Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Finance Tax Relief Tax Liability Explained: A Complete Guide to What You Owe and Why Updated Oct 23, 2024 11-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Taylor Milam-Samuel Written by Taylor Milam-Samuel Expertise: Student loans, credit cards, debt, budgeting Taylor Milam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator who is passionate about helping people take control of their finances and create a life they love. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching. Learn more about Taylor Milam-Samuel Reviewed by Eric Kirste, CFP® Reviewed by Eric Kirste, CFP® Expertise: Debt management, tax planning, college planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, estate planning, investment planning, budgeting, comprehensive financial planning Eric Kirste CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®, is a founding principal wealth manager for Savvy Wealth. Eric brings 22 years of wealth management experience working with clients, families, and their businesses, and serving in different leadership capacities. Learn more about Eric Kirste, CFP® Tax liability is the total amount of tax you owe to the federal, state, or local government based on your income, filing status, and other factors. This includes not just income taxes but other obligations, including capital gains and property taxes. Understanding your tax liability helps you know what you owe, how to calculate it, and what steps you can take to reduce it. This guide will cover everything you need to manage your tax liability with confidence. Table of Contents Skip to Section Types of tax liabilityHow to calculate tax liabilityHow do you pay tax liability?How do you reduce your tax liability?More about tax liability What are the types of tax liability? The type of tax liability determines which government agency you pay and your tax rate. The following tax liabilities are among the most common: Federal income tax liability The federal government collects taxes from taxpayers through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Unless you earn below a certain threshold, you owe taxes on your income. State income tax liability Like the IRS, state tax boards collect taxes from residents. The amount varies depending on the state. Several states, including Nevada and Texas, don’t charge personal income tax. The amount you owe to the state government is your state income tax liability. Capital gains tax liability You must pay the federal government capital gains tax when you sell an asset, such as property or stock. For example, if you earn $5,000 after selling $25,000 in stock shares, your taxed amount is $5,000. Your profit and income tax bracket determine how much you owe. Deferred tax liability This tax liability relates to businesses and does not apply to individual taxpayers. Deferred tax liability means a temporary imbalance exists between the tax amount for a company’s taxable income versus its bookkeeping income. Companies reconcile the difference and pay the taxes. Taxes allow federal, local, and state governments to invest in public resources that benefit citizens. These taxes fund roads, libraries, fire stations, public schools, the military, and social services. From a business perspective, taxpayers help ensure that the country can run effectively and pay for operating expenses. You likely benefit from some of the resources your taxes fund. How to calculate tax liability It can help to know how to calculate your tax liability. Most earners pay taxes throughout the year—either through withholdings from their paycheck or quarterly payments if they’re self-employed. If you file your tax returns and owe money, that may be a portion of your tax liability but is often not the entire amount. Your tax liability is the total amount of taxes you owe. Here’s how to calculate what you owe for each type of tax liability. How to calculate federal income tax liability The United States has a progressive income tax bracket, meaning tax brackets increase as earnings increase. Different portions of your income can be taxed at different rates. For example, imagine you’re a single person who earns a $70,000 salary. For the 2024 tax year, for the first $11,600 you make, you pay 10% toward taxes. For the next $35,550 you make, you pay 12%. For the final $22,850, your taxes are 22%. Here’s how it works: Tax rate for a single filerTaxable income bracket*Tax owed10%$0 – $11,60010% of taxable income12%$11,601 – $47,150$1,160 + 12% of any earnings over $11,60022%$47,151 – $100,525$5,426 + 22% of any earnings over $47,15024%$100,526 – $191,950$17,168.50 + 24% of any earnings over $100,52532%$191,951 – $243,725$39,110.50 + 32% of any earnings over $191,95035%$243,726 – $609,350$55,678.50 + 35% of any earnings over $243,72537%$609,350+$183,647.25 + 37% of any earnings over $609,350For tax year 2024; *Brackets are for single filers: See 2024 tax rates for married couples filing jointly How to calculate state income tax liability State income taxes differ by state. But each state’s tax system falls into one of three categories: flat tax rate, progressive tax rate, or no income tax. How to calculate state income tax liability depends on how your state handles taxes. If your state doesn’t