Taxation is a popular word among residents of a country, it is one of the major ways a state generates revenue. Which is used by the state to fund development, to ensure the betterment of the country and the life of her citizens. Taxation system differs for every country but it doesn't change the general perspective or people's opinion of it, which is "a pain in the ass". I mean after working a 9-5 job for an entire month, only to collect your pay check and realise a sum of money as been deducted as tax.
It doesn't really matter how patriotic you might seem, the thought of it won't make you smile because for various reasons. I mean you know you still have to get stuck in the traffic every morning which makes you wonder, what exactly is the tax you paid is being used for?
As unpleasant as it might feel, it is what our constitution demands of every citizen in a country. Over time there has been argument about the structure of taxation system in order to ensure it doesn't become burdensome for any citizen regardless of your financial status. But here in my country, the truth remains, the attitude of citizens towards tax is not encouraging.
How bad are the tax laws in your country? I wouldn't claim to know much about the tax laws in my country. Compared to most countries where tax laws is every citizens concern due to the high level of tax being paid. In my country based on my own knowledge, the tax being paid is quite minimal compared to most developed or developing countries.
As a result of this, since our taxation system is not really strangling anyone apart from it influence on the unnecessary increase of tariff plans and power distribution, most average people in my country barely pay attention to tax law. Speaking of average people in my country, that also includes me 😅. With that being said, only those with registered business and organisations tends to have tax laws written at the back of their minds in my country, since it is tantamount to the success of their businesses.
How much do I have to pay every month? Well apart from tariff plans charges, bank charges and other petty ways our government use in extorting the citizens, I don't think I have been paying tax for awhile now. The reason is quite simple, I still belong to the category of unemployed. I was a student, then I went for service and I just came back couple of weeks ago. Being in this category definitely doesn't make me eligible to pay state taxes.
The last time I paid tax was about 4 years ago, when I finished my national diploma and decided to work a little before going back for my national diploma. I could remember how unpleasant it was to pay employees tax, that is usually deducted from our salary every month. As unpleasant as it was, we had no say in it. It is either you pay it or get fired, it is quite simple.
How much of tax being paid by the citizens do I see you being used for the nation? This is where it gets very interesting. It is very easy to see how tax are being used in my country, all you have to do is, snoop around the properties or businesses of top government officials in my country and you would see where most of our taxes are going to. I'm not claiming that every tax paid by the citizens of my country is being embezzled and I'm not trying to point fingers at anyone.
But judging from the rate at which my country still suffers from the simplest of social amenities and infrastructures, it makes you wonder where all our taxes are going to. Starting from poor roads and transportation system at every tiers of government, poor medical facilities and underpaid medical workers government own medical facilities, poor electricity supply and lack of security for both the citizens and their properties.
These are issues that has been in existence for decades but somehow every adminstration claims they will do something about. I guess they were bluffing because the issues still remain the same. If the citizen's tax were indeed directed to appropriate places, at least one of this issues would have reduced to the lowest minimum.
Way the government can be made to put tax to good use? Well, in my country this might be a little bit difficult. One of the issues in my country is that the citizens have failed in holding the government accountable for their actions and this is not because the citizens are dumb. It is just that times without number, the government have used all manner of ways to force to make us submit to their will. I guess along the line, the citizens realised it better to be alive and looking for solutions than dead.
So, until the citizens find the strength to stand up against the government and hold corrupt officials for their corrupt practices, we will still remain where we are. This might sound cruel but it is the reality of a country without good leadership.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "Tax is taxing" in hive learners community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
Image 1 - Source
Image 2 - Source
