The IRS's Missed Opportunity [Reshare for Tax Season]
Taxes are for a purpose - it would be nice to be reminded of that
I wanted to resend what I wrote last year since we’re in Tax Season in the US, . Unfortunately the IRS still hasn’t implemented this. Soon!
I had the privilege (not sarcastic!) of paying the IRS additional taxes this past Monday. The not-quite-small amount I paid was in addition to the amount deducted from my biweekly paycheck. It was a fair amount which took into account deductions I had earned but also that I have had some investments appreciate. Altogether, over 30% of my income went to federal and state taxes.
And you know what happened when I paid those taxes? Nothing.
Sure, I got a confirmation that the payment was successful. But no feedback! Nothing that thanked me for supporting democracy. Nothing that reminded me about the impact taxes have to help government work. Nothing that reminded me that taxes help protect our borders, vaccinate our country, support democracy, advance science, care for our elderly, and feed the needy.
What a missed opportunity.
Taxes are for a purpose. We need to be reminded of that! They help government work, which is supposed to make our life better. And government generally does make our life better! This past year has certainly shown us the importance of an effective and functional government. But right now the word 'tax' is looked at as an evil or a waste, hence the pejorative phrase "a tax on the system". We need a reframe.
When we pay our taxes, we should be reminded of the impact. How many food stamps does this cover? How many feet of asphalt does this buy for highways? How much healthcare.gov server time did this pay for? I should be thanked and reminded of where my dollars go. Funny enough, the IRS should look to Chipotle for inspiration.
Chipotle reminds you at checkout of the impact of purchasing in their food system versus others. I see emissions avoided, water saved, and other. impact. Let’s not kid ourselves: I'm buying for the burrito, but this is a nice reminder of the bigger picture.
Next year, I hope I can see where my tax dollars go. Literally. On the confirmation page. I want to know that the payment was successful, but I also want to be thanked and reminded of what that money does for our society!
While it may never be something totally pleasurable, paying taxes could be something we are proud of.