Most people don’t hate taxes

[justdimin]

People wants to see the manifestation of their taxes practically, if you're paying tax and your government is working I believe that you wouldn't mind, even if you think that some taxes are rip-off by the government but the government infrastructures on ground will calm you mind. Reverse is the case in many countries where there are hardly any basic amenities yet government is taxing the citizens you naturally wouldn't be happy to pay you taxes, you will only be paying your taxes because of the penalties of defaults.

You will wonder what many underdeveloped countries with mineral resources are doing with tax collected from their hardworking citizens where the economy is not working. No good roads, inadequate security, no steady electricity supply and the rest yet the citizens are paying taxes, it is very unfair.

This is a reasonable request, if you are paying taxes, then you want to see that back. But people do not "see" things that are quite obvious, like the soldier that fights for your country gets paid from your taxes, but you do not consider that, firefighter? your tax, police? your tax, ministry? your tax.

Basically, tax isn't just building roads, getting hospitals, schools, bridges and so forth, it's also the salaries of all the people that work for the government, from president, to janitor of some office. So you do not "see" it all the time, but it's there, every single month.

[Synchronice]

Most people can tolerate taxes because they understand governments need revenue which is understandable.

What really frustrates them is realizing that no matter how hard they work, their salary keeps losing the race against real life. You get a small raise and for one moment it feels like progress… then rent increases, food gets more expensive, transport goes up, and suddenly that raise means almost nothing again.

That’s why many people today are earning more money than they did years ago, yet somehow still feel very financially weaker.

If you come to think of it, I believe the biggest part of it is psychologcal. People can tolerate paying into a system when they believe hard work will eventually create stability but once salaries stop translating into actual progress, frustration quietly starts building.

That’s also why more people are moving beyond traditonal saving and looking for assets they believe can protect value long term because many no longer trust income alone to keep up.

What's your opinion

It depends on the country whether people can tolerate taxes or not. In Germany, we pay almost half of our salary into taxes but people definitely tolerate it because we have a free education, free healthcare, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, long-term care insurance, accident insurance. For many people, this level of stability worth almost half of the salary for many people because people aren't good at planning, the majority of the population lives from paycheck to paycheck, so they prefer this tax rate.

Salaries were not meant to beat the inflation and enrich people. If you want to become rich, you have to run your own business where you set the salary and other rules.

[Nanga Parbat]

Majority among of us willing to pay taxes due to good management. So its happens then' when government used the amount of taxes on the development of roads, good education and health facilities and if government doing these things then people happily paying taxes. So actual problem starts when corruption is occured in public funds so many people get stressed in this situation. But tax is very important because it uses in welfare of the citizen. People should pay taxes because in reward they deserve to take questions on governmental polices. Government should make good plans and shows the people how its Works. So when government gives good opportunities and people easily feels the difference then people willis to pay more and more and legal taxes to pay.

Here I agree with you, People of any country feels not bad for the taxes because they know that it will be used for their own benefits . If the government is fair than taxes always works for the rights of the citizens or it improves the citizens lives. But in the case of many country people feels taxes as a burden instead of feel good. People used different unfair means to get exempt from taxes. From the past few years it has iften felt that it is government hobby to search those items on which taxes have not been yet imposed. Then through different lame excuses they put the burden on the citizens. That's create hate and people feel as if government is enemy. Aim of government is not as a facilitator but they just collecting it for the improvement of their own interest .

[Livingleged]

I can tell you that many people from my country (Nigeria) would prefer non taxing government, this is because it even goes beyond the impact it does to our earnings but you will wonder what the tax are being used for. I just have to believe that the elites in the Government are just using the tax to enrich them self without proper accountability. Our previous government never taxed us like this but yet we saw a lot of infrastructural development.
The most annoying part is the government are taxing and still borrowing even after removal of subsidy. I am very certain if we all are seeing what the taxed money are used for nobody will complain, we all want development and we know government have to taxed us to get the revenues that will do the work but unfortunately it’s better of not taxing us if we aren’t going to see the effect.

[Youngrebel]

I can tell you that many people from my country (Nigeria) would prefer non taxing government, this is because it even goes beyond the impact it does to our earnings but you will wonder what the tax are being used for. I just have to believe that the elites in the Government are just using the tax to enrich them self without proper accountability. Our previous government never taxed us like this but yet we saw a lot of infrastructural development.
The most annoying part is the government are taxing and still borrowing even after removal of subsidy. I am very certain if we all are seeing what the taxed money are used for nobody will complain, we all want development and we know government have to taxed us to get the revenues that will do the work but unfortunately it’s better of not taxing us if we aren’t going to see the effect.