have an income tax, your tax liability is $0. For states that use a progressive tax system, you can calculate it the same way you calculate your federal tax rate. The only difference is in the tax rates. If your state uses a flat tax system, you can calculate your tax liability as a percentage of your earnings. For example, imagine you earn $50,000 and have a flat income tax rate of 4%. In that case, your tax liability is $2,000 ($50,000 x 4%). Tax rates vary by state, ranging from 0% to 13.3%. Here’s a look at which states use each tax system: States with a progressive tax rate Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware Georgia Hawaii Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri Montana Nebraska New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Rhode Island South Carolina Vermont Virginia Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin States with a flat tax rate Arizona Colorado Idaho Illinois Indiana Kentucky Michigan Mississippi New Hampshire North Carolina Pennsylvania Utah Washington States with no tax Alaska Alaska Florida Nevada South Dakota Tennessee Texas Wyoming How to calculate capital gains tax liability Capital gains fall into two categories: long-term capital gains and short-term capital gains. Short-term capital gains taxes apply to assets you own for less than one year. The tax rate on short-term gains is the same as your annual income. But if you own an asset for more than one year, the IRS considers the profit you earn from selling it a long-term capital gain. Long-term capital tax rates are separate from short-term capital gains and are calculated based on your annual income. Here are the long-term capital gains tax rates for single filers for tax year 2024: Long-term capital gains rate for single filersAnnual income0%$0 – $44,62515%$44,626 – $492,30020%$492,301+ Here are the 2024 long-term capital gains tax rates for married filers: Long-term capital gains rate for married filersCombined annual income0%$0 – $89,25015%$89,251 – $553,85020%$553,851+ How to calculate deferred tax liability If you run a business with a deferred tax liability, you’ll pay taxes in the future. Deferred tax liability is the amount you still owe. It’s the difference between your financial records and your tax records. For example, imagine a technology company sells a computer for $2,000 with a sales tax rate of 8%. The customer pays for the computer in eight installments of $250 over two years ($250 x 8 = $2,000). The company owner records a sale of $2,000 in the company’s financial records. However, in the company’s annual tax records, the owner records $1,000 each year for two years. The owner only pays taxes for the first year’s payments. In that case, the company’s deferred tax liability is $80 ($1,000 x 8% = $80). How do you pay tax liability? The type of tax liability and how you earn the income determine how you pay your taxes. Regardless of how you pay throughout the year, you must pay any outstanding taxes after you file your tax returns. Here are the most common ways to pay tax liability. Withholdings If you’re a W-2 employee, you can elect for your employer to withhold taxes on your behalf. For most taxpayers with a full-time job, this is the easiest option and allows you to pay toward your state and federal income tax liabilities throughout the year. Quarterly estimated taxes Many independent contractors and freelancers make quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year, which go toward their state and federal income tax liability. You can calculate the payments based on your earnings and estimated tax rates, including a 15.3% self-employment tax. Tax bill Other tax liabilities, including capital gains taxes and business taxes, often require an additional form you include in your tax return. For example, businesses file IRS Form 1120, and taxpayers who earn capital gains file a Schedule D form. Once you submit the form with your tax return, you’ll have a tax bill that outlines how much you owe. What is a tax refund? You receive a tax refund if you overpay your taxes throughout the year—typically through W-2 withholdings or quarterly estimated tax payments. It might seem like free money, but tax refunds are money you already earned. You’re getting it back because you paid more than your tax liability. Our expert’s recommendation Eric Kirste CFP® If you are a W-2 employee and get a tax refund, I suggest reviewing your withholdings to ensure you aren’t withholding too much. It might be wise to reduce your payroll deductions. (Other reasons within the tax return could cause the refund, but checking whether you’re withholding too much is wise.) What is a tax bill vs. tax liability? Your tax liability is the total amount you owe for taxes for the year. Your tax bill, on the other hand, indicates how much you still owe in taxes after accounting for deductions, previous payments, and tax credits. For example, imagine your total tax liability for the year is $20,000. You choose to have money withheld from your paychecks throughout the year and pay $14,000. After accounting for deductions, you still owe $2,000. Your tax bill for the year is $2,000. How do you reduce your tax liability? You can take steps to reduce your tax liability. The IRS and state governments outline