April 15th of each year is traditionally tax day in the United States. Since the 15th fell on a Sunday this year and the 16th is a holiday in Washington, D.C., the tax day this year is April 17th. Regardless of the actual day, Americans from sea to shining sea are asked to account for their income during the prior calendar year and pay Uncle Sam their share.
Whether it is due to the fact we are in an election year or our obsession with the economic woes of the United States, there are countless articles, blog and other editorials concerning taxes and tax rates. Articles regarding how much the President paid versus his secretary, how much we all pay as a result of people cheating on their taxes, what effect the Buffett rule will have on all of us are littering the internet.
Taxes are necessary if we are going to live in operate in a civilized democracy. It is necessary for each of us to pay our fair share to provide for many of the services we take for granted. Tax dollars pay for schools, emergency services, military services, highways and street systems in addition to countless other programs and services. The question becomes what is a “fair share”.
In the United States we employ a progressive tax structure when it comes to individual income tax. A progressive tax is based on a sliding scale that increases as your income increases. While this may seem unfair to some, there are many offsets to personal income taxes available to individuals for various reasons. As a result it is possible for someone with higher income to pay a lower percentage than others based on their exceptions or deductions.
What do you know about the federal income tax system? What other taxes are you aware of? How would you determine the “fair share” each family should pay?
Atticus- Oh ya you know it...FIRST!!! I think that the federal income tax system is bull but I know that it is necessary to keep our country up and running. I am aware of many types of different taxes but the most prominent seems to be the tax on the dollar. I think that the best way to determine the best fair share is on income as it is now. I mean that just seems logical...does it not?
ReplyDeleteLuke- im sick of you spatt! Second is good enough. I think that the federal tax system as spatt said is complete bolshevik but as spatt also mentioned it is a really necessary to keep the country up and running. I am aware of several types of taxes such as property tax, sales tax, income tax, state tax, federal tax, and social security. I think that easiest way to determine how much taxes someone should pay is based on there income. But we cant make it ridiculous like someone that makes 800,000 a year has a bigger percentage of what he makes a year then the guy that makes 4.75 an hour at Mcdonalds.
ReplyDeleteKaed- Tax in general is not really a fair thing in the United States, but with the taxes that we pay we are able to build city roads, buildings... etc. I know that there are a lot of different types of taxes out there that are on different goods and stuff, but the ones that are more common are income tax, property tax, sales tax... etc. Mr. Grant, by the way..your salmon shirt is awesome.
ReplyDeleteMarcos- I know much about the federal income taxes. Is it where the government send you all the taxes that that person owes. And they have to pay for it. there is taxes on gas, food, clothing, and all sorts of stuff we americans use. Even videogames. The fair share for family should be everyone should get the same amount of taxes each year. Because there might be a family who can't afford to pay taxes. And it will be really hard for that person to come back on. So, maybe all americans should get a fair amount on taxes.
ReplyDeleteAriana- I know a good amount about federal income taxes. I honestly think that most people are charged to high from what i have seen. But i do agree that they are important for alot of things. There are tons and tons of taxes out there like income tax, property tax, and sales tax just to name a few. I dont think every person should pay equal taxes but I think every American should pay fair taxes based on everything.
ReplyDeleteAnn- I guess i don't really know very much about the federal tax system, i know there is a 6% tax on everything you buy in Idaho. While they cost us more money, they are very important for our economy. With out them we would have any public schools in our country, for one thing. I think that taxes should be based on the overall income of the family, i think that is what it is now?
ReplyDeleteAlly- I really don't know a lot about the federal income tax system. I know about sales tax and property tax. Even though many of us don't like the federal tax system, I think it is necessary. I think taxes should be based on the family's income.
ReplyDeleteIsabelle- I don't really know anything on the federal income tax system either. I think taxes are necessary though, because they do keep our country running and pay for things that we need to have. I really only know of the tax that you are charged whenever you buy something or if you win somethin like a prize on a gameshow, then you have to pay a tax on that and you really only get a third of what you won. I think the tax should be based on the individual family and what their needs can provide.
ReplyDeleteNolen- Taxes suck but they get stuff done in the U.S. With out taxes there would be no roads, no public schools and all that fun stuff. I think that taxes should be based on the overall income of the family, i think thats only fair. I do think we get taxed a little much but whatever it gets stuff done.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I know almost nothing about the tax system. I know that Oregon doesn't have tax. I'm not sure about many other taxes. We pay taxes for schools, buildings, roads, etc. Our taxes shouldn't increase though. Even though it pays for our local things, The tax rate shouldn't be ridiculously high. I'm not sure how taxes should be based off of. I don't think we should all pay taxes equally though. I agree with what Ann says too. It should be based on the family's income.
ReplyDeleteMarya- I don't really know that much about the tax system. I know that taxes keep or country in shape and pay for things that are crucial. Public schools, roads, and stuff like that. Taxes should be based on how much money a family makes.
ReplyDeleteSophia- I don't know all the technical things about taxes, but I know that we have to pay taxes on our house. We also have to pay taxes for public schools, and things like that. I think that they should make taxes so that everybody pays the same PERCENTAGE. I think that would be fair because then people with more money would be paying more than people with less money, but it would affect them the same.
ReplyDeletePhillip- I know that people with more money have to pay a greater tax rate in the federal income tax system. I am aware of property tax and sales tax. I would determine the fair share each family should pay by multiplying there income by a set percentage.