Exactly all your points are real, we pay tax and government is still borrowing truely they are using the tax to enrich themselves I don’t know how many countries are having this kind of economy but it’s too much here in nija. It’s very hard to support high fixed taxes when we lack basic things like good roads, stable light, quality hospitals, security, and even good education we still struggling to have this things. And so many of us do not even mind paying this tax but then we want to see clear evidence that our money is being used for development rather than wasted cause I believe this taxes are ment for the growth and development of the country and not for wastage.

[MRY]

Exactly all your points are real, we pay tax and government is still borrowing truely they are using the tax to enrich themselves I don’t know how many countries are having this kind of economy but it’s too much here in nija. It’s very hard to support high fixed taxes when we lack basic things like good roads, stable light, quality hospitals, security, and even good education we still struggling to have this things. And so many of us do not even mind paying this tax but then we want to see clear evidence that our money is being used for development rather than wasted cause I believe this taxes are ment for the growth and development of the country and not for wastage.

The development of public facilities to the people ought to be funded through taxes. Understandably, when citizens see they are losing the fruits of their labor as a result of the misdeeds of leaders, they tend to get disappointed. I can relate to the plight of not having the basic services in Nigeria. Everybody has the right to have transparency in the way funds are used in order to achieve real development.

[slapper]

I can tell you that many people from my country (Nigeria) would prefer non taxing government, this is because it even goes beyond the impact it does to our earnings but you will wonder what the tax are being used for. I just have to believe that the elites in the Government are just using the tax to enrich them self without proper accountability. Our previous government never taxed us like this but yet we saw a lot of infrastructural development.
The most annoying part is the government are taxing and still borrowing even after removal of subsidy. I am very certain if we all are seeing what the taxed money are used for nobody will complain, we all want development and we know government have to taxed us to get the revenues that will do the work but unfortunately it’s better of not taxing us if we aren’t going to see the effect.

The tax-to-GDP ratio is approximately 10% in Nigeria. That is low. Ghana is up higher, Kenya is up higher, South Africa is up way higher. However, those numbers do not tell the whole story. It is a worse case scenario for a country to get 10% of the waste and lose the majority of it, compared to a country collecting 5% and using it effectively. At least in the second scenario you are not actively destroying public trust. And trust, man, that is everything.

The current administration's approach is the sequencing. You take away the subsidy. Okay, it is a little painful but there is some economic sense. Then you add another tax regime upon this pain, and then another. Then, on top of that, you are still taking out a ton of loans. From there, it becomes hard to follow the messaging. Is the tax imposed for the purpose of raising revenue? So, why are we still borrowing as if nothing has changed? Are we changing for efficiency?

[Coin_info]

Exactly all your points are real, we pay tax and government is still borrowing truely they are using the tax to enrich themselves I don’t know how many countries are having this kind of economy but it’s too much here in nija.

The government actually utilizes the taxes in some countries and in those countries, people do not complain of the taxes. Countries like Denmark where they pay heavy taxes, the citizens enjoy numerous benefits like Free or subsidized healthcare, free education etc. Others like Finland, Norway, Sweden are making proper use of taxes and countries are seeing the benefit.

Most people don't hate taxes, they hate when their taxes are mishandled and they enjoy no benefit.

[PX-Z]

I guess most people don't like taxes ever since the old times, especially those who taxed from everything, both business man and ordinary salary guy, those who taxed 12% and above, then those who live on countries where their government only do bare minimum. You will really feel the same sentiment of those people. And yet, those who have in power, rich businessman who are aligned to some politics can easily evade taxes legally.

[hafiztalha]

Majority among of us willing to pay taxes due to good management. So its happens then' when government used the amount of taxes on the development of roads, good education and health facilities and if government doing these things then people happily paying taxes. So actual problem starts when corruption is occured in public funds so many people get stressed in this situation. But tax is very important because it uses in welfare of the citizen. People should pay taxes because in reward they deserve to take questions on governmental polices. Government should make good plans and shows the people how its Works. So when government gives good opportunities and people easily feels the difference then people willis to pay more and more and legal taxes to pay.

Here I agree with you, People of any country feels not bad for the taxes because they know that it will be used for their own benefits . If the government is fair than taxes always works for the rights of the citizens or it improves the citizens lives. But in the case of many country people feels taxes as a burden instead of feel good. People used different unfair means to get exempt from taxes. From the past few years it has iften felt that it is government hobby to search those items on which taxes have not been yet imposed. Then through different lame excuses they put the burden on the citizens. That's create hate and people feel as if government is enemy. Aim of government is not as a facilitator but they just collecting it for the improvement of their own interest .

