Very interesting that these news comes out the same week that eBay says you are not longer allowed to use money orders or checks. I guess the IRS is leaning on them pretty hard.

I know that probably won’t be a popular idea, but the reality is after deductions people can either end up paying no tax (yes paid as you go, but not once the taxes are calculated for returns) or relatively little. Then I am left wondering why we even bother drawing taxes throughout the year if it is only given back in full or beyond what was paid in. How will we ever reduce debt in this country if we continue to just give the tax money back at the end of the year. It just doesn’t make sense to do it this way.

I think the only fair and equitable way would be a flat tax on every person in this country who works or receives money including businesses, large and small. The more consumers and businesses get to keep the more they invest back into business or into the economy to help it and themselves grow.

I’ve never minded paying taxes, just resent paying for those who cheat the system. Alas that will never change but one can hope :)

For people who GENUINELY need the help of government and charities I say give freely. I’m not naive enough to think it will ever be a perfect system because it won’t but after many years of working my butt off to try and get ahead I am tired of the whiners who don’t contribute B1+@#!ng about how hard life is or how cruel or hateful hard working tax paying American’s are when we disagree with supporting their laziness. To deny it exist or happens is ingorance.

Our nation is the most generous on earth yet despised by the very countries standing there with their hands out. We give freely to people in this country who hate it yet many still stand there with their hands out taking while continuing to put it down. I would love to see all discretionary spending, pork barrel projects, overseas giving and all hand out programs stopped for just one year. We’d get out of the trillion dollar debt we’re under now and be a nation of means again instead of a debtor nation. Politician can’t continue to tax and spend like drunken sailors and expect us to remain strong. I fear from the future of my grandchildren with the way politicians are running the government now. It’s frightening and continuing to tax more and more and more of the wealthy and small business owners will only continue to hurt our nation which in turn hurts you and me.

Most people are afraid to speak up or take a stand for fear of sounding hateful, uncaring or not politically correct while they stand there and watch our once great nation go down the tubes. HOW SAD!!!

Umm. No. State taxes pay a portion of that. At least they do here in CA. Medi-CAL is different from Medi-Care. Housing is locally funded. Roads are paid for via state AND federal taxes. Especially interstate highways. Gas taxes cover some, but not all, of the revenue there.

And Federal taxes also fund grant programs used by first responders. They fund scientific research. They fund infrastructure through targeted spending. They pay for much of the judiciary. They pay for executive enforcement and security. The federal government also pays for education–indirectly through the state budgets, but they DO distribute funds for schools. PILT is just one of many programs paid by the FEDERAL government directly to county governments–blame it on the counties if they use those funds for “handouts.”

The idea that every dime you pay the federal government goes to someone YOU deem unworthy is ridiculous and completely untrue.

And we’re not just talking about Federal taxes here. Your income that is reported to the IRS is also reported to your State Tax Board AND any applicable county assessor.

I don’t consider Social Security to be public assistance. Many (most) of the people on Social Security have worked their fair share. They certainly aren’t ‘lazy.’

I’m as unhappy as the next person about paying taxes. I think the government (fed, state, local) could do a better job getting MORE of the money directly to the people rather than filtering it down through agency after agency. BUT, this is the list of duties that are paid for with our taxes:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Analyses of where our money goes are readily available. I think it’s safe to say that the majority of the funds go to fulfill the duties listed above.

State taxes pay for those. Federal taxes pay for all the public assistance programs.