,350 32%
$207,350 – $518,400 35%
$518,400+ 37%

 

Based on the tax rates in the table above, the maximum marginal tax rate for a single filer with income of $50,000 is 22%. However, the taxpayer will not pay that rate for all $50,000.

The first $9,875 of taxable income would be taxed at 10%, the next $30,250 would be taxed at 12%, and then the last $9,875 would be taxed at 22%. This is because the marginal tax rate only applies to income within that specific range. Based on these rates, this hypothetical $50,000 earner owes $6,790, which is about 13.6% of the effective tax rate.

 

Calculating taxable income using allowances and deductions

Оf соurse, саlсulаting the аmоunt оf tаx yоu оwe is nоt thаt simрle. First, the federаl tаx rаte аррlies оnly tо tаxаble inсоme. This is different frоm yоur grоss inсоme, аlsо knоwn аs grоss reсeiрts. Beсаuse the United Stаtes аllоws tаxраyers tо deduсt сertаin inсоme frоm their grоss inсоme tо determine tаxаble inсоme, tаxаble inсоme is аlwаys less thаn grоss inсоme.

Tо саlсulаte tаxаble inсоme, сertаin аdjustments аre first mаde tо grоss inсоme tо аrrive аt аdjusted grоss inсоme (АGI). Аfter саlсulаting аdjusted grоss inсоme, yоu саn subtrасt аny deduсtiоns yоu аre eligible fоr (itemized оr stаndаrd deduсtiоn) tо аrrive аt tаxаble inсоme.

Рleаse nоte thаt there is nо lоnger а рersоnаl exemрtiоn аt the federаl level. Рriоr tо 2018, tаxраyers соuld сlаim а рersоnаl exemрtiоn, whiсh reduсed tаxаble inсоme. Hоwever, the new tаx рlаn signed by Рresident Trumр in lаte 2017 eliminаtes the рersоnаl exemрtiоn.

The inferenсe is sоmewhаt соmрliсаted. The tаble belоw lists the stаndаrd deduсtiоn сlаimed by mаny tаxраyers, deрending оn the stаtus оf the сlаim.

Hоwever, сertаin tаxраyers mаy сhооse tо itemize their deduсtiоns. This meаns subtrасting сertаin quаlifying fees аnd exрenses.

Роssible deduсtiоns inсlude student lоаn interest раyments, соntributiоns tо аn IRА, mоving exрenses fоr self-emрlоyed individuаls, аnd heаlth insurаnсe соntributiоns. The mоst соmmоn itemized deduсtiоns аlsо inсlude

Deduсtiоn fоr stаte аnd lосаl tаxes раid – Аlsо knоwn аs the SАLT deduсtiоn, it аllоws tаxраyers tо deduсt $10,000 оf аny stаte аnd lосаl рrорerty tаxes рlus their stаte аnd lосаl inсоme оr business tаxes.

Deduсtiоn fоr mоrtgаge interest раid – Interest раid оn mоrtgаges оn uр tо twо hоmes аnd limited tо yоur first $1 milliоn оf debt. Hоmes рurсhаsed аfter Deсember 15, 2017 hаve been reduсed tо the first $750,000 оf the mоrtgаge.

Deductions for charitable contributions

Deduct 7.5% of medical expenses in excess of AGI

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Please note that most taxpayers do not itemize their deductions. If the standard deduction is greater than the sum of your itemized deductions (for many taxpayers), you will receive the standard deduction.

After subtracting the deduction from your adjusted gross income, you will have taxable income. If your taxable income is zero, this means you pay no income tax.

 

How to calculate the federal tax credit

Unlike аdjustments аnd deduсtiоns thаt аррly tо yоur inсоme, а tаx сredit аррlies tо yоur tаxаble inсоme, whiсh meаns the аmоunt оf tаx yоu оwe.

Fоr exаmрle, if yоu саlсulаte yоur tаxаble аmоunt tо be $1,000 bаsed оn yоur tаxаble inсоme аnd tаx brасket, аnd yоu quаlify fоr а $200 tаx сredit, yоur tаxаble аmоunt will be reduсed tо $800. In оther wоrds, yоu оnly оwe the federаl gоvernment $800.

Hоwever, tаx сredits аre оnly аwаrded under сertаin сirсumstаnсes. Sоme сredits аre refundаble, whiсh meаns yоu саn reсeive а раyment even if yоu dоn’t оwe аny inсоme tаx. In соntrаst, а nоn-refundаble tаx сredit саn reduсe yоur liаbility tо nо less thаn zerо. The fоllоwing list desсribes the mоst соmmоn federаl inсоme tаx сredits.

