Editor's Note

Tax Day: Did You Pay Too Much? Are Federal Taxes Fair?

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April 18, 2011 RSS Feed Print
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For some reason, as I sit down to write this, I'm thinking about taxes. Oh, right. They're due today. Debating tax policy after settling up with the government may be as ill-advised as grocery shopping after skipping lunch. But given the politically charged problem of our budget crisis, now's the moment. The issue boils down to merely two of the most important questions a society can ask itself: When it comes to taking money out of people's pockets, what's necessary, and what's fair? No one likes taxes, but thinking about your own still-wet 1040, was it the right amount? Did you get your money's worth? Assuming, of course, that you paid taxes; nearly half of Americans don't. Is that fair? Is there a better system? Give me your thoughts at editor@usnews.com or in the comments section below.

Tags:
tax returns,
income tax

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Yes there is a better way for taxation. It is very simple but our leader make it harder than it has to be. I have a very well paying job but i seem to not be able to get ahead simply because i dont claim any kids, and i didnt grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. It is rediculous that a man working next to me makes the same per hour that i do but he has four kids and he brings home appox double that i do every month. It is a shame that there are millionaires that pay a lower percentage of taxes that do. I work hard everyday and i am rewarded by getting raped by the government. I the last couple of years i have paid more in taxes than what a lot of people make in a year. The solution would be a flat taxation. There are lot of people that work a lot of overtime as i do simply to be put into a higher tax bracket and dont get to see anything from my hard work. Get rid of all the loop holes to let the rich continue to get rich. On my last pay check i paid 33% into taxes that is just not ethical period. I am ex military and i love my country but i would vote for a one legged horse if he would get the country a flat tax. I have never sold any illegal things but i would be a liar if i would say that it hadnt crossed my mind because criminals seem to be the only ones getting ahead finacially these days. SMH we need to get it right and quick...

Roderick of TX 1:32AM October 15, 2012

I know this is an old post but i cant help but add my two cents...

I dont have any good ideas to help make things more fair or solutions to the problem but I will definitely say, They take WAY too much. On a 68k/year salary I had over 12k taken in federal ALONE and will only get a little more than 2k back!

This is crazy. I paid over ten thousand dollars last year to my federal government because i wanted to be employed. IF i didnt want to work then i wouldnt have to give the federal government anything. WHAT?

Is that fair? Do they take about 10K from every worker making a little more than the average salary???

AND HOW THE HECK IS OUR COUNTRY STILL IN DEBT!?

Maybe were still in debt because of all the people collecting unemployement because they'd rather do that then work to have their hard earned money TAKEN by the federal government.

so if i dont want to work, i dont have to pay taxes AND the government will pay me money to do nothing instead of me giving them money I worked hard for?

seems like a no-brainer, i need to get laid off and live off the government to prevent them from taking MY HARD-EARNED MONEY!

Jimmy of AZ 2:46PM February 10, 2012

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lucaszane of TX 5:59AM April 19, 2011

Editor's Note

Brian Kelly was named editor of U.S.News & World Report in April 2007, nine years after joining the magazine. With more than 30 years of journalism experience, including covering Capitol Hill, politics, and the presidency both as a beat reporter and as an editor, Kelly is one of the nation’s most experienced magazine editors in steering national and international news content.

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