Why the Heck Do We Pay Taxes?

Everyone has to pay taxes, but let’s face it, sometimes it feels like giving a gift you didn’t even pick out. No one really enjoys the process of giving part of their money to the government, so why is it even a thing?

To understand why taxes are as inevitable as death, you have to go way back in history, about 5,000 years back, in fact. In ancient Egypt, people paid 20% of their grain harvest to the Pharaoh. Taxes became a thing from then on, with the Greeks bringing it into the modern world.

Paying taxes was such a common task that the Rosetta Stone (you know, the key to understanding hieroglyphics) was actually a tax document from 196 BCE. Yep, tax forms were a thing even back then.

The Government Needs Coffee, Too

Running a country is expensive. Someone has to pay for the constant stream of paperwork and the coffee that keeps those politicians awake during 2-hour meetings about parking meter regulations. Basically, taxes are how we keep civilization running.

So, what exactly is all that money being used for? It depends, but taxes are generally used for boring stuff like public transportation, emergency services, schools, and all the other things we use and don’t think about. Including:

Streetlights - because no one wants to walk a spooky dark street at night!

Sewage - your taxes keep your daily deposits (and everyone else’s) out of sight and out of mind.

Public libraries - where you can escape the craziness of home for a few hours amid the scent of old books and dreams.

Roads - so we can complain about all the potholes.

Public schools - make sure every generation has an equal opportunity to hate math.

Snow removal - Sure, you complain when the snowplows take forever to get to your street, but what if they didn’t come at all?

If you don’t know who to call when your house catches fire or your aunt falls down the stairs, you can thank taxes!

A World Without Taxes . . .

Living in a world where no one has to pay taxes might sound wonderful, but it would be quite a disaster. Just imagine if you had to pave your own roads and repair street signs with duct tape! Without taxes, you’d have to hope the fire department raised enough money from their weekend bake sale to pay for gas. Otherwise, they might just show up with nothing but water guns and enthusiasm.

There’s a lot we don’t think about daily, because it’s taken care of for us. For the most part, we trust that the children’s park down the street will have the grass mowed, the streetlights will turn on at dusk, and traffic lights will continue to function. Without the funds behind them, all those things would go away, leaving us in a dark, sad, and pretty messy world.

So, I Should Enjoy Tax Season?

We’re not looking for a miracle here, just a little more appreciation for what that hard-earned tax money does. After all, you’re in good company . . . those ancient Egyptians probably sat around muttering about how much wheat they had to give up, too.

Need a hand with your taxes this season? Contact Ask Anna Taxes and get some expert advice to make tax season easier.