The taxes are compulsory withdrawals of wealth (income or assets) that the State carries out on the basis of principles established at the constitutional level.
In Italy, for example, the cardinal constitutional principles in the collection of taxes are:
- the principle of ability to pay (article 53 of the Constitution), according to which every citizen is called to contribute to the expenses of the State on the basis of his or her ability to produce income. There are three indicators of ability to pay, namely income, assets and consumption;
- the principle of solidarity (articles 2 and 53 of the Constitution), according to which taxes are in any case payable by each citizen, also in order to meet the needs of less well-off citizens.
Taxes are intended to finance those expenses that the tax doctrine defines as "indivisible", in the sense that they go to finance services aimed at the plurality of citizens.
Speaking of taxes, do you know the difference between taxes and contributions?
For more information, you can read this interesting article:
What is the difference between taxes, fees and contributions?
