Theme 4: What Is Taxed and WhyLesson 4: Direct and Indirect Taxes

Educational Standards

State and National Standards

Time Frame

One to four hours

Curriculum Area(s)

• Economics
• Civics/Government
• Technology
• History/Social Studies

Purpose

To help students understand that a tax levied on one person or group may ultimately be paid by others

Objectives

Students will be able to

• explain that all taxes are ultimately paid by the individual.
• define direct tax and indirect tax and differentiate between them.

Background

Taxes can be either direct or indirect. A direct tax is one that the taxpayer pays directly to the government. These taxes cannot be shifted to any other person or group. An indirect tax is one that can be passed on-or shifted-to another person or group by the person or business that owes it.

Businesses may recover the cost of the taxes they pay by charging higher prices to customers, paying lower wages and salaries, paying lower dividends to shareholders, or accepting lower profits.

Ultimately, individuals pay almost all taxes. Businesses and corporations use a tax shift to pass taxes on to their customers, clients, patients, employees, and stockholders.

Key Terms

direct tax

A tax that cannot be shifted to others, such as the federal income tax.

indirect tax

A tax that can be shifted to others, such as business property taxes.

tax shift

The process that occurs when a tax that has been levied on one person or group is in fact paid by others.

Opening the Lesson

Ask students what taxes people pay directly to the government. Make sure that students understand that income and property taxes are paid directly to the government. Other taxes, such as sales tax, are paid indirectly. For example, a store tells you how much sales tax is owed on the item. You pay the store the sales tax, and the store pays the tax to the government. Some indirect taxes are harder to see.

Developing the Lesson

Have students examine factors that determine the price of a product. Use milk as an example. In addition to supply and demand, the milk price reflects the costs of the storeowner, the dairy, and the farmer. All three must pay for the lease or purchase of a facility, equipment, maintenance, salaries of employees, and taxes.

Taxes include property taxes, payroll taxes, sales or excise taxes on equipment, and corporate or business income taxes. Ask students:

• How do business owners get the money to pay their taxes? Explain that business owners must charge enough for their products to cover their expenses, which include taxes. The customer who buys milk at the store pays a portion of the taxes of each business that has handled it.

Concluding the Lesson

Ask students to explain why taxpayers sometimes consider sales taxes and other indirect taxes more acceptable than income and property taxes. Help students understand that although some taxes, such as sales taxes, may be hidden in the cost of goods, individuals ultimately pay them.