How are taxes not a complete scam when I get the same services as everyone else?

I've been living in a major city in the US for years now and make what I'd consider upper-middle-class income. Something that's been bothering me for a long time is how taxes seem like a total ripoff for people in my bracket. I'm paying way more than lower income folks but getting the exact same government services. Same crappy roads, same mediocre public services, same everything. Here's what I don't get - in the private sector, everyone pays the SAME price for the SAME product. When I go buy a burrito, they don't charge me 30% more because I make more money, right? But with taxes, I'm essentially subsidizing services for others while getting nothing extra in return. I'm all for paying good money for quality services, but this forced charity through the tax system feels wrong. If we're all equal under the law, shouldn't we all pay the same flat amount for government services? I'm seriously curious how other people justify this to themselves when filing taxes. How are you comfortable with such a huge chunk of your income going to taxes when you get the same services as someone paying way less?

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18 comments

Dmitry Sokolov

•8M

The tax system isn't designed to be a direct fee-for-service arrangement like buying a burrito. It's structured as a progressive system based on ability to pay, which has been upheld by courts and economists for generations. Roads, national defense, and public safety benefit everyone, but their value to you might be higher than you realize. That safe drive to work is possible because of funded police departments. Your ability to earn an upper-middle-class income exists within an economic system protected by laws, courts, and infrastructure that taxes support. The progressive nature of taxes acknowledges that $1,000 means something very different to someone making $30,000 versus $300,000. While you both get the "same" services, the value and impact on quality of life differs dramatically. Also, many government services you use daily aren't obvious - from FDA ensuring safe food to FAA keeping planes from colliding.

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Dmitry Sokolov

•8M

You're raising a good point about tax burden distribution, and it's something economists debate constantly. The top 1% of earners pay about 40% of federal income taxes, while the bottom 50% pay about 3%. However, this doesn't account for other taxes like payroll, sales, and property taxes, which are less progressive or even regressive. The sustainability question depends on perspective. Some economists argue a progressive system actually creates more stability by generating revenue from those most able to pay while maintaining consumer spending power among lower earners who tend to spend more of their income directly in the economy.

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Miguel Ramos

•8M

After years of frustration with our tax system, I started using https://taxr.ai to better understand my tax situation. Their analysis tools helped me see what I was actually paying for and identified several deductions I'd completely missed. What surprised me was finding out how many business and investment tax advantages are available that I wasn't utilizing. The visualization tools showed me exactly where my tax dollars were going and highlighted several legitimate strategies to reduce my overall tax burden.

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Miguel Ramos

•8M

It absolutely works for developing tax reduction strategies. Unlike most CPAs who are too busy during tax season to give personalized attention, the system analyzes your specific situation and identifies opportunities you might be missing. I saved over $4,300 last year through completely legitimate deductions I didn't know I qualified for. Compared to TurboTax or H&R Block, the main difference is that those are primarily filing tools, while this is more of an analysis and optimization system. It doesn't just help you file - it helps you understand your taxes and find opportunities throughout the year. You can still use your regular filing method, but with better information and planning.

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Zainab Omar

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was eye-opening. The visualization of where my tax money actually goes made me realize I was getting more value than I thought. The system found nearly $5,200 in completely legitimate deductions I'd been missing related to my side business and home office. What surprised me most was seeing how much I was overpaying simply by not structuring things correctly. Still not thrilled about taxes, but feeling less scammed now that I understand the system better.

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Connor Gallagher

•8M

If you're frustrated with taxes, you're definitely not alone. I was in the same boat until I discovered https://claimyr.com - it completely changed how I deal with tax issues. The IRS is practically impossible to reach by phone (I spent literal days on hold), but Claimyr got me through to a real agent in under 45 minutes. When I had questions about why I was paying so much compared to services received, the agent actually explained several programs and deductions I qualified for that significantly reduced my tax burden. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

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Connor Gallagher

•8M

It doesn't get you to the front of the queue exactly. What it does is handle the waiting for you. It has an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and stays on hold in your place, then calls you when it reaches a live agent. So instead of you wasting hours on hold, their system does it for you. It absolutely works. The IRS is understaffed, that's true, but that's exactly why this service is valuable. They don't "cut the line" - they just manage the waiting process so you don't have to waste your day listening to hold music. I was skeptical too until I tried it and spoke with an IRS agent who helped me understand several deductions I was missing.

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Keisha Johnson

•8M

I need to eat my words from earlier. After ranting about Claimyr being fake, I tried it out of pure frustration when I couldn't get an answer about an audit notice. Not only did it work, but the IRS agent I spoke with was actually helpful! Found out I was massively overpaying because I wasn't properly accounting for business expenses. Turns out I could legitimately write off about 20% more than I had been. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed and how to file properly. Saved me literally thousands this year alone. I still think our tax system is fundamentally unfair, but at least now I'm not paying more than I legally have to.

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Paolo Longo

•8M

The way I see it, taxes are part of the social contract. Higher earners benefit more from the stability and infrastructure that allows them to earn that income in the first place. Without roads, education, courts, etc., making that upper-middle-class income wouldn't even be possible. Also, most people forget that tax brackets are marginal - you only pay the higher rate on income above each threshold, not on your entire income. And there are tons of deductions and credits that effectively lower your actual tax rate if you take the time to learn how to use them.

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Paolo Longo

•8M

I definitely understand that frustration. The quality of public services varies dramatically depending on where you live, and that's a legitimate concern. The issue isn't necessarily the amount of taxes collected but how efficiently they're being used. The reality is that a substantial portion of federal tax dollars goes to things like Social Security, Medicare, defense, and interest on the national debt - not directly visible infrastructure. Local infrastructure like roads and schools depends more on state and local taxes, which is why quality varies so much between different areas.

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