List of 100 Taxes and Fees You Pay to the Government

By: Joe Messerli

"U.S. Internal Revenue Service: an agency modeled after the revenue raising concepts of the 19th century economist, Jesse James". --Robert Brault

"If you make any money, the government shoves you in the creek once a year with it in your pockets, and all that don't get wet you can keep". --Will Rogers

"The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." --Ronald Reagan

One of the reasons the USA came into existence was that so many people were tired of paying taxes to a nation thousands of miles away. They shed blood to fight for their independence in large part to prevent an oppressive government from taking so much of their hard-earned dollars. The limited tax model the country once had has evolved into one where taxes and fees infiltrate virtually every part of our life. How? Almost all taxes are sold by the government as 1) A tax on the rich who can afford to pay more, 2) A one-time tax or fee to pay for a certain expense, or 3) A tax to pay for some "crisis". No matter how the taxes are sold by politicians, they're almost never taken away once they're implemented, and even if the target group is "the rich", inflation and other factors (such as businesses charging higher prices to cover tax increases) eventually causes the taxes to hit unintended targets.

So just how bad has the situation become? Here is a list of 100 taxes and fees you currently pay (either directly or through a pass-on of costs from business to consumer). Keep this list in mind every time you hear a politician propose new taxes or fees to pay for their latest binge of spending to repay campaign contributors and ensure their own reelection bids.

    Personal/Consumer Taxes & Fees

  1. Federal income tax
  2. State income tax
  3. Local income tax
  4. Employee social security tax (your employer pays the other half)
  5. Employee Medicare tax (your employer pays the other half)
  6. Property taxes
  7. Road toll charges
  8. State sales tax
  9. Driver's license renewal fee
  10. TV Cable/Satellite fees & taxes
  11. Federal telephone surtax, excise tax, and universal surcharge
  12. State telephone excise tax and surcharge
  13. Telephone minimum usage and recurring/nonrecurring charges tax
  14. Gas/electric bill fees & taxes
  15. Water/sewer fees & taxes
  16. Cigarette tax
  17. Alcohol tax
  18. Federal gasoline tax
  19. State gasoline tax
  20. Local gasoline tax
  21. Federal inheritance tax
  22. State inheritance tax
  23. Gift tax
  24. Bridge toll charges
  25. Marriage license
  26. Hunting license
  27. Fishing license
  28. Bike license fee
  29. Dog permit/license
  30. State park permit
  31. Watercraft registration & licensing fees
  32. Sports stadium tax
  33. Bike/nature trail permit
  34. Court case filing fee
  35. Retirement account early withdrawal penalty
  36. Individual health insurance mandate tax
  37. Hotel stay tax
  38. Plastic surgery surcharge
  39. Soda/fatty-food tax
  40. Air transportation tax
  41. Electronic transmission of tax return fees
  42. Passport application/renewal fee
  43. Luxury & gas-guzzler car taxes
  44. New car surcharge
  45. License plate and car ownership transfer taxes
  46. Yacht and luxury boat taxes
  47. Jewelry taxes & surcharges
  48. State/local school tax
  49. Recreational vehicle tax
  50. Special assessments for road repairs or construction
  51. Gun ownership permit
  52. Kiddie tax (IRS form 8615)
  53. Fuel gross receipts tax
  54. Waste Management tax
  55. Oil and gas assessment tax
  56. Use taxes (on out-of-state purchase)
  57. IRA rollover tax/withdrawal penalties
  58. Tax on non-qualified health saving account distributions
  59. Individual and small business surtax (page 336 of Obamacare)
  60. Estimated income tax underpayment penalty
  61. Alternative Minimum Tax on income

    Business Taxes & Fees

  62. Federal corporate income tax
  63. State corporate income tax
  64. Tax registration fee for new businesses
  65. Employer social security tax
  66. Employer Medicare tax
  67. Federal unemployment tax
  68. State unemployment tax
  69. Business registration renewal tax
  70. Worker's compensation tax
  71. Tax on imported/exported goods
  72. Oil storage/inspection fees
  73. Employer health insurance mandate tax
  74. Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals (page 2001/Sec. 9007 of Obamacare)
  75. Tax on Innovator Drug Companies (Page 2010/Sec. 9008 of Obamacare)
  76. Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (Page 2020/Sec. 9009 of Obamacare)
  77. Tax on Health Insurers (Page 2026/Sec. 9010 of Obamacare)
  78. Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans, i.e. "Cadillac" plans
  79. Tax on indoor tanning services
  80. Utility users tax
  81. Internet transaction fee (passed in California; being considered in other states and at federal level)
  82. Professional license fee (accountants, lawyers, barbers, dentists, plumbers, etc.)
  83. Franchise business tax
  84. Tourism and concession license fee
  85. Wiring inspection fees
  86. Household employment tax
  87. Biodiesel fuel tax
  88. FDIC tax (insurance premium on bank deposits)
  89. Electronic waste recycling fee
  90. Hazardous material disposal fee
  91. Food & beverage license fee
  92. Estimated income tax underpayment penalty
  93. Building/construction permit
  94. Zoning permit
  95. Fire inspection fee
  96. Well permit tax
  97. Sales and Use tax seller's permit
  98. Commercial driver's license fee
  99. Bank ATM transaction tax
  100. Occupation taxes and fees (annual charges required for a host of professions)

Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. 
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: 

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. 
The fifth would pay $1. 
The sixth would pay $3. 
The seventh would pay $7. 
The eighth would pay $12. 
The ninth would pay $18. 
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59. 

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the 
arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. He said, "Since you are all such 
good customers, I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost 
just $80." 

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would 
still drink for free. But what about the other six men -- the paying customers? 

How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share"? They realized that $20 divided by 
six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from every body's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end 
up being paid to drink his beer. So the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly 
the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay! 

And so: 

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). 
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings). 
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings). 
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). 
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). 
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings). 

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. 

But once outside the restaurant, the men began to count up are their savings. 

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!" 

"Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!" 

"That's true!!"shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!" 

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" 

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. 

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it 
came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them 
for even half of the bill! 

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the 
highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they 
just may not show up any more. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier. 

Related Links

Why do increased income tax rates lower revenue?
Americans for Tax Reform
Another list of taxes paid by Americans
Do you know what taxes you're paying?
Pros and cons of taxing the rich
Tea Party Patriots
Pros and cons of a national sales tax


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Page Last Updated:
08/13/2011
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