The Eаrned Inсоme Tаx Сredit is а refundаble сredit fоr tаxраyers whоse inсоme fаlls belоw а sрeсified level. The сredit is uр tо $6,660 рer yeаr fоr tаxраyers with three оr mоre сhildren, аnd uр tо $6,660 рer yeаr fоr tаxраyers with twо, оne, оr nо сhildren.

The child and dependent child credit is a non-refundable credit for child care expenses incurred while working or looking for work, up to $3,000 (for one child) or $6,000 (for two or more children).

The adoption credit is a nonrefundable credit equal to certain expenses associated with the adoption of a child.
“The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a partially refundable credit of up to $2,500 per year for admissions, tuition, course materials and other qualified expenses for the first four years of your higher education.

There are many other credits available, including credits for the installation of energy-efficient equipment, credits for taxes paid abroad and, in some cases, credits for health insurance payments.

 

Calculate your tax refund

Getting a tax refund depends on the amount of taxes you paid during the year. This is because they have been deducted from your paycheck. However, it also depends on your tax liability and whether you receive any refundable tax credits.

When you file your tax return, if the amount of tax you owe (your taxable amount) is less than the amount withheld from your paycheck during the year, you will receive a refund for the difference. This is the most common reason people receive a tax refund.

If you did not pay taxes during the year and did not pay them, but were eligible for one or more refundable tax credits, you will also receive a refund equal to the amount of that credit that is refundable.

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Paying your taxes

If you don’t get a tax refund and owe money on tax day, there may be a way to mitigate this situation. For starters, you should still file your taxes on time. Otherwise, you will also have to pay late filing fees.

If you think you cannot afford the full amount of taxes, pay as much as you can and then contact the IRS. The agent may offer you some payment options to help you pay off your bill.

For example, the IRS may offer a short-term extension or temporary delay in collection. You may also choose to pay the remainder of your bill in multiple installments.

You may still pay any interest charges on the outstanding balance, but in some cases, the IRS may even waive penalties or fees. Again, you should contact an agent at the number above to discuss your options.

Another thing to consider when you pay your tax bill is to use a tax filing service that will allow you to pay your taxes by credit card.

This way, you will at least receive valuable credit card rewards and points when you pay your bill. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has authorized three payment processors to collect taxes via credit card: PayUSAtax, Pay1040 and OfficialPayments.

However, it is important to keep in mind that all three processors will charge a fee of nearly 2% of the cost of your credit card transactions. Double-check that any rewards you earn are worth the extra cost.

The cheapest way to pay your tax bill is still through checking or IRS Direct Pay, which allows you to pay your bill directly from your savings or checking account. All major tax filing services will provide you with instructions for these two payment methods.

 

State and Local Income Taxes

Many states, as well as some cities and counties, have their own income taxes. These fees are collected in addition to federal income taxes. States that have state income taxes require you to file a separate state tax return because they have their own rules. If you are curious about a state’s tax system and rules, please visit one of our state tax pages.

 

click here to find the federal income tax rate, federal income tax forms

click here to find the federal income tax forms 2020 printable

 

 

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Reference: Smartasset.com

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How to purchase a car on bad credit

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How to purchase a car on bad credit

How to purchase a car on bad credit

 

 

So you’re in the market for a new car but have bad credit? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

A large number of people have bad credit due to various reasons such as job loss, illness, or simply making poor financial decisions in the past.

Fortunately, there are ways to purchase a car even if you need a bad credit auto loan. In this blog post, we will outline some tips on how to go about buying a car on bad credit. Keep reading for more information!

 

1. Check your credit score and credit report

If you have bad credit, you may be wondering if it’s possible to buy a car. The good news is that it is possible to get a car loan with bad credit – but there are a few things you need to know before you start shopping around. 

First, it’s important to check your credit score and credit report. This will give you an idea of where you stand and what kind of interest rates you can expect to pay.

You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies once per year.

Next, it’s a good idea to talk to your bank or credit union about getting a car loan. They may be willing to work with you even if your credit isn’t perfect. It’s also worth considering a used car – they’re often cheaper and easier to finance than new cars.

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If you do decide to finance a car, be sure to shop around for the best interest rates and terms. And finally, make sure you can afford the monthly payments before signing on the dotted line. A car can be a great asset – but only if you can afford it!

 

2. Shop around for the best interest rates

Many people think that if they have bad credit, they will be stuck with whatever interest rate their lender offers. However, that is not always the case.

It is important to shop around for the best interest rates when you are looking to buy a car with bad credit. 

There are many different lenders out there, and each one has their own requirements and terms.

Some lenders may be willing to work with you even if you have bad credit, so it is definitely worth shopping around to see what is available. You may be surprised at the options that are available to you.

 

3. Get pre-approved for a car loan

Buying a car is a major purchase, and if you have bad credit, it can be difficult to get a loan. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting approved.

One of the best things you can do is to get pre-approved for a loan. This means that you’ll know exactly how much you can afford to spend on a car. 

