Governments impose many types of taxes. In most developed countries, individuals pay income taxes when they earn money, consumption taxes when they spend it, property taxes when they own a home or land, and in some cases estate taxes when they die. In the United States, federal, state, and local governments all collect taxes.

Taxes on people's incomes play critical roles in the revenue systems of all developed countries. In the United States, personal income taxation is the single largest source of revenue for the federal government. In 1997 it accounted for about 44 percent of all federal revenues. Payroll taxes, which are used to finance social insurance programs such as social security and Medicare, account for more than a third of federal revenues. The United States also taxes the incomes of corporations. In 1997, corporate income taxation accounted for 12 percent of federal revenues.

State and local governments depend on sales taxes and property taxes as their main sources of funding. Most U.S. states also tax the incomes of individuals and corporations, although less heavily than the federal government. All Canadian provinces collect income taxes from individuals and corporations.

• Individual Income Tax
• Corporate Income Tax
• Payroll Tax
• Comsumption Trax
• Property tax