Opens in a new tab

What’s Uncle Sam doing with our tax money?

April 19, 2014

Last week, millions of us filed our 2013 income taxes. 

So what are Uncle Sam's plans for our money?

Several groups crunched the numbers and offer a look not only at the overall federal spending, but online tools with which we can get an idea of how much our specific tax bills are spent on which programs.

The National Priorities Project created the dollar graphic below showing how one dollar in taxes is was parceled out in fiscal year 2013.

Where your taxes went courtesy National Priorities dot OrgSocial Security and Medicare taxes are not included.

Since we all paid more than $1 National Priorities also created an individualized taxpayer receipt tool.

The receipt I ran shows how $26,000 in federal income taxes — I just picked a number out of the air — was spent by the government in fiscal year 2013.

Federal tax receipt 26K example1 National Priorities dot Org Federal tax receipt 26K example2 National Priorities dot Org

The White House has its own taxpayer receipt online calculator.

White House taxpayer receipt online calculator

You can enter your own dollar amounts or choose a preselected taxpayer scenario, ranging from a single individual with no children and $25,000 in income to a married couple with two kids and earnings of $80,000, to find the dollar amounts. The figures will be based on the following percentages.

White House taxpayer receipt spending percentages

National defense, says 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, gets the most of our income taxes.

The health care programs that come in second include Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare doctor payments and prescription drug payments, health research and food safety programs and disease control and public health services.

Finally, one more infographic, this one from MoneyTips.com, breaks down where our tax dollars go.

Where your tax dollars went 2013 via Money Tips dot Com

All the percentages in all the graphics are very close.

Are you surprised at how much or how little is spent in certain areas? Which federal programs would you prefer not get your tax dollars?

You also might find these items of interest:

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
confused office worker
8 workplace benefits questions to ask this enrollment season

October 26, 2026

Millions of U.S. workers are now deciding what workplace benefits, some of which also offer…

Read More
TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
Leave the first comment