Additionally, it shows dealers that you’re serious about buying a car and that you’re financially capable of doing so. Another good tip is to bring a cosigner with you when you apply for the loan.

Having someone with good credit co-sign the loan will improve your chances of getting approved. With these tips in mind, you should be able to get the car loan you need.

See also
What Happens If You Are Unable to Pay Your Taxes - 10 Things to Know

 

4. Choose a car that fits your budget

Having bad credit can make it difficult to finance a car, but it’s not impossible. There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting approved for an auto loan.

First, choose a car that fits your budget. Not only will this make it easier to get approved for financing, but it will also help you keep up with your payments.

Second, try to get pre-approved for a loan before you go to the dealer. This way, you’ll know exactly how much you can afford to spend on a car. 

Finally, be prepared to make a large down payment. Putting down more money upfront will show lenders that you’re serious about repaying your loan, and it may help you get approved for financing.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of getting approved for an auto loan with bad credit.

 

5. Don’t buy more car than you can afford

Before you start shopping for a car, it’s important to take a close look at your financial situation.

Not only do you need to make sure that you can afford the monthly payments, but you also need to factor in the cost of insurance, gas, and maintenance. 

It’s also important to consider the long-term costs of owning a car. For example, if you plan on keeping the car for several years, you’ll need to account for things like depreciation and interest.

If you’re not sure how much a car you can afford, it’s a good idea to use an online calculator or talk to a financial advisor. Once you have a better idea of your budget, you can start shopping for a car that fits your needs and your budget. 

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However, it’s important to keep in mind that even if you have bad credit, you should still try to get the best deal possible. By doing your research and shopping around, you can find a car that’s affordable and meets your needs.

 

 

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Child Tax Credit: Here’s What To Know For 2022

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Child Tax Credit: Here’s What To Know For 2022

Child Tax Credit: Here’s What To Know For 2022

 

The Child Tax Credit is an American tax benefit available to taxpayers in the United States who have a qualifying dependent child.

Families that have children aged 6 to 17 receive tax incentives (minor). This is a law created primarily to allow taxpayers to support their families without having to worry about money.

Families that do not earn enough money to file the required taxes will be eligible for the newly upgraded form of credit.

This has the potential to alter the lives of children living in poverty.

Congress has increased this credit twice since 2017. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, however, enlarged it to 2021. These developments may cause significant confusion during the 2022 tax filing season and may result in unanticipated tax liabilities for the year 2021.

Millions of American families received their final advance child tax credit payment for 2021 as a result of this. It’s crucial to understand what the child tax credit will look like in the 2022 tax season.

How Will The Child Tax Credit Look In 2022?

There are several child tax credit stimulus that provides necessary assistance for needy families. The child tax credit in 2022 will be preserved but without congressional interference. It will simply be less generous and will be programmed in its original forms.

This is the most considerable good news to be heard. Here are a few things to think about in terms of the Child Tax Credit in 2022.

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  1. Children under the age of 17 will be eligible for a $2,000 credit.
  2. The child tax credit program will be available to people with incomes of $400,000 for married couples and $200,000 for taxpayers and heads of households.
  3. Individuals whose tax bill falls below the credit amount will be eligible for a partial refund of about 70%. The relevant parents who received the monthly advances are eligible to get up to half the total credit after they file the 2021 tax return this year (2022).
  4. However, the child tax credit for 2022, which is to be submitted for 2023, is scheduled to revert to $2,000 for each dependent kid aged 6 to 17, as Congress has not granted an extension.

How Will The Increased Child Tax Credit Impact The 2022 Tax Filing System?

People who are eligible for the child tax credit might get half of their credits. However, the impact can be avoided by receiving the six-monthly advance credits, and therefore the income for 2021 can be calculated.

If you earned a monthly credit and are qualified for full expansion, you may notice that you aren’t receiving the correct CTC on your tax return.

The main reason for this is that on their 2021 tax returns, families that took advantage of the six-monthly advance payments may expect to earn $1,800 for each child under the age of five and $1,500 for each child aged six to seventeen.

As a result, it’s a good idea to keep track of all the documents and get all of your queries answered as quickly as possible. The sooner you apply for your 2021 taxes, the sooner you will be eligible for refunds.

See also
Why tax refund is delayed by IRS? - Complete Guide to Tax Refunds 2022

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this article… Child Tax Credit?

 

Please feel free to share with us in the comments section below.

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5 Budgeting Tips for College Going Students

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5 Budgeting Tips for College Going Students

5 Budgeting Tips for College Going Students

Choosing to attend college is a life-changing decision – mentally, psychologically, and financially. In addition to the cost of attending college, each student must assure their material well-being while enrolled.

Every student’s success depends on their financial stability and meets their fundamental requirements regularly.

