Tax / United States

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) + state agencies · Reviewed 2026-08-20

United States Tax Overview

United States tax map covering federal personal and corporate income tax concepts, payroll taxes, sales/use tax ideas, property taxes, and investment rules including capital gains, dividends, and retirement accounts. Educational overview - not a filing guide.

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United States tax updates

Flip through live coverage of tax news, bills, rate changes, and court rulings. Stories auto-rotate - hover to pause. Sourced from Google News RSS (past year), not official gazettes.

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ClarínMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, AOTC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Beyond the First 100 DaysMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Liskow & Lewis, APLCMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, APLC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.CoinGapeEasier policy usually supports risk assets. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, AAPL, MSFT on the tape. When markets price rate cuts or dovish guidance, discount rates fall and growth/tech multiples often expand. Liquidity-sensitive names and broad indices tend to lead; defensive yield plays can…Google NewsMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.BBCEasier policy usually supports risk assets. Watch BBC, .SPX, .IXIC, AAPL on the tape. When markets price rate cuts or dovish guidance, discount rates fall and growth/tech multiples often expand. Liquidity-sensitive names and broad indices tend to lead; defensive yield plays can l…EdSourceMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.World Population ReviewMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Current Federal Tax DevelopmentsMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch OIC, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.StatistaCentral-bank headlines reprice global liquidity. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, .GDAXI on the tape. Fed/ECB/BoJ guidance moves the rates path that anchors equity valuations worldwide. Dovish tone → risk-on; hawkish tone → risk-off. Cross-asset tells: USD, 10Y yields, and index futures…proskauertaxtalks.comMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Current Federal Tax DevelopmentsMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.ClarínMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, AOTC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Beyond the First 100 DaysMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Liskow & Lewis, APLCMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, APLC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.CoinGapeEasier policy usually supports risk assets. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, AAPL, MSFT on the tape. When markets price rate cuts or dovish guidance, discount rates fall and growth/tech multiples often expand. Liquidity-sensitive names and broad indices tend to lead; defensive yield plays can…Google NewsMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.BBCEasier policy usually supports risk assets. Watch BBC, .SPX, .IXIC, AAPL on the tape. When markets price rate cuts or dovish guidance, discount rates fall and growth/tech multiples often expand. Liquidity-sensitive names and broad indices tend to lead; defensive yield plays can l…EdSourceMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.World Population ReviewMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Current Federal Tax DevelopmentsMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch OIC, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.StatistaCentral-bank headlines reprice global liquidity. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, .GDAXI on the tape. Fed/ECB/BoJ guidance moves the rates path that anchors equity valuations worldwide. Dovish tone → risk-on; hawkish tone → risk-off. Cross-asset tells: USD, 10Y yields, and index futures…proskauertaxtalks.comMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Current Federal Tax DevelopmentsMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.
Tax news1d ago

Spotlight · United States1 / 8

Macro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, AOTC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.

via Clarín · Official update: IRS confirms up to $2,500 tax credit for college students through the AOTC — how to claim it

Official update: IRS confirms up to $2,500 tax credit for college students through the AOTC — how to claim it Clarín

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Tax news

Recent headlines on tax policy, budgets, and revenue agencies.

1 / 5
Clarín · 1d agoMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, AOTC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.

via Clarín · Official update: IRS confirms up to $2,500 tax credit for college students through the AOTC — how to claim it

Official update: IRS confirms up to $2,500 tax credit for college students through the AOTC — how to claim it Clarín

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  • Beyond the First 100 Days · 3d agoMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.IRS Proposal Would Tie Tax-Exempt Status to Expanded Racial Nondiscrimination Policies in Private Schools
  • EdSource · 4d agoMacro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE, @CL.1 on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.UPDATE: Trump administration seeks to strip private schools’ tax-exempt status over race-based policies
  • CNBC · Jul 18, 2026Macro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, CNBC, .SPX, .IXIC on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.How are prediction markets taxed? The IRS hasn’t provided guidance yet
  • bbc.com · Jul 13, 2026Macro release - stocks react through the rates channel. Watch IRS, .SPX, .IXIC, .FTSE on the tape. Inflation, jobs, and growth prints reprice the policy path. Equity direction often mirrors whether yields rise or fall with the print. Use index quotes as the quick impact gauge.Judge voids Donald Trump's 'improper' $1.8b IRS settlement that gave him immunity from tax audits

Key takeaways

Orientation points - details live on topic pages.

