Americans paying more in taxes than for food, clothing

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Brooke Singman - FOX News




Americans spent more money on taxes than they did on food and clothing last year, according to data released earlier this week.

In an assessment of “Consumer Expenditures” for 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the average bill for federal, state and local taxes was $10,489.

By comparison, Americans spent $9,006 on food and clothes, with most of that going toward food.

CNSNews.com first pointed out the findings. While it may not come as a surprise that American households are shelling out to Uncle Sam, the data showed that bill has risen sharply in recent years -- the average tax bill rose 41 percent overall since 2013.

According to the BLS, federal income taxes rose from $5,743 to $8,367 in that period. State and local income taxes rose from $1,629 to $2,046.

The stats come as President Trump prepares to pressure Congress to pass tax reform. In a Missouri speech on Wednesday, he called for simplifying the system and lowering rates.

"This enormous complexity is very unfair," the president said. "It disadvantages ordinary Americans who don’t have an army of accountants while benefiting deep-pocketed special interests."

According to BLS, the largest expense for Americans in 2016 was on “housing,” costing an average consumer unit $18,886 during the year.

[lost in melb.]

Finally. Welcome to the first world!

[Teh One Who Knocks]

[Hikari Kisugi]

Indeed.
I do this, nothing new about it.

[DemonGeminiX]

Finally. Welcome to the first world!

Indeed.
I do this, nothing new about it.

Maybe you shouldn't. Have either of you ever thought about that?

[Hikari Kisugi]

Maybe you shouldn't. Have either of you ever thought about that?

I live in the UK, there is no fucking way to avoid paying more in tax than one spends on food or clothing.
No chance at all, only way to do that is don't work, and don't pay tax.

[DemonGeminiX]

Have you ever thought about where that tax money goes, and do you agree with where it's going? If you do and don't, respectively, then you and the rest of the people that believe as you do should be voicing your concerns.

[Hal-9000]

Around 1987 we had the GST instituted. (goods and services tax) It was 7% added onto everything. Our country screamed bloody blue murder. Then we found out that parts of Ireland were paying 18% for VAT (value added tax). Other countries were paying both a federal and provincial tax on items, and that practice bled over into some of our provinces. Now our provincial GST is down to 5% and we don't pay additional tax on the same items and services that other provinces in our country have to.

Point is, if you don't like the taxation there are only two ways to change it - Vote for a different political party and somehow as constituents try to hold the new party to their promises, or leave the county and live somewhere else. Solution one is tenuous at best because we have to wait until the elected party finishes their term and can't force or threaten them to change their policy, and solution two is not realistic for most people.

[Hal-9000]

That wasn't directed at you DGX, more of a - what can we do post based on what I've experienced here.

[Godfather]

Is tax on income versus food & clothing a good comparison? The article says $9000 is average on food and clothes... so say we double that for a family of 2, and compare it against the average Canadian household income of $76,000 we're talking 23% on food and clothes (which I think is generous). Is that really a reasonable target for our government to function on, given they support OAP, medical, welfare, EI, education, national defense, public safety, infrastructure, debt payments, etc. etc?

I dono, it's a huge philosophical and economic debate but I don't think that giving 20-25% income to our country is outrageous because it's more than we spend on food and clothing (and it's more like 40% after all is said and done). While I'd love to see it spent more wisely in a lot of areas, it's not high on my priority list to vote for parties that promise to reduce it necessarily.

[DemonGeminiX]

I think first we have to define what expenditures we think is acceptable for our governments to spend our tax money on. And which government (central, state/province, city/county/local) should handle what. Then we can start talking about what we believe excessive taxation looks like with respect to that.

[Godfather]

Agreed. Not an easy debate.

[lost in melb.]

I think first we have to define what expenditures we think is acceptable for our governments to spend our tax money on. And which government (central, state/province, city/county/local) should handle what. Then we can start talking about what we believe excessive taxation looks like with respect to that.

I guess an expectation of fair return is warranted. I would be happy to pay more taxes for a decent integrated European-level transport system and quality child-care here, even though I use neither. This is as a matter of national pride.

The US does appear to operate in an alternative quasi-fiefdom universe, though - so I can understand that after military expenditure, you'd want as much $$ in your pocket as possible.

[DemonGeminiX]

Ok, explain what you mean by "alternative quasi-fiefdom universe".

[Godfather]

I recognize some of those words