Thread: Itemized Payroll Tax?

Why don't we get an itemization of Fed and State taxes as part of our payroll stubs? Is there some verbiage in the tax code? I Googled, but found only hits related to itemizing deductions.

We get itemized:

utility bills
grocery bills
telephone bills
cell phone bills
home repair bills
restaurant bills
car repair bills

Would any of us pay these bills without knowing exactly what we were paying for?

Hell, we even get an itemization of the nutrients in our food.

But no itemization of our taxes. And we just pay the bill month after month....


What gives? Are they afraid if we knew what we were actually paying for that we might amend our bills? Maybe stop paying altogether? Or at least demand corrections, just like we'd do if we were overcharged at the grocery store?

What do y'all think?



Scott

I'd say it's two-fold. First, I'm sure it would cost a bunch of money to itemize that. Just figuring it out would be tough. Second, you're probably right. We likely wouldn't like what we saw, if it was even an honest itemization.

well, would you read it if you'd get it?
as far as i know pretty much all of the bills are public record, so the fact that you don't get them all stacked along in a single publication and sent along as the phone book doesn't mean that they're somehow hidden.

also my gas bill doesn't really show the detailed use of my energy each second, they don't even measure that. or my restaurant receipts are itemized as meals and beverages not number of fries.
i'd argue voting for the politicians is ordering the items and if you want to know how much they cost you individually you'll have to do some processing yourself, it's relatively simple math - each spending gets categorized and each voting politician gets the respective attibution.
Or if appropriately compensated for my time and effort, I could do it as well.

Originally Posted by gugi

well, would you read it if you'd get it?
as far as i know pretty much all of the bills are public record, so the fact that you don't get them all stacked along in a single publication and sent along as the phone book doesn't mean that they're somehow hidden.

also my gas bill doesn't really show the detailed use of my energy each second, they don't even measure that. or my restaurant receipts are itemized as meals and beverages not number of fries.
i'd argue voting for the politicians is ordering the items and if you want to know how much they cost you individually you'll have to do some processing yourself, it's relatively simple math - each spending gets categorized and each voting politician gets the respective attibution.
Or if appropriately compensated for my time and effort, I could do it as well.

Yeah, I'd read it. I like to know what I'm spending my money on. I don't need to know the exact number of fries. If I know that I'm buying potatoes, I can figure out the cost of the fries myself.



Scott

Ok, here's the federal itemization
Congressional Bills: Browse

I know where to get my state one, but that's not your state

Thanks gugi: I'll get started on that right away

There is also a very general itemization near the back of the 1040 instruction booklet each year breaking down revenue and expenses into between a dozen and half a dozen categories such as military spending, corporate tax revenue, foreign aid, etc

Originally Posted by gugi

Ok, here's the federal itemization
Congressional Bills: Browse

I know where to get my state one, but that's not your state

Well thanks gugi. I wouldn't expect a fellow diner to go get me a menu, let alone compile my restaurant bill. But thanks for the gesture .


Scott