What is Tax?:
A simple guide on taxes: what they are, their types
and the key benefits of filing taxes on time.
What Does Tax Means
Taxes are the money paid by people and businesses to the government so that they can help in the functioning of the country. The government uses this money to fund important programs such as schools, hospitals, roads and defence.
They must be,l ought legally, have to pay in the
form of direct or indirect taxes. We pay taxes to better our country for the
public services we all benefit from.
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Types of Taxes
1. Direct Taxes:
Direct taxes are paid to the people or institutions
of society. Typical tax bases are on the taxpayer's income, wealth or profits. Types of Direct Taxes are as under:-
- Income Tax:
This is the income tax, which is levied on the
earnings that individuals or companies receive. This could be salaries,
business profits or investments. The lower the income, rate of tax is and
conversely higher the income, rate of tax is. It is thus the most common type
of direct tax.
- Corporate Tax:
Just like in other GCC countries, companies and
businesses that earn a profit have to pay corporate tax. The final figure is
obtained by subtracting costs from revenue. Corporate tax is levied at a
different rate depending on the size of the business, and its type.
- Property Tax:
Real estate taxes apply to the value of real
property owned by individuals or businesses. This is the tax collected annually
by the local government to provide services like schools and roads.
2. Indirect Taxes:
Most notably, indirect taxes are taxed on goods and
services that consumers pay at the time of purchase. Typically, these taxes are
passed on to consumers by businesses. These are indirectly of the Tax.
- Sales Tax:
Sales tax is levied on the sale of goods and services. It means that whenever you
buy anything the seller will charge a certain percentage on it and then the
shopkeeper deposits that amount with the government.
Goods and Services Tax (GST):-
GST works for the basic principle of value-added
tax where it is levied on goods and services up to the turnover stage. It is
aimed at replacing multiple indirect taxes in the current system with a single
tax and mitigating the cascading or tax-on-tax effect.
Excise Duty:
The duty excise is imposed on the production of
specific goods from within the country. Thus, this tax is levied by the
government both to earn revenue and also to reduce the demand for these harmful
goods.
3. Other Forms of Taxes: Along with the
direct and indirect taxes, there are other forms in which governments specify
for this levy to be imposed on such situations. Here are a few examples:
Capital Gains Tax:
Capital gains are taxation on the financial gain
created from merchandising assets, Aadil."), like stocks, bonds or
property. This applies when selling for more than your purchase price.
Inheritance Tax:
The estate tax is the transferred wealth from a
dead person to their heirs. It imposed on the value of inheritance tax for
large estates.
Customs Duty:- Custom Duty is a tax imposed on imports and exports. The government
employs it to control international trade by increasing (or reducing ) the
price of imported goods, making imports (more or less) expensive and thus
economic efficiency.
1. Loan Approvals
It is mandatory to file income tax returns (ITR)
for loan approvals, in cases when applying for home or vehicle loans. To
approve your loan application, major banks often ask for ITR from the last 2 or 3 years.
Higher Loan Amount:
Banks evaluate your earning capacity based on this
reported income, therefore filing ITR can help increase the loan amount
sanctioned to you.
Loan Reconsideration:
Even if ITR is refused, it can help re-consider
your loan file because it provides insight into your income and tax history.
2. Visa Applications
Income tax returns are a few documents required
while applying for a visa in many countries like the US, UK, Europe, and
Canada.
Proof of Financial Stability:
This year, consulates have been asking for proof of
your financial stability i.e. that you will not flee the country to avoid
paying taxes; where ITR comes into play.
Emergency Situations:
ITR receipts can serve as a useful document in case
of emergencies especially when you are looking for intra-country consulate help
like if the passport goes missing.
3. Self-Employed Individuals
ITR is required as proof of income and taxes paid
for freelancers, consultants, and entrepreneurs who do not receive Form 16
Transactions proof of income:
ITR receipts are also used as proof of income in
several financial and business deals.
Qualification for Financial Benefits:
Self-employed personnel can supply ITR with relaxed
loans, credit score cards and financial aids that want profits evidence.
4. Government Tenders
Though widely not a compulsion, certain government
departments 3. Self-Employed Individuals
ITR is required as proof of income and taxes paid
for freelancers, consultants, and entrepreneurs who do not receive Form 16
Transactions proof of income
ITR receipts are also used as proof of income in
several financial and business deals.
Qualification for Financial Benefits:
Self-employed personnel can supply ITR to relaxed
loans, credit score cards and financial aid also want profits evidence.
4. Government Tenders
Though widely not a compulsion, certain government
departments demand ITR receipts for the tender procedure.
Bank statement to show that you are financially
capable.
Proof of your income in the form of ITR ensures
that you are in a position to pay and make your pitch for Government projects
strong.
For the tender procedure.
Bank statement to show that you are financially
capable.
Proof of your income in the form of ITR ensures
that you can pay, making your pitch for Government projects strong.
5. Carrying Forward of Losses
Promptly filing taxes means carrying forward your
capital losses to offset future gains.
Long-Term Losses:
Long-term capital losses: You can carry them
forward for up to 8 years and use these losses when calculating future capital
gains.
Short-Term Gains:
It will affect short-term capital gains, which
adjusts even with long-term gains provided ITR is filed.
6. Claiming Tax Refunds
It is only through ITR that taxpayers can claim
refunds from the IT Department.
Repayments for Financial savings Instruments
You can even claim a refund if your income is lower
than the tax exemption limits, in case you have put money in saving instruments
like fixed deposits where TDS has done.
7. High-Cover Life Insurance
Life insurance policies (Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1
crore)- High cover- For submission of ITR
Annual Income Verification
For high-value term policies, Insurance companies
check your annual income.
8. Compensation Claims
Self-employed individuals who have met with an
accident that resulted in the person being disabled or that has led to their
death may be required to file an ITR to claim damages.
Income verification for small compensation:
The ITR is considered proof of income for
calculating suitable compensation amounts in certain legal matters.
conclusion
To sum up, managing
our money and handling taxes effectively is essential to keeping our country
running smoothly.
Tax dollars provide essential societal services including healthcare,
education and infrastructure. At this juncture, all the gains of filing your
income tax returns on time cannot be neglected: not just that it is good to do
so legally, but failing to file also restricts you from enjoying many financial
advantages such as loan approvals and tax refunds. Knowing this will keep you
both prep and court tax episodes with help you build a stronger financial
future. File Your Taxes Early for a Bright Year Ahead
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