Tax attorney: How to minimize your taxes on wealth

Author: Jakob Jelling

Taxes on wealth or simply wealth tax is the tax levied on the value of wealth owned by a person. As the term 'wealth' carries with it a broader meaning, generally capital transfer taxes (which include inheritance tax and gift tax), property tax, and capital gains taxes are some times invariably referred to as wealth taxes.

Taxes on wealth were first introduced in Europe, aimed at reducing the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor. It was meant to raise revenue for addressing pressing social requirements and also to discourage the attitude towards amassing wealth.

Still, in countries across the world, majority of wealth is concentrated at the hands of fairly small number of people. Ideally taxes on wealth cuts down the disparities in wealth rather than the income, which actually is the determinant factor on how the scales are weighed for the next generations. Also, taxes on wealth can bring about vertical as well as horizontal equity, which income tax fails to achieve. For example, neither a wealthy person nor a poor one with no income will pay income tax. But the wealthy ones need to cough up wealth tax while the poor need not.

But, as critics puts down, taxes on wealth can actually cause inefficiency by discouraging wealth producing economic initiatives. Also, the revenue generated by imposing taxes on wealth may not be that productive as the theory suggests. The wealthiest form only a small percentage of the population and by nature they are adept at avoiding taxes while remaining themselves within the contours of law.

Taxes on wealth comes in two forms ? the capital transfer taxes that are levied when wealth change hands and the annual wealth taxes. Capital transfer taxes can occur either at death ? also called inheritance tax ? or via donation (gift tax). Some people tend to believe that Capital Gains tax to be a form of taxes on wealth. But in realty, capital gains tax is the taxation on the income obtained on capital and not a wealth tax on the capital.

Ideally, taxes on wealth should not be severe on the tax payers even if they have lots of wealth. Instead, after the minimum slab of no taxation, the taxes on wealth percentage should increase at increments, depending on the value of wealth in dollars. Such a fairer taxation not only increases the revenue but also goes a long way in bringing down the inequality aspect as well.
But with intelligent investing, one can save a lot that other wise goes as wealth tax. But that requires careful thought and advanced planning. May be a tax professional could help one in this regard.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com/. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

Author: Hector Milla
Organizing your taxes can get quite nerve-racking. This is the main reason why many people would find some assistance in preparing their taxes.
When you file your taxes, you can find someone who can do the job for you. Look for a person who is knowledgeable, an experienced expert with tax specialization. There are actually various available types of assistance from people such as:
1. Tax Preparer
They have good knowledge when it comes to filing taxes. Tax preparers are persons that are highly trained and educated in preparing your tax returns and preparations.
2. Enrolled Agents
Compared to tax preparers, an enrolled agent can show you your taxes with an assessment. They are the "advanced" tax preparers, however the superiority or work and skills differs from agent to agent.
3. Certified Public Accountants
You cannot only use your CPA to prepare taxes for you; they can also help you to keep yourself from paying too much taxes. Their services are very expensive. You have to pay them in an hourly basis ranging from 200 to 300 dollars. However, they are worth the charges because a lot of them are very good. CPA's can give you the ins and outs about taxes. They can provide you ways on how to save on your taxes legally.
In choosing among the three, consider first your finances. If you have reasonably small earnings every year, you do not have to hire someone whose service charge is bigger than your income. Hire someone who is within your budget.
Article written by Hector Milla, editor of http://www.bigmoneyteam.info/, a website pointing ways to make money online , you may read their make money articles at http://www.bigmoneyteam.info/legalty-ways-to/, thanks for publish this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.