Taxes What Is Tax-Exempt? What It Means to Be Tax-Exempt Explained in Less Than 4 Minutes By Jake Safane Updated on January 9, 2023 Reviewed by Eric Estevez In This Article View All In This Article How Does Being Tax-Exempt Work? Examples of Tax Exemptions What Does Being Tax-Exempt Mean for Individuals? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: South_ Agency / Getty Images Definition If something is tax-exempt it means it is not subject to taxation. Tax exemptions could apply to certain types of earnings, goods or services, or an organization as a whole, such as a nonprofit. Key Takeaways Tax-exempt is when an item (or income, organization, etc.) is not subject to taxation.Tax-exemptions can apply in many instances, such as when a charity is designated tax-exempt by the IRS or a purchased item is exempt from state sales tax.Tax-exemption rules can differ by jurisdiction. Understanding what tax-exempt means and what qualifies for tax exemptions could help you improve how you file taxes to maximize your returns. Learn more about what qualifies for tax exemptions. How Does Being Tax-Exempt Work? Tax exemptions are essentially an exception to a taxation rule from a government. If something is tax-exempt, then it is not subject to taxation, or it’s subject to a lower tax rate or only partial taxation. Tax exemptions can apply to a number of situations. For example, income from federal government bonds is generally exempt from state and local income taxes (while income from state and local bonds is generally exempt from federal income tax). An organization, such as a charity, school, or religious institution, can also be classified as tax-exempt. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) exempts qualified charitable organizations, among others from federal income tax. States might also designate an organization as tax-exempt. For instance, California has a separate application to designate an organization as exempt from income and franchise taxes. States can also designate an organization, such as schools, as being exempt from paying sales tax on purchases. Note You can declare an exemption from tax withholdings on your paycheck if you don’t expect federal income tax liability for the year, but that doesn’t mean you’re actually tax-exempt. You could still end up owing taxes when it’s time to file. The IRS has eliminated the personal tax exemption as a part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and the lowest federal income tax rate is 10% for taxable income up to $10,275, or $20,550 for married couples filing jointly for the 2022 tax year. Examples of Tax Exemptions Tax-exemptions can apply for different taxes, like federal or state. But just because there is a tax exemption under one jurisdiction, doesn’t mean that tax-exempt applies in another. For example, a nonprofit could be exempt from fees like property taxes on buildings it owns in one state, but not in another. To be federally tax-exempt, organizations generally need to apply for tax-exempt recognition and meet requirements such as not being organized for private interests. But, as the IRS points out, “nonprofit status is a state law concept.” Note Tax-exempt income varies widely. Income from investments in government bonds, for example, could be exempt from income taxes. Many other things are tax exempt. For example, many states exempt regular groceries from sales tax. What Does Being Tax-Exempt Mean for Individuals? Understanding what it means to be tax-exempt can help you or your organization optimize your taxes. If you know what types of investment income are tax-exempt, for example, you may consider how those types of earnings can fit into your portfolio to try to minimize your tax burden. Note Keep in mind that tax-exempt rules can vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so it’s important to confirm whether something that’s exempt at the federal level also applies in your state and any other local tax jurisdictions you are subject to. Individuals may also want to understand what it qualifies as tax-exempt when they make decisions about their charitable giving. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Why are churches tax exempt? Churches and other religious organizations are exempt from taxation because Congress enacted tax legislation that recognizes those institutions' "unique status in American society" and their prominence in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Note that churches and religious organizations are not exempt from all taxation; some income for unrelated business activities (advertising in a church publication, for example, or certain kinds of rental income) is subject to tax. What is tax exempt? Tax exempt means income that is not subject to taxation from federal, state, or local authorities. The exempt status can apply to an individual or organization (such as a charity) whose income is not taxed, or to certain goods or services that are not taxed (such as groceries). Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Vanguard. "How Government Bonds Are Taxed." IRS. “Exemption Requirements - 501(c)(3) Organizations.” California Tax Service Center. “Nonprofit/Exempt Organizations.” IRS. “IRS Provides Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2022.” IRS. “Frequently Asked Questions About Applying for Tax Exemption.” Accessed Dec. 9, 2021. Tax Foundation. “Tax Treatment of Groceries, Candy, and Soda Can Get Tricky." IRS. "Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations." IRS. "Exempt Organization Types."