  • The U.S. combines federal tax with state (and sometimes local) layers - rules differ by state.
  • Individuals generally file Form 1040 frameworks; businesses may file corporate or pass-through returns.
  • Payroll taxes fund Social Security/Medicare systems alongside income-tax withholding.
  • Investment taxation (capital gains, dividends, wash sales) sits inside the broader income system.
  • Sales/use tax is mostly state/local; there is no single national VAT like in Europe.

Tax conditions & rules

Filterable on the Tax hub. Open a category for the full explanation.

Condition / ruleApplies whenAudienceCategory
Federal tax residency testsCitizenship, green card, and substantial-presence tests help decide who is a U.S. tax resident for federal income tax.Individuals with U.S. ties or substantial presenceEveryoneTax system overview
Federal progressive income taxOrdinary income is generally taxed in progressive federal brackets; many states add their own income tax.U.S. tax residents / citizens with taxable incomeIndividualsPersonal income tax
Federal corporate income taxCorporate taxable income is subject to federal corporate tax; pass-through entities are often taxed at owner level instead.C corporations with taxable profitsBusinessesCorporate / company tax
FICA / payroll withholdingEmployers generally withhold income tax and Social Security/Medicare (FICA) from wages.Wages paid by U.S. employersEveryoneSocial & payroll
State sales & use taxNo national VAT; states (and localities) set sales/use tax bases and rates.Taxable retail sales / use in a stateBusinessesVAT / sales / GST
Local property taxProperty tax is primarily local, based on assessed value and millage rates.Owners of real property in taxing jurisdictionsIndividualsProperty & local taxes

Investor tax guides

Featured explainers that pair with the United States desk - then open All guides for the full library.

  • Tax Loss Harvesting Explained for Stock InvestorsTax loss harvesting means selling investments at a loss in a taxable account to offset capital gains (and sometimes a slice of ordinary income), then staying invested without triggering wash-sale or anti-avoidance rules. It helps most when you already have gains to offset - not as a reason to wreck a long-term plan.12 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • Capital Gains Tax on Stocks: Investor OverviewCapital gains tax (CGT) generally applies when you sell shares or ETFs for more than your cost basis. Rates, allowances, and holding-period rules vary by country - start here for the shared math, then open a StockWatch country CGT desk or country guide before you file.11 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • Crypto Tax Basics for InvestorsMost tax systems treat crypto like property for investors: selling, swapping, or spending can realize a gain or loss, and staking or airdrop rewards may look like income. Rules differ sharply by country - use this guide to frame the events, then open a capital-gains desk for your residency.11 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Investors (IRA, 401k, ISA & More)Tax-advantaged accounts change when and how investment income is taxed: deferral inside pensions, tax-free growth in some wrappers, or employer plans with contribution limits. Names differ (401(k), IRA, ISA, TFSA, SIPP) - the design pattern is similar, and taxable brokerages still matter for overflow capital.11 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • Tax Loss Harvesting in the United StatesIn the U.S., tax loss harvesting usually means selling losers in a taxable account to offset capital gains - and sometimes up to $3,000 of ordinary income - while watching the wash-sale rule. This guide frames the pattern; confirm current IRS rules and your broker reports before filing.10 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02

Categories

Income, consumption, investments (including stocks), and filing.

System

  • Tax system overviewThe U.S. tax map combines federal rules with state (and sometimes local) layers. Start by clarifying residency, account type, and whether you are realizing income or only researching markets.

Income & payroll

  • Personal income taxU.S. individuals generally pay progressive federal income tax on taxable income, with many states adding their own income tax. Filing status, deductions, and credits reshape the final bill.
  • Corporate / company taxC corporations generally pay federal corporate income tax on taxable profits. Pass-through entities (partnerships, S corporations, many LLCs) often push income to owners’ personal returns instead.
  • Social & payrollFICA payroll taxes fund Social Security and Medicare frameworks. Employers generally withhold income tax and FICA from wages; self-employed people often pay self-employment tax instead.

VAT & property

  • VAT / sales / GSTThe U.S. has no national VAT like the EU. Sales and use taxes are mainly state and local, with different bases, rates, and remote-seller rules.
  • Property & local taxesReal property tax is primarily local, based on assessed value and local rates. Transfer taxes, homestead rules, and state-level quirks vary widely.

