TAXES

Nothing is sure in this life except death and taxes. A silly old saying? Maybe.


Government requires money to do things that it is supposed to do...establish justice, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for us all. It needs to get money from the people and it does that by taxation.


When you say tax, most people think of income tax. That sure is a big one. The feds get their share and so does the state. Even cities collect some income tax. What happens is, a percentage of the money you earn is taken away from you to give to someone else. Some of it may come back to you if you're lucky. Its simple. You're so glad to get a paycheck you don't mind somebody taking a little at that time.

Of course, there is real estate tax if you own property. This big chunk goes to the county here in Ohio. If you rent, there is still real estate tax. Your landlord surely figures on it when he establishes your rent. In Ohio, this is the prime way that public schools are subsidized.

Have you looked closely at your phone bill and cable bill. There are a couple of cute little taxes included in those costs. An excise tax. This is a kind of license that you have to pay. A license to steal, I suppose.

There is that ever present FICA tax on your earnings. Federal Insurance Contribution Act tax. Oh, yeah. This goes to Social Security, we hope. Did you notice that Medicare tax is hidden in there, too?

How about sales tax? Its everywhere. All levels of government get in on these taxes. You pay sales tax on almost everything you buy. Some of these are hidden in the price. Take gasoline for example. Both state and federal fuel sales taxes are included in the price at the pump. These are special taxes. Alcohol and tobacco have their own special taxes built into their price. These taxes are included in the cost before they ever get to the store.

There is corporation tax. People usually think this is a good tax on those greedy companies that make all the money. Well, a corporation has to pay money to the government when it makes money. Corporations make the things and provide the services that you buy. You pay tax when you buy them. The corporations set the price for their products based on their costs. They charge more because they have to pay tax. When you buy their goods or services, you are paying for their taxes as well as paying tax on the product.

There are capital gains taxes. If you buy something and later sell it for more than you paid for it, you owe tax on that money. This is important if you sell a house or boat or stocks and bonds. Real important!

Tariffs are taxes imposed on products coming into a country. A lot of people like these taxes. Tax those foreign companies, you say. Well, if the government charges a tariff on an item, you will have to pay more for that item because the seller will have to cover the cost of the tariff. You will eventually pay tax on the tariff.

Tolls are taxes. Sometimes government agencies charge you a tax to use a bridge or roadway. Those gasoline taxes are supposed to pay for highways but sometimes the need extra.

Inheritance taxes are another scheme of government and a burden you will someday have to avoid or endure. Why do they charge it? Because they can.

We're just scratching the surface here. Yes, taxes are as sure as death. We pay taxes in all different forms. Our government is always looking for ways to tax us so that we will not revolt. You know, our country was founded by people who hated taxation; especially "taxation without representation."

I say fight taxation whenever and wherever you can. Reduce the size of government. Be more self-sufficient. Elect government officials with this kind of thinking.