Which type of tax structure is progressive?

A progressive tax structure is one where the tax rate increases as the taxable income or value increases. This means that individuals or entities with higher incomes pay a higher percentage in taxes compared to those with lower incomes.

Income tax embodies this concept perfectly, as it features brackets where different portions of income are taxed at different rates. The more a person earns, the higher their percentage rate can be, which alleviates the tax burden on lower-income earners while ensuring that higher earners contribute a larger share of their income.

In contrast, sales tax, property tax, and excise tax generally do not exhibit progressive characteristics. Sales tax is usually a fixed percentage of sales and impacts all consumers equally, regardless of their income level. Property tax is often based on the value of property but has a more flat-rate nature rather than an income-related progression. Lastly, excise taxes are specific duties on particular goods and do not vary with an individual’s income. Therefore, these tax types do not meet the criteria of being progressive, making income tax the only option that fits this description.