| − | Under the [[United States]] Internal Revenue Code, the ''type'' of income is defined by its character. '''Ordinary income''' is usually characterized as income other than [[capital gains]]. Ordinary income can consist of income from [[wages]], [[salaries]], tips, [[Commission (remuneration)|commissions]], bonuses, and other types of compensation from employment, [[interest]], [[dividends]], or [[net income]] from a [[sole proprietorship]], [[partnership]] or [[LLC]]. [[Passive income|Rents]] and [[royalties]], after certain [[Tax deduction|deductions]], [[depreciation]] or [[Tax depletion|depletion]] allowances, and gambling winnings are also treated as ordinary income. A "short term capital gain", or gain on the sale of an asset held for less than one year of the [[Capital_gains_tax#United_States |capital gains holding period]], is taxed as ordinary income. | + | Under the [[United States]] Internal Revenue Code, the ''type'' of income is defined by its character. '''Ordinary income''' is usually characterized as income other than [[capital gains]]. Ordinary income can consist of income from [[wages]], [[salaries]], tips, [[Commission (remuneration)|commissions]], bonuses, and other types of compensation from employment, [[interest]], [[dividends]], or [[net income]] from a [[sole proprietorship]], [[partnership]] or [[LLC]]. [[Passive income|Rents]] and [[royalties]], after certain [[Tax deduction|deductions]], [[depreciation]] or [[Tax depletion|depletion]] allowances, and gambling winnings are also treated as ordinary income. A "short term capital gain", or gain on the sale of an asset held for less than one year of the [[Capital gains tax#United States|capital gains holding period]], is taxed as ordinary income. |
| | Ordinary income stands in contrast to capital gains, which is defined as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. The definition of capital asset under the tax law can be explained by noting that your house is a capital asset to you the homeowner but if you bought it from a land developer who had many houses on many lots, each of those houses was inventory when he sold them and hence was not a capital asset to him, just as clothing would be inventory and not a capital asset to [[Saks Fifth Avenue]]. | | Ordinary income stands in contrast to capital gains, which is defined as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. The definition of capital asset under the tax law can be explained by noting that your house is a capital asset to you the homeowner but if you bought it from a land developer who had many houses on many lots, each of those houses was inventory when he sold them and hence was not a capital asset to him, just as clothing would be inventory and not a capital asset to [[Saks Fifth Avenue]]. |
| − | In the United States, ordinary income is taxed at the [[marginal tax rates]]. As of 2006, there are six "[[Tax_bracket#Tax_brackets_in_the_USA|tax brackets]]" ranging from 10% to 35%. Ordinary income is taxed within the particular tax bracket listed on the rate schedules or tax tables as a percentage for each dollar within that bracket. | + | In the United States, ordinary income is taxed at the [[marginal tax rates]]. As of 2006, there are six "[[Tax bracket#Tax brackets in the USA|tax brackets]]" ranging from 10% to 35%. Ordinary income is taxed within the particular tax bracket listed on the rate schedules or tax tables as a percentage for each dollar within that bracket. |
| | *[http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=150856,00.html 2006 Federal Tax Rate Schedules] | | *[http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=150856,00.html 2006 Federal Tax Rate Schedules] |