Yeah, this. I wish it was more though. Sweden has become such a mess over the last 7 years.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
I give 24% of my paycheck to the government
- Thread starter johnFkennedy
- Start date
- Status
Yeah, this. I wish it was more though. Sweden has become such a mess over the last 7 years.
Is that just your income tax %? Because if it is, it would be lower even in Finland and even if you added unemployment insurance and pension payments into it (and belonged to the church).
AdventureRacing
Member
It's not like it's a donation or something.
Warm Machine
Member
The amount of stuff you get for that scant 24% is staggering. Most of it you barely know exists. Safety standards, clean drinking water, food cleanliness levels, military protection, sewer systems, roads, sidewalks, power infrastructure, etc.
I heard Somalia has no government is some areas. Tax heaven.
jakonovski
Member
There's nothing wrong with paying some taxes to live in a free, safe & civilized society.
makingmusic476
Member
The amount you have left after taxes is a whole lot more than your whole salary would be if nobody paid any taxes.
Plus, you have a much better sense of security, more economic freedom, and less stress than you'd have in a society in which nobody paid taxes.
It is the government that prints and further provides the stability of the currency via which our economic transactions take place. It is the government that provides the roads, bridges, railways, and ports via which our resources traverse the country. It is the government that ensures the fair and standardized provision of utilities like water and electricity. It is the government that legally defines and enforces property rights via our police and military forces. It is the government that legally defines and enforces the concept of a corporation. It is the government that ensures that our workers receive at least some minimum standard of education. And so on and so forth. Taxation makes all this possible.
Imagine the state of the economy without all that. Imagine how poor you'd be.
Plus, you have a much better sense of security, more economic freedom, and less stress than you'd have in a society in which nobody paid taxes.
It is the government that prints and further provides the stability of the currency via which our economic transactions take place. It is the government that provides the roads, bridges, railways, and ports via which our resources traverse the country. It is the government that ensures the fair and standardized provision of utilities like water and electricity. It is the government that legally defines and enforces property rights via our police and military forces. It is the government that legally defines and enforces the concept of a corporation. It is the government that ensures that our workers receive at least some minimum standard of education. And so on and so forth. Taxation makes all this possible.
Imagine the state of the economy without all that. Imagine how poor you'd be.
Angelus Errare
Banned
Mario pays you?! Well at least you get some kind of compensation for his constant betrayals and letting you fall to your doom.
RSLAEV
Member
goddamn
Gemüsepizza
Member
Without taxes, you wouldn't have a job or a society. I have a a friend who also complains constantly about taxes, but he doesn't realize that if he would not pay, if anybody would not pay, our country / society as we know it won't exist. He wouldn't even have the education to do his job, and maybe he wouldn't even be alive because there are no doctors.
Yoshichan
And they made him a Lord of Cinder. Not for virtue, but for might. Such is a lord, I suppose. But here I ask. Do we have a sodding chance?
With the amount of times Mario's dropped me off a cliff, I should charge 99,9% ._.
Angelus Errare
Banned
T_T
Denmark has both the highest tax rate in the world and the happiest people on the planet: http://www.frugalconfessions.com/miscellaneous/denmark-highest-tax-rate-and-happiest-people.php
Pay more tax, live in a better society!?
Pay more tax, live in a better society!?
Wolves Evolve
Member
24 is good as a base rate at your level. You'll get a return and effective drops here and there.
You pay 24% income tax so that your throat isn't cut by marauding gangs of bandits and your road isn't made of corpses.
Consider the alternatives for a moment and a robust, egalitarian sliding tax scale is the best way we know to organise a state.
You pay 24% income tax so that your throat isn't cut by marauding gangs of bandits and your road isn't made of corpses.
Consider the alternatives for a moment and a robust, egalitarian sliding tax scale is the best way we know to organise a state.
there was an article the other day about how even the left in denmark is saying things need to change fast because it's not sustainable, surprise surprise.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/w...ate-ample-to-a-fault.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Phoenician_Viking
Banned
Lol that was ridiculously unplanned and severely misused abd misrepresented by conservatives and their lackey media. No one is touching the welfare system in Denmark. No one is dumb enough to incur the wrath of the Danish electorate.
Yes, I think so.
