Here are 10 taxes in the U.S. that I find particularly frustrating or even absurd:
Income Tax: I pay federal income tax, and often state income tax too, which takes a chunk out of every paycheck. On top of that, some people have to pay local or city income taxes as well.
Sales Tax: This tax hits nearly every purchase I make, from groceries in some states to clothing and electronics, and those extra costs add up fast.
Gasoline Tax: Besides already-high gas prices, I also pay federal and state taxes per gallon, which significantly drives up the cost of fuel.
Property Tax: As a homeowner, I pay annual property taxes based on the value of my home, which can easily add up to thousands of dollars each year.
Social Security and Medicare Taxes (Payroll Taxes): These come out of every paycheck, regardless of age, yet many younger Americans question whether they’ll actually see any benefit from these programs.
Vehicle Registration Fees: After paying sales tax on the initial purchase, I still have to pay an annual registration fee just to keep my car legally drivable.
Capital Gains Tax: When I invest, any profits from selling stocks or real estate get taxed, which feels like a “double tax” since I’ve already earned and paid taxes on the money I invested.
Telecommunication Taxes: My phone bill often includes a bunch of line items for local, state, and federal taxes on everything from basic phone service to broadband.
Estate or Inheritance Tax: If I inherit an estate above a certain threshold, I would have to pay taxes on that inheritance—taxing money that has already been taxed at least once!
“Sin” Taxes (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Soda): These taxes supposedly discourage certain behaviors, but they also hit my wallet directly if I decide to buy any of these items.
And this doesn’t even include all the fees that aren’t technically “taxes” but feel just like them, like tolls, licensing fees, and other government-imposed charges!