I think many people are habitual to pay taxes and they don't know how much amount they are paying for the taxes. They are giving most of their income to the government who are giving nothing to them And there is any disaster government apply more taxes and poor people are going down in the society and rich people are doing up in the society. The people who are happy to pay taxes they are fool because they are giving their income for free to government and they should seek alternate of that if they want to get success in life. Many countries are increasing the tax system after the War because oil prices are increases and government is controling the price of oil by giving subsidy.

[LGD2Business]

The government spends money on your behalf, but if it doesn't set the budget correctly and spends money on unnecessary things, the taxes you pay go to waste. In many countries, governments are criticized for failing to use the taxes people pay properly. That's why people don't like paying taxes, because they think the money they pay is being misused.

If the government takes your tax money and spends $5 on a job it could do for $3, and pockets the remaining $2 for its cronies, you need to speak up. Unfortunately this type of corruption is almost everywhere.

[bubilas]

I guess most people don't like taxes ever since the old times, especially those who taxed from everything, both business man and ordinary salary guy, those who taxed 12% and above, then those who live on countries where their government only do bare minimum. You will really feel the same sentiment of those people. And yet, those who have in power, rich businessman who are aligned to some politics can easily evade taxes legally.

I also think no one likes paying taxes, especially in countries where it's not 12 percent, but 30 percent or more. For example, these are countries with progressive tax rates for the wealthy. And people don't care about all this talk about taxes being necessary to live in a civilized society.
 These words don't motivate anyone because we know politicians steal and the rich cheat and don't pay, and ordinary people ask: why should we give up this money? And while businessmen or cryptocurrencies can cheat, those who work officially are still deprived of 12 percent.

[bakasabo]

I guess most people don't like taxes ever since the old times, especially those who taxed from everything, both business man and ordinary salary guy, those who taxed 12% and above, then those who live on countries where their government only do bare minimum. You will really feel the same sentiment of those people. And yet, those who have in power, rich businessman who are aligned to some politics can easily evade taxes legally.

I also think no one likes paying taxes, especially in countries where it's not 12 percent, but 30 percent or more. For example, these are countries with progressive tax rates for the wealthy. And people don't care about all this talk about taxes being necessary to live in a civilized society.
 These words don't motivate anyone because we know politicians steal and the rich cheat and don't pay, and ordinary people ask: why should we give up this money? And while businessmen or cryptocurrencies can cheat, those who work officially are still deprived of 12 percent.

But those people like to receive benefits that are paid from those taxes. Medicine, education, help from police and firefighters. Even roads those people drive their cars on are built by money from taxes. Why not then they dont use them? Imo it is not taxes in general that people dont like, but their size and how they are spend. But that is where nobody would find agreement (one would like more taxes to be spent on education, others on defense).

[AgriTrack]

This is a reasonable request, if you are paying taxes, then you want to see that back. But people do not "see" things that are quite obvious, like the soldier that fights for your country gets paid from your taxes, but you do not consider that, firefighter? your tax, police? your tax, ministry? your tax.

Basically, tax isn't just building roads, getting hospitals, schools, bridges and so forth, it's also the salaries of all the people that work for the government, from president, to janitor of some office. So you do not "see" it all the time, but it's there, every single month.

Many people do not think it is bad to pay taxes, nor are they against it. They believe that money is needed to run the country and this money is collected from the people in the form of taxes. People pay taxes, then after that the government should use that money in a good place, like they can build good roads with that money, hospitals that need some machinery can be completed in them and along with that there should be electricity facility. If they do their job well, then people do not think it is bad to pay taxes. People are angry when taxes are high, tax money is wasted and the people do not have access to facilities. Most people do not think it is bad to pay taxes. They just want them to get every facility and use this money in a good place.

[Cookdata]

I can tell you that many people from my country (Nigeria) would prefer non taxing government, this is because it even goes beyond the impact it does to our earnings but you will wonder what the tax are being used for. I just have to believe that the elites in the Government are just using the tax to enrich them self without proper accountability. Our previous government never taxed us like this but yet we saw a lot of infrastructural development.
The most annoying part is the government are taxing and still borrowing even after removal of subsidy. I am very certain if we all are seeing what the taxed money are used for nobody will complain, we all want development and we know government have to taxed us to get the revenues that will do the work but unfortunately it’s better of not taxing us if we aren’t going to see the effect.

I don't like to pay tax as well and not because I dislike the tax system, it's because my money will be looted with the rest of the people and used for family enrichment. This is because the system is infiltrated with too much corruption and there is no trust in the system. The people that are paying taxes are the ones they can't avoid like the salaries, vats, business people and other public taxes that can't be hidden, if there is way people can hide it, they will do it.

