Federal taxes are payments made by individuals and businesses to the U.S. government to fund various public services and programs. These taxes are collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are used to support essential functions like national defense, education, and infrastructure. There are different types of federal taxes, including income tax, corporate tax, and payroll tax. Individuals typically pay income tax based on their earnings, while businesses pay corporate tax on their profits. Payroll taxes are deducted from employees' wages to fund social security and Medicare programs.