Where do our tax dollars really go? Is there a centralized accountability system that tracks every tax dollar?
340630
Theoretically yes, every dollar is accounted for and is reported back to Congress and the President at the end of a fiscal year.
1079888
Our tax system is a "pay as you go" system. We have to pay taxes as we make the money. Which is why we have the regular withholding out of a paycheck, etc... at the end of the year we reconcile taxes paid vs. taxes owed, etc.. via a 1040 form, but paying taxes is not a "yearly" event. It is a pay as you go event. That is how the system is set up. If you expect to owe more than $1000.00 at the end of the year, you must make estimated tax payments.
744704
Yeah, but you'd have a hard time following every check.\nBy the way a budget is where you lay out where you are going to spend the money.\nWhat you want is the accounts to show where it was actually spent.\nThere is a government department that monitors spending. The GAO\nhttp://www.gao.gov/\n\nFor the Government to monitor every check would be impossible, too expensive.\n\nThe Pentagon comes into much criticism CNN - Audit: Pentagon paid $76 for 57-cent screw - March 18, 1998\nhttp://www.cnn.com/US/9803/18/pentagon.76.screw/index.html\n\nBut that is probably politically biased.\n\nWherever governments spend your money someone can take advantage paying the money-Kickbacks-, and/or cheat the Government with low quality or overpriced goods.\n\nYou're right we should be able to see where every check goes.\nBut should Government employees have to disclose their checks when other people don't?\n\nBy the way the GAO has a site to report fraud.
276883
Richard is right. The money that you take out of each employee's check is supposed to be pd(usually quarterly) to the correct place (ex fed tax is sent to the IRS)
1054857
The authority you're asking about is contained in a mind-numbingly complex series of Acts of Congress and legal decisions in case law, one built on top of the next. The staggering volume of this legal mess invites challenges from those who would like to find a single line somewhere that brings down the house of cards and proves it all invalid. \n\nIt is true that it took several false starts before the legal foundation for taxing personal income was strong enough to make it a permanent source of revenue for the U.S. government. The first U.S. income tax, enacted in 1862 to pay for the Civil War, was repealed 10 years later. \n\nIn 1894, Congress tried to bring back income taxes, but a year later the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional in the landmark "Pollack" case. (A central issue in that case was how these taxes would be "apportioned" to the various states.) By 1913, Congress gave it one more shot, and the states ratified the Sixteenth Amendment, which says:\n\n"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration."\n\nSome modern tax skeptics claim this amendment was not properly ratified. Alas, so far, none of them have been able to convince a federal court of the validity of their claim. \n\nWorse, many of these people offer themselves up as "tax consultants" and bilk hard-working people out of "advisory fees" based on their delusional claims. They are about as legitimate as those fictitious e-mails from ousted Nigerian officials offering to pay you handsomely for helping them move millions of dollars out of their country.\n\nThe IRS provides a nice summary on the history of the laws that gave rise to the U.S. income tax. You can also find more on the history of the U.S. income tax on the Web site at Colorado College. Here are some highlights from that page: \n\n1916-1951: new tax legislation enacted every year \n1939: U.S. Tax Laws first codified as an integral part of the U.S. Code -- IRC 1939 \n1954: U.S. tax code amended and becomes IRC 1954 \n1986: Code completely revamped -- IRC 1986 US Code, Title 26, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n1997: Taxpayer Relief Act -- new beneficial rules to offset education costs \n2001: Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act -- phased in changes with sunset provisions causing the new tax laws to terminate in 2011, leaving the clean up to future sessions of Congress. Middle income taxpayers assume burden for repealed estate tax provisions by now paying capital gains income tax on decedent's built in gain. \nAs for the various types of income, they are also thoroughly defined in the tax law (and on the IRS Web site). There is wage income, interest and dividend income, capital gains, alimony, rental income, lottery winnings -- you get the idea. And there's a place for each and every one of them on your Form 1040 tax return.\n\nSorry to be the one to break the bad news.
570728
good question, I think our tax dollars are seriously being spent incorrectly..
165507
Everyone complains about taxes and the fed govt getting involved in everything.  Then others want the feds, with tax money, to solve all the problems locally.  State and local govts should be taking care of their state, counties and cities.  Good people like you, along with local businesses and organizations should be involved in community issues.  Bush is one man.  The President runs an entire country.  People need to get off the attack Bush and hold him responsible for everything kick.  There are also your U.S. reps in Congress who obtain fed assistance and funds.  They spend a lot of our fed taxes on pork barrel projects.  Several hundred million for an unneeded bridge, several million here and there for parks, monuments and statues, millions for local research, grants and studies.  Those U.S. reps should be looking after your communities in need.
