A tax refund is a reimbursement to taxpayers who have overpaid their taxes, often due to having employers withhold too much from paychecks. The U.S. Treasury estimates that nearly three-fourths of taxpayers are over-withheld, resulting in tax refunds. Overpaying taxes can be viewed as an interest-free loan to the government.| Tax Foundation
Payroll taxes are taxes paid on the wages and salaries of employees to finance social insurance programs like Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance.| Tax Foundation
The marginal tax rate is the amount of additional tax paid for every additional dollar earned as income. It is the total tax paid divided by total income earned.| Tax Foundation
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit targeted at low-income working families. The credit offsets tax liability, and can even generate a refund, with EITC amounts calculated on the basis of income and number of children.| Tax Foundation
Adjusted gross income (AGI) is a taxpayer’s total income minus certain “above-the-line” deductions. It is a broad measure that includes income from wages, salaries, interest, dividends, retirement income, Social Security benefits, capital gains, business, and other sources, and subtracts specific deductions.| Tax Foundation
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit targeted at low-income workers. Learn more about the EITC and Child Tax Credit.| Tax Foundation
Stay informed on the tax policies impacting you with the Tax Foundation's Above-the-Line tax newsletter. Explore popular tax newsletters.| Tax Foundation
An individual income tax (or personal income tax) is levied on the wages, salaries, investments, or other forms of income an individual or household earns.| Tax Foundation
A progressive tax is one where the average tax burden increases with income. High-income families pay a disproportionate share of the tax burden, while low- and middle-income taxpayers shoulder a relatively small tax burden.| Tax Foundation
