How is the average tax rate calculated?

The average tax rate is calculated by taking the total amount of tax paid and dividing it by the total income earned. This method provides a straightforward way to understand how much tax, on average, is paid for each unit of income. For instance, if an individual earns a total income of $50,000 and pays $7,500 in taxes, the average tax rate would be $7,500 divided by $50,000, which equals 0.15, or 15%. This is useful for analyzing the overall tax burden relative to income and can help individuals and policymakers assess the equity and efficiency of a tax system.

The other choices do not correctly represent the calculation of the average tax rate. The second option suggests dividing total income by total tax paid, which would provide a measure inversely proportional to the average tax rate. The third option mentions total assets, which is not relevant to income tax calculations. The fourth option refers to total liabilities, which again does not pertain to the average tax rate computation.