What is the Difference Between Tax Credits and Tax Deductions
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Tax Liability
Your tax liability is the entire amount of tax on your income minus any nonrefundable credits, such as child tax credits and dependent care credits, to name a couple of examples. Additional taxes, such as self-employment tax, household employment tax, and tax penalties, may be added to your tax liability. Tax credits and deductions are, without a doubt, the best features of our tax system. Both will help you save money on your tax return and lower your tax liability but in different ways.
Tax credits directly reduce the total tax due, while tax deductions reduce your overall taxable income.
But let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two:
How Do Tax Deductions Work?
Standard Deductions
Other eligible deductions are taken into account when calculating the standard deduction. If you can only account for $600 in itemized deductions, you should take the standard deduction rather than itemizing. Because of this, the standard deduction is best for people who have a straightforward tax return. One advantage of the standard deduction is that you don't have to keep track of your costs as much. This is ideal for young folks or those with fewer complex financial obligations.
The advantage of using the standard deduction is that you don't have to keep track of your costs as much. This is ideal for young folks or those with fewer complex financial obligations.
Itemized Deductions
Let's say, on the other hand, you're dealing with a more serious financial situation. If you have a mortgage, a company, or are donating to charity, you should talk to an accountant about how much money you could save if you itemized your deductions.
What are some examples of itemized deductions?
Interest on a mortgage
Donations to charity
Business expense
Medical and dental expenses
Student loan interest
The amount you can save on each can change every year. It’s best to consult with your local accountant to see how much you can declare on each item.
How Do Tax Credits Work?
Simply put, an income tax credit reduces your tax liability. There are numerous income tax credits available at both the state and federal levels that you may be able to claim when filing your taxes. Credits, as opposed to tax deductions, which reduce the amount of taxable income, directly reduce a tax bill. Of course, each of these has a slew of requirements, and the average person will only be eligible for a few of them each year if any at all. When it comes to choosing tax credit or tax deduction you can only choose one.
You can only choose between a tax credit and a tax deduction.
Let's say you make $100,000 per year. However, you cannot claim a tax deduction at this time. But suppose you're given a $10,000 tax credit. This means that if you have a 20% tax rate, you would owe $20,000 BEFORE the credit, but only $10,000 after it is applied. This is much less than $18,000 after the $10,000 deductions.
What are nonrefundable tax credits?
If you receive a refundable tax credit, you may be eligible for a refund even if you do not owe any taxes. This is the inverse of a non-refundable tax credit, which can result in a refund to the taxpayer, but only up to the amount of tax liability owed. Mortgage interest credit was an example of a non-refundable tax credit during the 2019 tax year.
What are partially refundable tax credits?
There are some tax credits that are partially refundable. For instance, during the tax year of 2018, the Child Tax Credit was partially refundable (up to around $1,400 per qualified child). So you may be able to get a partial refund if you reduced your tax liability to nothing. This can change year to year and from one tax credit to another.
What are refundable tax credits?
Most people get excited when they receive refundable tax credits. This is because if they owe nothing on their tax bill, and they have a leftover from their tax credit, the taxpayer is entitled to the remainder of the money. For instance, during the tax year of 2019, one of the more popular refundable credits was the Premium Tax Credit.
What Are Some Examples of Tax Credits?
Assume, for example, that you owe no taxes as a result of careful tax planning. Your total tax liability for the year is zero. If this is the case, and you earned refundable tax credit, you are entitled to a refund of the credit amount! Here are some examples of tax credits that you can use to reduce your tax bill.
One of the most common expenses for married couples filing jointly is the Child Care Credit. Child care payments can be used to reduce your tax bill. The maximum expense you can claim for one qualifying dependent is $3,000, and the maximum expense you can claim for two or more qualifying dependents is $6,000. There are some restrictions. Your child, for example, must be 12 years old or younger. Additionally, if your employer provides child care benefits, the total cost incurred will be reduced (if this applies).
The government has provided some appealing tax breaks for electric and hybrid vehicles. The tax credit for electric vehicles is worth up to $7,500. In most cases, this is the maximum credit available for driving an electric vehicle and can be applied to your total tax bill. Understand that if you lease your electric vehicle, the credit does not go to you. Furthermore, the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit was limited to a certain amount of production by each of the major automakers. Once they have produced and sold that many EVs, the tax credit for that model will be phased out.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)is a benefit for those working fewer hours or for those who are self-employed. The benefit amount is calculated based on income and/or a number of dependents.
Improvements to your home could earn a Home Energy Credit in which you can claim up to 30 percent of the total cost of alternative energy equipment installed at your residence.
Assume you make $100,000 per year and pay a 20% tax rate. Your total tax bill would be $20,000 by default. Let's say you own a company and you claim $10,000 in business expenses. Your taxable income is now $90,000, and you only have to pay $18,000 rather than $20,000 in taxes.
Get Your Tax and Accounting Questions Answered by Our CPA Firm in El Paso, TX
If you're looking for a reputable CPA firm in El Paso TX, give Marcus, Fairall, Bristol + Co., PLLC a call! We'll answer all of your accounting-related questions, including IRS issues. We provide our clients with a wide range of accounting services, including the following:
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