What is the difference between duty and tax?

A duty and a tax are similar in which they are the revenues generated by the government at the state and federal levels in order to remain a functioning entity. A duty is a kind of misc. tax that is only levied upon goods and services, but mostly just goods imported from a foreign country and manufactured from within our country. There is no law in place that punishes those who fail to pay a duty, if there is reasonable cause. A duty is also not placed on an individual person, so, therefore, cannot be considered a full tax. Now a tax is everything a duty is but it is bestowed on the individual taxpayer. They are levied by the government in order to fulfill their obligations to the people of the country. Taxes are the foundation for how the government generates its revenue. Failure to pay taxes is punishable by law in the form of penalty fees, and/or jail time.

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Forum Tax Services
6 Pond Court
LEOMINSTER, MA 01453
King & Gilpatric
260 Franklin Street 18th Flr
BOSTON, MA 02110
Skytax
P.O. Box 130
NEWBURYPORT, MA 01950
James L Vella
59 Coddington St
QUINCY, MA 02169
Robert F Cummings CPA
60 Orne St
SALEM, MA 01970
Blue Ribbon Accounting
225 Plain St
NORTON, MA 02766