Direct Tax - What is Direct Tax?, Definition & Advantages of Direct Tax

Direct tax is a tax levied by the government on individuals or entities (corporate and non-corporate). The main types of direct taxes are income tax, corporation tax, property tax, inheritance tax, and gift tax. Direct taxes differ from indirect taxes, such as value-added tax (VAT) and excise duty levied on transactions. While direct taxes are imposed on the income or wealth of individuals or entities, indirect taxes are levied on the sale of goods and services. There are many advantages of direct tax. Direct tax is a stable source of revenue for the government, and it is also difficult to avoid or evade direct taxes. Moreover, direct taxes help reduce social inequalities by taxing the rich more than the poor. However, direct taxes can be burdensome for taxpayers and lead to an economic slowdown.

 

What is Direct Tax?

A direct tax levied on an individual or organisation by the government. The tax is based on the ability of the taxpayer to pay and is typically imposed on income, property, sales, or other financial transactions.

Direct taxes are generally progressive, meaning those with higher incomes pay higher rates than those with lower incomes. This allows the government to collect more revenue from those who can afford to pay more. Direct taxes are typically earmarked for specific purposes, such as education or infrastructure development.

 

Advantages of Direct Taxes

  1. Equity: Direct taxes promote fairness by taxing those with higher income. People with more wealth contribute a larger share of their earnings to the country's development. This helps reduce social inequalities and ensures a balanced distribution of the tax burden.

  2. Stable Revenue Source: Direct taxes provide a stable and predictable revenue source for the government. Direct taxes can be earmarked for specific purposes, such as funding education or infrastructure development. This allows the government to allocate resources where they are most needed and ensures that taxpayers' contributions serve specific societal needs.

  3. Difficult to Avoid: The tax liability is determined directly from the taxpayer's income or wealth, making it harder to manipulate or hide. Therefore, direct taxes are more difficult to avoid or evade than indirect taxes.

 

Types of Direct Taxes

There are few direct taxes imposed by the central government. Here are some of the common direct taxes as follows:

  • Income Tax

  • Corporate Tax

  • Capital Gain Tax

  • Securities Transaction Tax (STT)

  • Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT)

  • Gift Tax

  • Estate Tax

 

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