The Nigerian Government tax take home has triple ever since this government came to office and if you ask them one good thing they have done since they came to office, they will give you unimaginable projects, the same government is going around borrowing money and sharing it between their political party, people no longer trust the government again which are the issues in the country and you want me to give all mine to the government, not doing that.

[junder]

I actually don't really understand taxes, but what I know is that someone who has a vehicle must pay taxes actually I don't know where this is directed, meaning that this tax payment money will be used for what. I own a vehicle but I do not pay taxes especially because the government system in my country is weak, chaotic and messy so some people think it's useless to pay taxes too if the government is working poorly.

[Ashawowo(OS)]

Taxes are paid only because of the threat of administrative or even criminal prosecution for non-payment. Why don't people want to pay taxes? Out of greed? - No, not out of greed. Because people see that their taxes are either being stolen or are being wasted.

I agree to this, here in my country we are revolting against paying income tax and the reason is not far-fetched, we do almost everything for ourselves from health care to security(organizing local vigilante and paying them ourselves), power(generators, since power is very unsteady or unavailable) and all of it, we don't feel the presence of the government and living conditions have greatly deteriorated. Now tell me how more choking it can be to still pay the government enormous tax from the little remaining income which isn't even enough for survival?

We already pay lots of taxes on goods and services we consume which the prices have now skyrocketed above the moon, now they want us to start paying income tax as well while the economic condition of the country is still degrading and we barely have enough to survive, despite the numerous taxes we pay already of which the government almost never uses the IGR in our interests.

[davis196]

Most people can tolerate taxes because they understand governments need revenue which is understandable.

What really frustrates them is realizing that no matter how hard they work, their salary keeps losing the race against real life. You get a small raise and for one moment it feels like progress… then rent increases, food gets more expensive, transport goes up, and suddenly that raise means almost nothing again.

That’s why many people today are earning more money than they did years ago, yet somehow still feel very financially weaker.

Most people don't hate taxes? Speak for yourself. I will always hate paying taxes and I'm sure that most people would never start enjoying taxes. Do you have any proof, that most people don't hate taxes? I don't think so. Inflation is a hidden tax and nobody likes inflation.
Are you one of the thousands of Bitcoin enthusiasts, who are suggesting that Bitcoin is a solution for the inflation/fiat devaluation problem?
OK, I get your point, but the BTC price went to 120K USD last year and is 50% down compared to the ATH level. Does this look like a financial asset, that would protect your wealth against inflation? I know that we should be focused on the long term performance. Bitcoin price might go 3x after a year or two. Hard work would never make anyone rich. Innovation is what makes rich people wealthy. AI is about to kill the concept of "hard work" in the near future.

[bakasabo]

I actually don't really understand taxes, but what I know is that someone who has a vehicle must pay taxes actually I don't know where this is directed, meaning that this tax payment money will be used for what. I own a vehicle but I do not pay taxes especially because the government system in my country is weak, chaotic and messy so some people think it's useless to pay taxes too if the government is working poorly.

Where do you think government got money to build roads your car is driving on? Where would government get funds to repair potholes and cracks in the asphalt if not from taxes or vehicle operating tax that you suppose to pay each year? When country dont get enough money from trading resources, import/export and etc, they start to cover those budget holes with taxes and increased taxes.

[Fredomago]

I guess most people don't like taxes ever since the old times, especially those who taxed from everything, both business man and ordinary salary guy, those who taxed 12% and above, then those who live on countries where their government only do bare minimum. You will really feel the same sentiment of those people. And yet, those who have in power, rich businessman who are aligned to some politics can easily evade taxes legally.

I also think no one likes paying taxes, especially in countries where it's not 12 percent, but 30 percent or more. For example, these are countries with progressive tax rates for the wealthy. And people don't care about all this talk about taxes being necessary to live in a civilized society.
 These words don't motivate anyone because we know politicians steal and the rich cheat and don't pay, and ordinary people ask: why should we give up this money? And while businessmen or cryptocurrencies can cheat, those who work officially are still deprived of 12 percent.

But those people like to receive benefits that are paid from those taxes. Medicine, education, help from police and firefighters. Even roads those people drive their cars on are built by money from taxes. Why not then they dont use them? Imo it is not taxes in general that people dont like, but their size and how they are spend. But that is where nobody would find agreement (one would like more taxes to be spent on education, others on defense).

Exactly, as there's no way that you can avoid that taxes as anything that circulating that's being paid with real cash do have taxes aside from those illegal as they are not being detected or tax not being implemented, similar to what you said, people hates those who have the control on how they are using and spending those taxes that being collected, in most third world places those taxes are being corrupted so instead being used for the needs of the people they compensated themselves by using their authority to suck those money to whatever form that they can take.