857105
Well, there are some "wonderful" things we do with tax money.  But there's also alot of waste and we spend money on things we probably shouldn't.  \n\nThere are no programs, that I know of, in the federal government where a decent business case of cost/benefit is performed.  We have programs around that have been there for decades and we have no idea if they're still worth doing.   We spend tons of money on things that benefit a very small number of people- tons of pork dollars go to building things fed dollars should never fund and that we frankly can't afford.\n\nWe invest money in research and often times allow the patents (our public patents) to be used by private industry for little to nothing.  then, we as consumers get to pay tons for either drugs, medical care or consumer products that we the public funded to develop.  How does that make sense?\n\nAt this point, 25%+ of the fed budget goes to the military\nAbout 20% or more (I think) goes to pay interest ONLY on the debt.  We never retire any principle on our debt.\n\nLocal taxes etc. is a slightly different story-- still have waste and inefficiecy though.\n\nI personally don't see what I get for my tax dollars (at the federal level) other than things like roads, national parks (which I have to pay to use), consumer protection laws (marginally benefit me that I can tell), college (I paid my tuition-but fed/state dollars go to Universities).  I have never taken advantage of any federal programs, no subisdies, so welfare/TANF.  So what am I getting for my money?  Not much that I can see.  Yet I pay quite a bit of dough each year to the fed and state.  More than alot of people make in a year.  \n\nWe get taxed for pretty much everything we come in contact with-- think about it.  Income, consumption of all sorts, gasoline, phone, utilities, property.  Next thing you know, they're going to tax the air we breath.  Its get tiresome and eats away at everybody's earnings.
609870
It is called the ESCHELON system.  It has been around for about 15 years and was put into full use under the Clinton Administration.\n\nYes you're being watched.
5418
I assume you mean what DOES the government do with local and state taxes.  If not, then it seems the dose is never enough.  \n\nOn a local level, the taxes are used a number of things.  Here are examples:\n(1) Installing and maintaning sidewalks and streets\n(2) Construction for the schools\n(3) Attract businesses to locate in the area\n(4) Entitlement programs such as medicaid.\n(5) Offer job-assistance for the unemployed\n(6) Employ police officers, firefighters, medical workers\n(7) Grants are given to organizations who can do charity work more efficiently than forming a government agency.\n\nOn the state, it's about the same type of spending but on a grand scale.  Taxes are used to pay for the roads all over the state.  The salaries of teachers, educators, and state agencies come from state taxes.\n\nThe role of government is to protect the people and allow them to live a free and productive life.  The challenge occurs when more and more taxes are collected for entitlement programs.  Some believe that problems can be solved by spending more money.  Others will say that is not the best solution.\n\nIt is a good question - what does government do with the money.  On a local level, you can always go to the City or County Manager and ask to see a copy of the budget.  That will give you an idea of how the money is allocated and to be spent.
23076
It's the House of Representative that determine spending.  Because the house does the taxing it has the obligation to spend the money and no I have no Idea how much was spent.  Try the Department of the Interior (it's responsible for the BIA) http://www.doi.gov/
77025
The actual entity would be the Treasury. Congress sets his salary. The source of the money is taxes of various sorts (income, excise, gift, estate, etc.) as well as customs duties.
719030
The same ones who gave to the Democrats... or are you that ignorant\n\nhttps://www.donationreport.com\n\nYou'll find names that gave to BOTH parties.\nWhat is the point though, they pay more taxes than you or I do...they every every right to contribute whatever they want to which ever party they want to...It is how the politicians react to getting those funds that can be a crime.
400461
Go to the City or County Governement offices.  Usually the same as the Courts. Speak with the Clerk and ask to view the Property Tax recoreds for the property in question.  Who ever pays the taxes for that property will be recorded, and generally the owner pays the taxes.  Tax records are public information in the U.S..
290457
They get data from the IRS, data from the Social Security Administration, and data from the Census, data,,, data,,, data.  Basically, they have access to everything you are, have been or might be. Including bank records, personal information you might think is private etc. \n\nGeorge Orwell was right.  Big bro has climbed up our rectal orfice and is with us allways, causing pain.
405139
Majority of the illegals here that are working do pay in taxes they just can't get any of that money back.So where is all that money going?
639180
Does it have any-thing to do with our Colorful-TAX system???????????