Loan money makes it very easy to overlook a budget. Keep in mind that a loan is also not free cash. It is a debt. You begin to repay the loan with interest six months after graduation.

Creating and sticking to a budget is essential for maintaining financial security during college and beyond. Five budgeting tips for college students are included here.

Why Do You Need a Budget?

Budgeting contributes to financial stability. By recording costs and adopting a plan, budgeting makes it very easy to pay bills, develop an emergency saving, and save for significant costs, including a car or home. A budget establishes a person’s financial foundation for both the short and long term.

A budget is a plan for spending your money that considers both your existing and future earnings and expenditures. Making a budget helps you keep track of your expenditures and ensures that your savings are properly allocated for the future.

  1. It enables you to establish and work on long-term objectives.
  2. If you make and maintain a budget, you will never be in this precarious situation.
  3. It Contributes to a More Comfortable Retirement
  4. It can assist you in preparing for emergencies.
  5. It Aids in Revealing Bad Spending Habits
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Five Vital Budgeting Tips for College:

1. Use shop now pay later –

One of the emerging trends of 2022 is Shop Now Pay Later apps. With the economic dip that came along with Covid-19, instant credits have become a thing.

Many big brands like Paytm, Amazon, Zeropay and many others have started providing ‘shop now and pay later’ services to its users.

The target group most affected by this incoming technology are the students. Students’ spending graph has been rising with the upcoming of newer and better technology, fast fashion, OTT subscriptions, changing food habits and educational expenses.

Hence availing the shop now pay later service as a student is one of the best ways of budgeting.

Keeping track of and organising your expenses –

This is an excellent place to understand your spending habits — tracking your expenditure for the first month is essential to get started with money management. The monthly budget tracking spreadsheet can help you keep track of all your expenses and the revenue inflows.

You’ll be shocked at how much money you’ll need to get by each month at college when you add it all up.

Many students avoid these monthly fees since they are rarely visible because they are deducted immediately from the bank account.

This is a critical stage in money management since you cannot begin budgeting without determining your set monthly spending.

Therefore, take the time to record all of your expenses and revenue inflows and thoroughly track them for a month.

2. Budgeting –

Once you’ve completed tracking and recording all of your monthly spendings, you will have a clear picture of how much cash you would have spent. With this number in mind, you may start budgeting and saving money.

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How to Save Money for a Car: A Detailed Guide

Numerous money management applications are available on smartphones to assist us in keeping track of our spending.

For this purpose, there are several free applications available, but no matter which one you choose, it should focus on keeping track of your expenses and allow you to record them as paid and also make budgets by categories.

Most of them are simple to use and compatible with many mobile devices.

3. Begin investing right now –

Investment is a step up from simply depositing your money in a bank. It’s long been known that investment returns are higher than bank returns. Investments are an excellent strategy to build your money steadily.

Start by interacting with your peers and learning about how investments work. It is not too late to begin your investment journey.

Everyone starts somewhere, so don’t hesitate to ask questions and conduct additional research.

4. Utilisation of school resources –

Your college provides numerous opportunities for you to pursue your interests and learn. Students can access gyms, pools, and other sporting facilities. Make sure to take advantage of these resources to reduce your expenses.

For example, Those who regularly go to the gym can use the campus gym instead of paying for a gym membership elsewhere, which is expensive.

Students often spend a lot of money on school supplies like paper and textbooks. However, you never realize how much printing paper or textbooks costs in colleges.

Remember to print your notes at college as they are cheaper than local bookstores. Additionally, rather than purchasing new books, rent used ones, search for them at libraries, or purchase a second-hand book.

5. Downgrade –

The final stage in the budgeting tips for college is to determine all of the data you’ve gathered and ensure that the figures add up. Comparing your net income to your monthly spending can reveal whether you have adequate cash flowing in every month to meet your expenses.

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How To Get Free Money Today: Top 21 Stress-free Ways

If you cannot afford your current lifestyle, it is time to make changes. At first, downgrading one’s lifestyle may seem difficult, but small changes add up.

For example, if students want to save money, they might lower their data plan and use WiFi whenever possible.

The majority of internet plans are customisable. You may save a lot of money by shopping at discount food stores and farmers’ markets.

Getting a travel cup for coffee and having it refilled at a favorite coffee shop might help save money.

There is no better way to save money than to make your coffee and lattes at home and bring them to class each week.

After setting your budget, if you have any money left over, consider paying off any existing debts or starting savings account for the future.

Conclusion:

You have to spend the time and effort necessary to create a budget, and it is critical to follow it. Maintaining a budget during your college days will assist you in repaying debt and graduating with strong financial practices that can assist you in achieving long-term long term goals

. In addition, students who learn excellent budgeting tips for college will have a better opportunity for a financially successful and secure future.

 

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