Same BS every year

Now that it's clear the Federal government is just using tax money to give to billionaires, it's going to be extra painful this year. It genuinely just feels like a protection racket now. Pay money to the ruling class, or their enforcers will haul you away to prison.

Lol yeah because taxes are the problem. It's supposed to be more tax for rich less for poor. You have literally done a 360 reverse Robin Hood no scope self own with the taxes. Because they are the problem. They would change everything if a normal person would tax the demonic corporate entities and stop taxing and punishing your own veteran old people but nah, it's only a problem when it affects billionaires

Taxes are also the problem in countries like the US and China wherein income tax only exists to remove currency from circulation. There's plenty of other ways to do that in a digital world.

In the Norwegian tax system, if you pay too much taxes trough the year from your paycheck, you get interest on the amount you paid to much. Likewise, if you pay too little taxes throughout the year, you will have to pay interest on the amount you have yet to pay. So the system is supposed to be balanced in that regard. The interest is on the level of a savings account (3.51% annual atm), so you could make an argument that saving that in a index stock or good bond is a better ROI though, so still recommended to try to not pay too much during the year.

I actually wish I could do this in Australia, for the reasons you mention (from a self-interested point of view).

I'm glad tax witholding is mandatory here though, because the government has to pay for stuff throughout the year, on services which we all benefit.

And it reduces the number of people who have illogical emotional reactions on having to pay taxes. (Much less resistance when you get a touch back, than have to pay more)

We do also pay taxes for stupid shit, like our tribute of $300 B AUD to the US for submarines. But alas, such is government spending. We can't all agree what's actually good.

It is taken from the payslip. But then they have us verify what they already know and if you make a mistake you're punished for it! It's bullshit.

I want so bad for the US to do it the way every sane country does it; they just send me a thing so I can make sure they're accurate and only need to take action if they fuck up.

Income tax always struck me as a deliberate way to make your average joe hate taxes when they could, very easily, be calculated at time of payroll without you ever being shown the “pre tax” amount.

They do deduct taxes from your paycheck. Basically once a year, you have to true up and figure the exact amount you should have paid. If that's less than what was withheld, you get a refund.

That's how it is here in France. It is calculated according to the previous year income, so if you get a raise you'll have to pay a little bit more at the end the following fiscal year, but that's often very little. Last time I got a 2500€ yearly raise, I had to align something like... 100€ 😆.

Yep, and this cartoon feels like America would keep voting for this stupid fascist stuff as long as they keep promising the Libertarian ideal of lower and lower taxes.

Americans trained to defund America, the enemy was inside all along.

Know you're joking, but just think it's funny to point out that one of DOGE's first acts was to try to kill the direct file system the IRS maintains to make it easier for some people to file their taxes. I feel like that one didn't get a lot of coverage.

... Right into Col. Musks bank account!

I'm not sure what country you're talking about, but I assume the U.S. We do have taxes deducted from payroll, and you fill out a form telling the employer (and the IRS) what amount to deduct based on estimated income, family size, and a couple of other factors. Then in April we have to file our official tax form declaring actual income, and if we owe less than what was deducted from our paychecks we receive that back as a refund, but if we underestimated we have to pay whatever taxes are remaining. The reason that filing taxes is so complicated is the sheer volume of deductions, exemptions, credits, etc that have been piled on top of the tax code over the years (plus lobbying by the tax prep industry). It's a stupid system, but it's not as stupid as some people seem to be assuming in this thread. If you set up your withholding right, you shouldn't ever owe taxes when it's time to file.

Now, if you're self-employed or a contractor (and considered self-employed) the whole thing kind of falls apart and it's a lot easier to wind up owning a bunch of money. Like I said, it is a stupid system, just not quite as crazy as some people seem to be assuming.

This is why I don't blame the politicians. I blame the people

Income amount that requires you to file

If you were under 65 at the end of 2024

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/check-if-you-need-to-file-a-tax-return

I’ve had to work with the irs a few times in my life and they were always reasonable and understanding. I lost everything and had to scrounge up $200k by selling off a business and everything but a shirt off my back and they never charged interest or late fees because I always answered their calls and kept them updated on what was going on. I know many others have had different experiences but the two times I was in deep shit and desperate times I walked away with a positive experience from the irs.

if you're making money and don't file, it'll catch up to you. If you're poor and don't file they will make your life harder when you try to collect social services

Bracketed income tax is a thing for a reason, and it is a good reason.

more income == more tax.

If I'm making less than $20k/year, there's no reason to give a shit about my taxes, just let me live yo.

If I'm making $200k+/year, then we have a conversation on our hands.

If I'm making 2,000k+/year, then we have a problem and the conversation should have have been completed by now.

edit:

exact numbers are not relevant. if you have a functioning brain, then you know what I mean.

Hahaha no. That would be too easy. Americans, please correct me if I get any of this wrong:

The IRS knows how much tax each American owes, but each American has to fill in a needlessly complicated and obscurely worded form (or set of forms) outlining their incomings and outgoings and then calculate the tax they owe for themselves, and then take steps to pay that amount.

And if they get it wrong they are punished.

There's software that helps with the needlessly complicated paperwork, but the company that makes it is in cahoots with the IRS, and so buying a copy or hiring an accountant are all-but necessary to get it right and not be punished.

This is largely the reason it stays the way it is, because an entirely unnecessary industry is being propped up by the struggles of American taxpayers.

Oh and sometimes the IRS gets their internal calculations wrong, and if you don't get what they got, you have many, many hoops to jump through to prove that what you did was right and what they did was wrong.

The American Dream™

And what would that do?

They already run a deficit, so they'll run a bigger deficit. Printing money is a flat tax on everyone. So not paying taxes is just applying a flat tax on others.

Plus you get to go to jail and cost me money to support you there.

I'm all for effective protest, but this doesn't seem to be it.