Investments & stocks

  • Capital gainsWhen U.S. individuals sell shares for more than their cost basis, the gain is generally a capital gain. Holding period often decides whether the gain is short-term or long-term.
  • Dividends & investment incomeCash dividends from U.S. corporations are generally taxable to individual shareholders in the year received (or reinvested). Some dividends may be “qualified” and eligible for preferential rates when IRS tests are met.

Official starting points

Always prefer primary sources over summaries.

  • IRS.gov
  • IRS - Tax topics index
  • SSA - Social Security

United States Tax FAQ

Short answers for discovery.

Is the United States tax desk official advice?

No. It is an educational orientation for researching United States markets. Confirm current rules with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) + state agencies and a qualified professional.

What does the United States tax overview cover?

United States tax map covering federal personal and corporate income tax concepts, payroll taxes, sales/use tax ideas, property taxes, and investment rules including capital gains, dividends, and retirement accounts. Educational overview - not a filing guide.

Can I estimate salary after tax in United States?

Yes. Use the Income Tax Calculator on the United States tax desk to enter a gross salary and see an educational take-home estimate. It is not payroll software.

What should investors remember about United States tax?

The U.S. combines federal tax with state (and sometimes local) layers - rules differ by state. Individuals generally file Form 1040 frameworks; businesses may file corporate or pass-through returns. Payroll taxes fund Social Security/Medicare systems alongside income-tax withholding.

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Capital gains on asset sales
Holding period often separates short-term vs long-term capital gains for individuals.
Sale/disposition of capital assets (including stocks)
Investors
Capital gains
Dividend taxationQualified dividends may get preferential rates when IRS tests are met; otherwise ordinary rates can apply.Cash/stock dividends received in taxable accountsInvestorsDividends & investment income
Withholding on foreign personsDividends and certain other U.S.-source payments to foreign persons are often withheld; treaties may reduce rates.U.S.-source income paid to non-residentsInvestorsWithholding & cross-border
IRA / 401(k) / HSA wrappersRetirement and HSA accounts change when income is taxed, subject to contribution and distribution rules.Eligible contributions and account typesInvestorsTax-advantaged accounts
Annual return & estimated taxesMost residents file annually; estimated taxes may apply when withholding is insufficient.Taxpayers above filing thresholdsEveryoneFiling & compliance
No general equity stamp dutyUnlike UK SDRT, everyday U.S. equity purchases usually do not include a percentage stamp tax (broker/regulatory fees still apply).Retail purchases of U.S. listed sharesInvestorsTransaction taxes
Capital Gains Tax on Stocks in the United States
In a U.S. taxable account, selling shares above your basis typically creates a capital gain taxed as short-term or long-term depending on holding period. Rates, netting, and forms change - use this as a map, then open the U.S. desk and IRS materials for the year you file.
10 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • Wash-Sale Rule Explained for Stock InvestorsA wash sale generally means you sold at a loss and bought the same or a substantially identical security too close to that sale - so the loss may be disallowed or deferred. The textbook story is U.S.-centric; other markets use different rules. Use this guide before year-end harvesting.8 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • Roth vs Traditional IRA Basics for InvestorsTraditional IRA contributions may be deductible now with taxable withdrawals later; Roth contributions are after-tax with qualified withdrawals potentially tax-free. Eligibility, limits, and conversions are year-specific. Use this vocabulary guide, then the U.S. accounts desk.9 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02
  • All investor tax guides
  • Withholding & cross-borderNon-U.S. persons investing in U.S. stocks often face withholding on U.S.-source dividends. Treaty residency and correct W-8 forms can change the rate. Capital gains on listed stocks are often treated differently from dividends for non-residents - but facts matter.
  • Transaction taxesThe U.S. does not currently impose a broad retail stamp duty on domestic share trades like the UK. Investors still pay commissions, SEC/FINRA-related fees embedded by brokers, and state considerations in special cases.
  • Tax-advantaged accountsIRAs, 401(k)s, HSAs, and similar accounts change when investment income is taxed. The same ETF inside a taxable brokerage vs a traditional IRA can produce very different after-tax outcomes.
  • Filing

    • Filing & complianceMost U.S. tax residents file an annual federal return. Estimated taxes, extensions, and information returns (1099s) are the common compliance touchpoints for investors.
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