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5.1 Taxes, Net Income, and Budgeting

Part of Personal Goals, Budgeting, and Investing in AP® Business with Personal Finance. Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

Every time people earn or spend money, there's a good chance that taxes are involved. Taxes are payments required by local, state, and federal governments to fund public goods and services. Without taxes, we wouldn't have things like schools, roads, police and fire departments, or Social Security benefits. For individuals, understanding taxes is essential because they affect how much of your income you actually get to keep and how you plan your budget.

Taxes come in many forms, and the specific amount varies depending on where you live and how much you earn. The most common types include income taxes, payroll taxes, capital gains taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. Each one is designed to raise revenue in a different way, and together they make up the backbone of government funding.

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