By TurboTax Progressive, regressive, and flat taxes are all different tax systems governments can deploy. Learn what each of these types of taxation means for you. The taxes you pay on your income and purchases can take several forms, including progressive tax, regressive tax, and flat taxes. But what is a progressive tax? And how does it compare to a regressive or flat tax? What is a progressive tax?A progressive tax is when the tax rate you pay increases as your income rises. In the U.S., the federal income tax is progressive. There are graduated tax brackets, with rates ranging from 10% to …