Origami Superman
Member
I pay about 35%. So after tax my yearly income stands at about 35K. Of course the roads around here still continue to be shitty.
That article was such a joke, recommend reading f. ex. this: http://my.firedoglake.com/deanbaker...y-to-express-dislike-of-danish-welfare-state/
I'd love to get rid of the welfare queen narrative.
And yeah, I believe in paying my taxes. I'm on a good six figure income, but I've come from a normal middle class family, gotten free education and had the public health care system save me from cancer so every tax euro is money I'm happy to pay.
Something Wicked
Member
Well, at that income you're paying very little federal/state taxes after tax refunds, so that's not too bad. The overwhelming majority of the money taken from your paycheck, in which you won't get refunded, goes to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. You'll probably never qualify for Medicaid, though the national healthcare system is in a state of transition... but you'll probably be denied federally subsidized healthcare from Obamacare as well if you need it in the near future.
What you and many of us here are really getting ripped off from is Social Security. Even if the program still exists in the 2050s or 2060s, there's no chance in hell you'll beat inflation or the markets when it comes to the dollars you get back (you'll pay way fucking more than what you'll get back... if you get back anything). For most young taxpayers, thinking of the money your current Social Security contributions could go to can really hurt.
zomgbbqftw
Banned
46% for me last year...
adamsappel
Member
Comments like this amuse me. And I'm sure we have very different ideas of what "horseshit" is.
Fudgepuppy
Banned
I pay 33%.
gutter_trash
Banned
consider yourself lucky, I pay 42% (Canada Federal + Quebec Provincial) (not counting sales taxes, not counting municipal taxes)
I thought freedom cost $1.05??
Baron Doggystyle von Woof
Member
24% is nothing compared to some European countries.
mugurumakensei
Member
That's far too high for your pay. Income Tax + FICA taxes + health insurance adds up to a little over 24% of my paycheck, and I'm making close to four times that. The only way it should be that high is if you got hired on as a contract employee which would make you responsible for the employer share of FICA taxes as well.
Edit: How much is state income tax OP?
Edit: How much is state income tax OP?
Roude Leiw
Member
same here. to be fair, health insurance and pension is uncluded in those 41%.
Half and half
Member
My effective is < 20 on more than 25k / year and I'm not a student. Op, sounds like you're doing something incorrectly.
Kiraly
Member
You don't get to be number one in practically everything civilised without taking all the money of your citizens.
Broken Arrow
Member
At least you see the benefits. Married with kids and I pay 30% and still have to pay for private security, private schools, private medical care, each with an additional 16% VAT tax and driving on shit roads.
Fuck Mexico!
Fuck Mexico!
Beermeister
Banned
No, you don't. You pay about 30%.
ClosingADoor
Member
Pay around 43% I think in taxes. Of course then you have VAT on everything with 21%, extra taxes on gas, house, etc. Wouldn't be suprised if 3/4 of your income ends up with the government here.
Miles Quaritch
Member
Be thankful, I'm giving 40% a month.
sankt-Antonio
:^)--?-<
41,4% for me. Germany. But this buys me social peace. Not affraid to go out at night alone, being robbed or stabbed. Nice transportaion system and infrastructure plus a working police force etc.
I would say its worth it.
Lol
I would say its worth it.
Lol
For those from other countries that are claiming higher taxes than the OP, you have free healthcare. To put it into perspective, when I had healthcare (mandated by Massachusetts) I was paying 172 dollars every 2 weeks, in addition to facing a 35% tax on what was left. I brought home around 850 every 2 weeks, subtract 172 from that than tax 35% of what is left. 2014, this will become standard nationwide. In addition to paying this "tax" we also have to pay co-pay at some where around 20 dollars for a regular doctor visit up to 200 dollars for an emergency. Your government takes care of you, ours doesn't. We also work more hours than those mentioned in this thread and have no way of getting healthcare.
Also Apple (an American company) paid 1.9% on their gross income...I know stocks and what not aren't taxed as high. There's some fascinating articles about off shore banking if you dig for them.
Also Apple (an American company) paid 1.9% on their gross income...I know stocks and what not aren't taxed as high. There's some fascinating articles about off shore banking if you dig for them.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked