Governments can obtain revenue by taking sales, property, income, wealth, estate, windfall, or value-added percentages {taxation}|. Only taxation provides government revenue.
purposes
Taxation provides money for defense, security, law enforcement, fire containment, ambulance, health services, public health, courts, legislatures, executive branch, foreign affairs, roads, transportation infrastructure, utilities, education, employment services, welfare programs, environmental programs, agriculture services, business services, regulation, and housing.
comparison
Governments can require fees, duties, and licenses, which typically cover administration expenses.
fairness
Taxation fairness requires that taxation has no loopholes. Fairness can require that people pay same marginal amounts. Fairness can require that people pay for what they get. Fairness does not require that people pay equal shares. Regressive taxes, such as property tax, sales tax, and value-added taxes, cannot be fair, because they do not account for people's ability to pay or for government value. Progressive taxes, such as income tax and wealth tax, can be fair. Progressive taxation can use people's income and consumption to determine fair taxation.
tax collection
Ideally, tax collection can require no work by citizens. Perhaps, people have accounts with governments. Taxes go into accounts, for government services and social-insurance programs. Government tracks money use, is accountable for investments, and provides high return rates. When people retire, have no job, or have disability, accounts send money to people and track expenses. Perhaps, no person just receives government money. Welfare recipients, for example, can have formal debts to governments. Governments are more accountable and can track policy effects better.
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Date Modified: 2022.0224