Infographic: How the U.S. Tax System Works
One issue that most lawmakers and voters agree on is that our tax system needs reform. It is confusing, complex, and favors some individuals and economic activities over others. Exactly how to improve the tax code, however, can be a hotly contested issue — which is further complicated by common misconceptions about how the current system works.
Many observers have called for simplifying the current tax code to reduce preferences and make it easier to understand. The Administration in its recent budget proposed tax reforms that would target higher-income taxpayers.
Before we can begin to assess the value of specific proposals, it helps to look at the big picture of how the system works. Check out the infographic below for an overview of the system and then test how much you have learned with our tax quiz.
Further Reading
Six Charts That Show Why Corporate Tax Revenues are Low in the U.S. Right Now
Compared to historical trends and other advanced economies, corporate tax revenues in the United States are low.
The U.S. Corporate Tax System Explained
Revenues raised by the corporate income tax represent the third-largest category of federal revenues in the United States.
How No Tax on Overtime Will Affect Federal Revenues and Tax Fairness
This new, temporary deduction will cost $90 billion dollars over the next four years, while undermining tax equity and making the tax system more complex.