Wonder where your federal tax dollars are going?
The Federal Taxpayer Receipt empowers American taxpayers by providing a detailed “receipt” showing where their hard-earned federal taxes go. In an era marked by increased scrutiny of government spending and a growing desire for transparency, this user-friendly tool offers better insight into and understanding of our nation’s fiscal priorities.
The interactive tool provides taxpayers with an itemized estimate of how their tax dollars are allocated across government programs and services based on how much they paid in federal taxes in a given year. Seeing how federal funds are distributed - from national security and social insurance programs to education and infrastructure - allows for a more robust and informed dialogue around government spending and taxes. The receipt breaks down tax revenue contributions across 11 spending categories, with more detailed breakdowns for key agencies and programs.
This tool is meant to increase public awareness and education about how tax revenues are allocated. It is not meant to estimate tax liability nor should the information from this tool be construed as tax advice in any way. The federal government collects revenue from a variety of sources, including individual income taxes, payroll taxes, excise taxes, and corporate income taxes.
Data in the tool is routinely updated to reflect the latest estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other government agencies to ensure accuracy and effectiveness. This simulation is a collaborative effort between the Bipartisan Policy Center, Intuit, and Polco.
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