A tax is regressive if it requires those with lower income or wealth to pay a higher fraction of their [Page 1786]income in tax. A sales tax, which can be levied either at the point of purchase or at various points in the product or sales process, is generally regressive. Sales taxes are also sometimes called commodity or excise taxes.

Taxes can be classified as regressive, proportionate, and progressive. A proportionate tax takes the same portion of each individual's income. Sales taxes are a fixed percentage tax on the cost of goods purchased. Yet such taxes are in practice regressive, because those with lower incomes use a larger portion of their income for necessities, such as food and clothing. A sales tax that exempts food can ...