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Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2021 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined
CNS News ^ | September 9, 2022 | Terence P. Jeffrey |

Posted on 09/15/2022 5:29:34 AM PDT by george76

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 independent; 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.

In 2020, according to BLS Table R-1 for that year, American consumer units paid an average of $17,148.12 in net total taxes and paid $13,927.74 for food, clothing and health care combined.

...

The $17,148.12 in net total taxes that consumer units paid on average in 2020 included $8,811.78 in federal income taxes; $5,392.35 in Social Security taxes; $2,429.71 in state and local income taxes; $2,353.42 in property taxes, and $71.87 in other taxes—minus an average $1,911.01 in stimulus payments received back from the government.

The $13,927.74 that consumer units paid for food, clothing and health care, included $7,316.47 for food; $1,434.26 for clothing; and $5,177.01 for health care.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clothing; food; healthcare; tax; taxes
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1 posted on 09/15/2022 5:29:34 AM PDT by george76
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To: george76

The poor don’t pay any taxes. They don’t pay their fair share


2 posted on 09/15/2022 5:35:11 AM PDT by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Juneteenth is inequality day)
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To: george76

This doesn’t even look like it is taking into account all the taxes built in and forwarded in the product.


3 posted on 09/15/2022 5:36:05 AM PDT by bak3r
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To: george76

I don’t pay state taxes, but Fed taxes are always my biggest expense. More than mortgage, healthcare premium and food combined. I don’t spend much on clothing. 22% bracket.


4 posted on 09/15/2022 5:39:26 AM PDT by DC Packfan
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To: george76
Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2021 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined

Shouldn't that be "Americans Who Have Jobs Spent More on Taxes in 2021 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined" ?

5 posted on 09/15/2022 5:41:49 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: george76

Gotta keep those tax dollars flowing through Northern Virginia, like crack through the veins of a drug addict.


6 posted on 09/15/2022 5:43:08 AM PDT by brianl703
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To: george76

I pay about 20K a year just in federal taxes. This does not include my local, SS, State and other taxes I pay each year.

My food, clothing, and health spending (just me no family) is about 8K a year.

The US Government does not like hardworking people. I will withdraw from the work force soon; I am tired of paying for others freeride.


7 posted on 09/15/2022 5:44:43 AM PDT by DEPcom (Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules)
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To: george76

I will never be able to retire because of taxes


8 posted on 09/15/2022 5:53:14 AM PDT by SisterK (the final variant is communism)
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To: george76

I conservatively estimate that I spent about EIGHT TIMES as much in taxes as I spent on food, clothing and medical care last year. And hell, I don’t even live in a high tax blue state.


9 posted on 09/15/2022 5:54:26 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: george76
Americans pay more taxes...

At least they got that part right. The ILLEGALS, not so much.

10 posted on 09/15/2022 6:19:22 AM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: george76

As president Trump said the inflation is purposeful by Joe Biden and it’s a hidden tax. The government is crushing the middle class ON PURPOSE!


11 posted on 09/15/2022 6:22:35 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: bert

And the filthy-rich Democrat donors can afford to hire the best tax attorneys and accountants to scour the Tax Code and find the most obscure loopholes to get their clients generous tax credits. They may even have overseas bank accounts for all we know.

In any event, the rich have more than enough money to live it up without affecting their pocketbook.


12 posted on 09/15/2022 6:26:18 AM PDT by Ebenezer ("Be strong and of good courage.")
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To: george76
Just FYI -

The Townshend Acts, passed in 1767, placed a tax on tea
amounting to about 3 cents per pound of tea.

Think about 'how far we've come'...

13 posted on 09/15/2022 6:29:23 AM PDT by GaltAdonis
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To: DC Packfan

I know Kari Lake in Arizona has spoken about repealing her state’s income tax if she is elected governor, but she has made it clear that such talk does not amount to a campaign promise, since the repeal may not come to pass. At least she is willing to look into that possibility as every other GOP state should.


14 posted on 09/15/2022 6:33:55 AM PDT by Ebenezer ("Be strong and of good courage.")
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To: Ebenezer

Amen


15 posted on 09/15/2022 6:37:17 AM PDT by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Juneteenth is inequality day)
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To: george76

bttt


16 posted on 09/15/2022 6:40:34 AM PDT by Pajamajan ( PRAY FOR OUR NATION. Never be a peaceful slave in new Socialist America.)
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To: george76

Enjoy the “low” taxes now.

They will get worse.


17 posted on 09/15/2022 6:41:55 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: george76
$5,565.45 in Social Security taxes

If that includes FICA AND Medicare, that translates to about $72,000 in wages subject to FICA and Medicare. And that would not count the employer portion, which would be a match of $5,565.

18 posted on 09/15/2022 6:42:48 AM PDT by Bernard (“the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God." JFK 1-20-61)
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To: george76

Meanwhile, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you”:

https://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-news-hartford-door-to-door-vaccine-canvass-20220915-q4nwlndj55bsheln6n4saqmb34-story.html


19 posted on 09/15/2022 6:42:59 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: george76

To lower the cost of all that Joe Biden proposes raising taxes.


20 posted on 09/15/2022 7:28:20 AM PDT by pas
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