several options for taxpayers to save money on taxes, including deductions, credits, and tax-exempt investments. Tax deductions Tax deductions reduce your taxable income. The IRS sets a standard deduction as a fixed amount—$14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filers in 2024. You can subtract the deduction from your taxable income and don’t need to pay taxes on that portion of what you earn. You can opt to itemize deductions instead, which can be wise if it leads to a higher amount than the standard deduction. Note that items such as age (65 and over) can affect your standard deduction. Tax credits Tax credits lower your tax liability by reducing what you owe. The two categories of credits are refundable and nonrefundable. Refundable credits result in a tax refund if your tax liability drops below zero, while nonrefundable credits do not. One of the most popular credits is the child tax credit of up to $2,000 per child. You can also claim credits for adoption, education expenses, and dependent care. Tax-deferred retirement accounts The IRS also allows for tax-deferred contributions in retirement accounts. Your contributions lower your taxable income, which reduces your tax liability as a result. Eligible accounts include a 401(k), Traditional IRA, and Spousal IRA Our expert’s take: Ways to reduce your tax liability Eric Kirste CFP® Several items can reduce your tax through deductions, but with the passing of the 2017 tax law, most individuals only claim their standard deduction. Also, consider the aforementioned capital gains and capital losses. Any capital losses from selling an investment for a loss (less than you paid for it) are first applied to offset capital gains. If you have additional losses after all your gains are offset, you can take a deduction of up to $3,000 against ordinary income in that year. You can carry unused losses forward to future tax years. What to do if you have a large tax liability If you can’t afford to pay your tax liability, it’s essential to contact the IRS or your state tax board as soon as possible. The IRS offers the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), a free service that works on behalf of taxpayers. TAS can help you resolve tax issues with the IRS, including appeals and payment plans. State tax boards offer similar free services to help you find a solution. You can also work with a tax relief professional. Tax relief companies contact the IRS on your behalf to resolve your tax issues. Our expert recommends Eric Kirste CFP® Plan for tax liability throughout the year–not just during tax season. Consider annual tax planning, where you or a tax professional create tax projections during the year to determine possible tax optimization strategies, areas where an adjustment is needed, or to spot a missed opportunity. It’s important to perform a projection before the end of the year, but give yourself enough time to act on those adjustments or other strategies. The best times to do tax planning during the year are: One, once you file the prior year’s taxes. When it’s top of mind, that can make it easier to review possible projections or plan for adjustments. Two, the end of the third quarter or beginning of the fourth quarter. Reviewing any possible year-end adjustments to help your taxes for that year can be helpful. FAQ What is tax liability? Tax liability is the total amount of tax you owe to federal, state, or local governments based on your income, filing status, and other factors. It encompasses various taxes, including income tax, capital gains tax, property taxes, and self-employment taxes. How do I know if I have a tax liability? You likely have a tax liability if you earn income or sell an asset. Filing your annual tax returns is the best way to determine your tax liability. When you file your tax return and any accompanying required forms, you’ll find out what you owe in taxes. But you might not have to pay taxes if you earn below a certain income. Does tax liability differ if I’m self-employed? Your tax liability is different if you’re self-employed. Instead of having taxes withheld from your paycheck, you can pay estimated quarterly taxes based on your earnings. You also must pay the self-employment tax of 15.3%, which helps fund your future Social Security and Medicare benefits. Can tax liability affect my credit score? The IRS does not report tax debt to the credit bureaus. If you owe taxes, it won’t appear on your credit report. But if the IRS or state tax board issues a levy against your assets to collect what you owe, the notice form is a public record, which lenders might be able to view. Can tax liability be reduced? Yes, you can reduce your tax liability through deductions, credits, and income adjustments. Common methods include contributing to retirement accounts, claiming dependents, and using tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit, which lower the amount you owe. What happens if I don’t pay my tax liability? Failing to pay your tax liability can result in penalties, interest charges, and collection actions by the IRS, such as wage garnishments or liens on your property. It’s crucial to address unpaid taxes promptly through full payment, setting up a payment plan, or consulting a tax professional for assistance.