Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2021 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined

[libertybele]

Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2021 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined

According to newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans in 2021 once again spent more on average on taxes than they did on food, clothing and health care combined.

During 2021, according to Table R-1 in the BLS’ Consumer Expenditure Survey, American “consumer units” spent an average of $15,495.28 on food, clothing and health care combined, while paying an average of $16,729.73 in total taxes to federal, state and local governments.

A consumer unit," the BLS says in the glossary for its Consumer Expenditure Survey, “comprises either (1) all members of a particular household who are related by blood, marriage, adoption or other legal arrangements; (2) persons living alone or sharing a household with others or living as a roomer in a private home or lodging house or in a permanent living quarters in a hotel or motel, but who is financially independence; or (3) two or more person living together who use their income to make joint expenditure decisions.”

On average in 2021, American consumer units spent $8,289.28 on food; $1,754.39 on clothing (apparel and apparel-related services); and $5,451.61 on health care.

That equaled a combined $15,495.28.

At that same time, American consumer units were paying an average $16,729.73 in net total taxes.

These included $8,561.46 in federal income taxes; $5,565.45 in Social Security taxes; $2,564.14 in state and local income taxes; $2,475.18 in property taxes; $105.21 in other taxes—minus an average of $2,541.71 in stimulus payments received back from the government....................

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/terence-p-jeffrey/americans-spent-more-taxes-2021-food-clothing-and-health-care

[LMAO]

It is imperative that we cut spending drastically and reduce the size of the government or the middle class standard of living will be gone

[libertybele]

It is imperative that we cut spending drastically and reduce the size of the government or the middle class standard of living will be gone

I agree, but I think we've already reached that point; the middle class is shrinking drastically and the standard of living is dwindling.

[Smokin Joe]

When you add in property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, etc. Definitely.

And any more, all the clothes I buy are NFPA 2112 fire resistant, and they aren't cheap (most expensive jeans I ever wore).

[jmyrlefuller]

But that tax burden is nowhere near evenly spread among the American people. Given the distribution of wealth in this country, I'd say a majority of Americans DON'T pay that much in taxes.

Hence why they think everything from the government is an entitlement. They don't have to pay for it.

[roamer_1]

But that tax burden is nowhere near evenly spread among the American people. Given the distribution of wealth in this country, I'd say a majority of Americans DON'T pay that much in taxes.

Hence why they think everything from the government is an entitlement. They don't have to pay for it.

If you are limiting the field to income tax alone, you might be right... Only 'might'... But the cost of income tax, and a plethora of other taxes (fuel as an instance) are baked into retail costs. So no, this tax system is so complicated, redundant, and overlapping that I think I will have to deny your claim.