Just 3 More Months Working for ‘The Man’

Taxes are on everyone’s minds this time of year. For those of us who haven’t filed our tax returns yet, it may be of some comfort to know that Tax Freedom Day comes three days earlier this year, thanks to the government’s rebate checks.

National Tax Freedom Day arrives on April 23, 2009. That means Americans will have to put their noses to the grindstone for almost four months of the year, from January 1 to April 23, before earning enough money to pay their share of this year’s local, state and federal taxes. The Tax Foundation calculates Tax Freedom Day each year to demonstrate how much our government is costing us.

According to Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge, Americans paid more in total taxes in 2008 than they spent on food, clothing and housing combined.

Here’s how the Tax Foundation breaks down how much you work to pay for taxes and necessities:

Federal taxes: 74 days
State and local taxes: 39 days
Total taxes: 113 days

Housing: 60 days
Healthcare: 50 days
Food: 35 days
Transportation: 29 days
Recreation: 21 days
Clothing: 13 days

Because state taxes vary, Tax Freedom Day arrives sooner or later in different states. Alaskans celebrate Tax Freedom earlier than any other state, on March 29. In Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, Tax Freedom Day doesn’t arrive until May.

Tags: national tax freedom day, tax freedom day

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