Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined

[mystery-ak]

By Terence P. Jeffrey | October 2, 2019 | 5:06 AM EDT

Americans on average spent more on taxes in 2018 than they did on the basic necessities of food, clothing and health care combined, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

The survey's recently published Table R-1 for 2018 lists the average "detailed expenditures" of what the BLS calls "consumer units."

"Consumer units," says BLS, "include families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share major expenses."

In 2018, according to Table R-1, American consumer units spent an average of $9,031.93 on federal income taxes; $5,023.73 on Social Security taxes (which the table calls "deductions"); $2,284.62 on state and local income taxes; $2,199.80 on property taxes; and $77.85 on what BLS calls "other taxes."

The combined payments the average American consumer unit made for these five categories of taxes was $18,617.93.

more
https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/americans-spent-more-taxes-2018-food-clothing-and-health-care-combined

[Bigun]

See my tagline.

[skeeter]

I dearly wish someone would whip this statistic out the next time some political hack tries to pass themselves off as caring about the interests of the middle class.

[OfTheCross]

By Terence P. Jeffrey | October 2, 2019 | 5:06 AM EDT

Americans on average spent more on taxes in 2018 than they did on the basic necessities of food, clothing and health care combined, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

The survey's recently published Table R-1 for 2018 lists the average "detailed expenditures" of what the BLS calls "consumer units."

"Consumer units," says BLS, "include families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share major expenses."

In 2018, according to Table R-1, American consumer units spent an average of $9,031.93 on federal income taxes; $5,023.73 on Social Security taxes (which the table calls "deductions"); $2,284.62 on state and local income taxes; $2,199.80 on property taxes; and $77.85 on what BLS calls "other taxes."

The combined payments the average American consumer unit made for these five categories of taxes was $18,617.93.

more
https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/americans-spent-more-taxes-2018-food-clothing-and-health-care-combined

I was looking through that BLS data a bit last week. I'm glad someone else did too.

The only thing about this is, we have a progressive Federal Income Tax.

In line 626 of BLS' research you see that Consumer Units making between $40K - $70K paid between $1K and $3.3K in Federal Taxes.

The average household income last year was $61K.

[txradioguy]

And every Progressive running for President thinks we aren't taxed enough.

[OfTheCross]

And every Progressive running for President thinks we aren't taxed enough.

Realistically, how much is too much?

[txradioguy]

Realistically, how much is too much?

Whatever the tax rates are right now.

[roamer_1]

Realistically, how much is too much?

Anything past the Constitutional boundaries. Coin and measures, war, and interstate matters. ... All the rest is not proper and should not be funded. Put it ALL back in  the states where it belongs.

You work half of every year to cover taxes. That is way, way too much.

[Elderberry]

Did you look at that Survey?  75 Pages?  How much of our Tax Dollars were wasted on this?

[OfTheCross]

Did you look at that Survey?  75 Pages?  How much of our Tax Dollars were wasted on this?

depends, how much was your income last year?

[bigheadfred]

Wait until Medicare for all hits. Then see how much we pay in taxes.

[Applewood]

How can this be?  Didn't we get tax reform not long ago? 

Yes, I'm being sarcastic. 

[Elderberry]

depends, how much was your income last year?

What's it to you?

[Applewood]

Wait until Medicare for all hits. Then see how much we pay in taxes.

You got that right.  That "free" healthcare isn't so free for the taxpayers paying for it. 

I was arguing about "free healthcare" with a liberal, socialist friend of mine who thinks Medicare for All would be a great idea.  I was telling her that many years ago, when my family used to visit Mom's relatives in Ontario, sales taxes (both federal and provincial) were 15%.  Not sure what those taxes are now.  My friend thought that was low.  Yeah, sure it is -- till you realize you are paying that tax on everything.  Those "low" taxes add up.  And that's not counting all the other taxes too. 

But liberals want us to be like every other country -- high cost for what amounts to substandard care.  I'd like to see what these people who promote this "free healthcare" would do if they lived in Canada or the UK and, God forbid, they developed some catastrophic illness or suffered some serious injury and needed some major health care.  They would find out that that excellent care would not be available in those countries unless they were wealthy.  Why do they think Canadians who can afford it come to the US for major surgeries and such?

[skeeter]

Realistically, how much is too much?

Everyone has their own definition, mine is its too much when couples decide they can't afford to have the family they want because of their tax load, causing the economy to import labor & putting it on the public dole. Which the rest of us pay for with more taxes.

[Bigun]

When anyone or anything has a prior claim to the fruits of your labor what does that make you?

[bigheadfred]

When anyone or anything has a prior claim to the fruits of your labor what does that make you?

The person that just quit their day job and jumped to the front of the line for free shit.

[rangerrebew]

Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined
 

Americans on average spent more on taxes in 2018 than they did on the basic necessities of food, clothing and health care combined, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

The survey's recently published Table R-1 for 2018 lists the average "detailed expenditures" of what the BLS calls "consumer units."

"Consumer units," says BLS, "include families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share major expenses."
 
Source URL: https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/americans-spent-more-taxes-2018-food-clothing-and-health-care-combined

[OfTheCross]

When anyone or anything has a prior claim to the fruits of your labor what does that make you?

a citizen of any of these nations:

[txradioguy]

a citizen of any of these nations:

What's your point?

[Bigun]

What's your point?

You are expecting points from retread trolls?   

[skeeter]

a citizen of any of these nations:

I'll assume this graph represents federal taxes only, as state & local tax burdens vary wildly.

[OfTheCross]

What's your point?

It's a direct response to your question. How would you have answered it?

I'll assume this graph represents federal taxes only, as state & local tax burdens vary wildly.

Indeed.

[roamer_1]

It's a direct response to your question. How would you have answered it?


Indeed.

Federal income tax only or ALL federal taxes?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

In looking at this, it appears NOT to include Corporate taxes which of course Americans are also on the hook for.  That is another $263 billion or $800 per capita for the fed only.  State corporate taxes make it even more.

There are myriads of other taxes, mostly hidden like gasoline taxes, that might also be missing.  Also a lot of 'fees' are nothing but disguised taxes.