ReplyDeleteNerea- I really have know idea what taxes are all about even though my dad has explained it to be a thousand time i still dont understand what the point is. I do know the more income you make the more you have to pay and you can get tax deductions with certain things. I think taxes should be everyone pay 10% and your good. Instead of making such a big deal out of it.
ReplyDeletegabby- i actually don't know all that much about taxes. i know that there is income, property and sales tax. i understand that without taxes our country couldn't run. i think it makes sense to pay taxes on the amount of money you make. if you make more money you should be able to contribute more towards the welfare of our country. but i also can see the perspective that everyone should pay equal share in taxes. i think percentages make sense though. maybe everyone pays x percent of their income.
ReplyDeletePeter- Federal income tax is pretty fair, I guess, but I don't think anyone likes taxes. I know about other taxes, of course, but federal income tax is the biggy. I know about sin tax, sales tax, gas tax, and property tax. They are all lame, because you have to pay extra. I do think that sin tax is okay, though, because it gives mega bucks to our country and discourages people from smoking. To determine tax on a family, I think the government should take 25% of the money earned that year, than subtract costs made by groceries, gas, kid's clothing, and other necessities.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- I dont really know a whole lot about taxes. Although with out taxes i dont think our country would do that well. Although it is kinda stupid to pay more than u already have paid but if we didn't have taxes our country wouldn't run. I really dont think our taxes should increase though. I know there is sales tax and income tax but still i really dont know a lot about taxes. I think the fair share should be bases on the familys income.
ReplyDeleteJACK- TAXES HAVE BEEN A HUGE DISPUTE PRETTY MUCH EVER SINCE OUR COUNTRY BEGAN, SHOULD WE KEEP THEM, SHOULD WE BAN THEM. I KNOW QUITE A BIT ABOUT TAXES AND KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THEM, WE NEED THEM. THEY PROVIDE SO MANY THINGS, SUCH AS ROADS, SCHOOLS, AND MUCH MORE. THERE IS SALES TAX WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE AND I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE MONEY EVERY TIME SOMEONE BUYS SOMETHING. I THINKK THAT EVERYONES TAX PERCENTAGE SHOULD BE THE SAME. IF THIS HAPPENS, I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT LESS DISPUTES AND IT WILL MAKE THE COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE.
ReplyDeleteMadison-I dont know much about taxes. I know that there are sales taxes and property taxes. I dont know how I would base the amount that families pay. If they were poor, obviously they wouldn't pay as much as the rich ones. So i guess it could be based on your income.It could be set at a specific percent of your income. Maybe 5-10%. I would never set it at a huge number unless I had to. It does pay the government, but sometimes I might not like the governments choices.
ReplyDeleteBrooke~ I don't really know a lot about taxes, but I do know that in Idaho we pay 6 percent sales tax on everything we buy here in Idaho. How much you pay on tax day depends on how much money you make. I also know that no one really likes taxes at all. My mom definitely complains about the ones she has to pay for her store Reilly's... I think that it is fair to determine the amount of taxes that should be paid by the amount of money you have. Like really poor people shouldn't have to pay as much as millionaires.
ReplyDeleteHalle- I don't know a whole lot about tr tax system. But I think it can get kind of tricky. I think it's really annoying when you see signs saying your tax dollars at work. I'm aware that some states like oregon have no sales tax but higher taxes on other things. I think in a way w should all pay the same amount for taxes. I don't understand why we should pay more or less
ReplyDeleteI'm know like nothing about the tax system. People seem to get very frusterated with it though. I know about like property taxes and stuff but that's about it. I always hear my parents talking about how much they hate taxes. I think taxes should be the same for all people but I know that's not always fair donors hard to ind a way to make it fair and even
ReplyDeleteKendall^^^^^
ReplyDeletecristina- to be honest, i have no clue what the income tax system but i should. i know about property tax and merchendise tax and stuff. i know also there is this big thing about taxing the rich more than the poor. it seems ok but i dont think it should be like that. i mean what if the poor doesnt have a job or has a 70 inch tv and other fancy stuff? ni think it should be more spefic.i think i should depend on how much $$$ you make,if you work, house, adn other stuff. i really dont know what im talking about so its probuly wrong...
ReplyDeleteCooper- What I know is that the government taxes the money you make on income at different rates based on the amount of money you make. The state of Idaho taxes you on income and property. When you buy food in a store or a video game you pay taxes on those too. My dad thinks Everyone should pay 15% after every thing is taken out.
ReplyDeletejosu- I don't really know much about our tax system in general, but i do know that paying taxes are vital to our country. Without taxes our country would not run well. There are so many different types of taxes out there. There is basically a tax on everything you buy. I think people with more money should have to pay more taxes than people who make less money. nothing in life is fair and we have to find a way to decide how much different people get taxed.
ReplyDeleteAbby- I don't really know a lot about the tax system. All I know is that there is income, sales tax, and property tax. You also have to pay taxes for public school and other things. I think everyone should pay the same percentage of tax. I think it would be a lot more fair.
ReplyDeleteZach- I am not opposed to taxes, in fact i believe that paying taxes is a citezens job. However taxes have been gettin higher but nothing is improving. If we should pay higher Taxes then the country should be changing for the better, but it isn't. The "fair share" that people should pay, to me at least, is for them to pay in porportion to what everybody else pays, no one person's taxes should be out of porpotion. The wealthy have a right to be wealthy because it is their money, and they do pay their fair shate, but they are succesful enough to have all the pocket money they do. And i don't want someone who refuses to work, living off the taxes my family pays.
ReplyDelete