Price of Your Life (Plus Tax), The

WE ARE TAXED TOO MUCH IN AMERICA-AND not just on April 15.

Nearly everyone, from the time they wake up in the morning to the time they go to bed, pays taxes just to get through their daily lives.

These taxes come in the form of sales taxes, excise taxes, licensing fees and other imposed expenses. And time and time again, Americans are forced to pay them to their local, state, and federal governments each and every day. Below is a sampling of when the average American will likely pay a tax in the course of a given day.

at the office

* When you earn some money (income tax)

* When you apply or renew a professional license (license fee)

* When you own a business (business income tax)

* When you hire employees (Social Security taxes, payroll taxes, Medical and unemployment taxes)

* When you buy office supplies retail (sales tax)

in the car

* When you get a driver's license (license fees)

* When you buy a new car (motor vehicle excise tax)

* When you buy a heavy truck (excise tax)

* When you insure your new car or truck (insurance tax)

* When you get license plates (license fees)

* When you get your car inspected for safety or emissions (state testing fees)

* When you rent a car (rental car tax)

* When you fill your tank (gas tax)

* When you drive on the highway (tolls)

* When you park your car or truck (parking tax)

* When you buy or discard tires (purchase and disposal taxes)

around the house

* When you buy and own the house (property tax)

* When you make a phone call (phone service tax)

* When you make a cellphone call (cell phone service tax)

* When you watch W (cable television tax)

* When you watch a lot of TV (satellite television tax)

* When you get a drink of water (water utility tax)

* When you use the bathroom (sewer utility tax)

* When you turn on a light (electric utility tax)

* When you turn on your gas stove (gas utility tax)

* When your garbage is hauled away (refuse collection tax)

* When you get your clothes cleaned professionally (dry cleaning tax)

food & drink

* When you are hungry (groceries tax)

* When you have soda or "pop" (soft drinks tax)

* When you buy fish or shellfish (excise tax)

just for fun

* When you smoke (cigarette tax)

* When you drink (alcohol tax)

* When you see a play or musical (amusement/entertainment taxes)

* When you go to the movies (movie tickets tax)

* When you see movies at home (movie rental tax)

* When you bet on a horse race (wagering tax)

* When you get a dog or cat (license fee)

* When you buy a new fishing rod (federal manufacturer's excise taxes)

* When you buy a new bow-hunting set (federal manufacturer's excise taxes)

* When you buy a fur coat (fur clothing tax)

* When you want to celebrate something with a bang (fireworks and sparklers tax)

vacation & travel

* When you ride an airplane (air transportation tax)

* When you buy a boat (boat tax)

* When you stay at a hotel (hotel tax)

* When you eat out (food/beverages tax)

* When you go to an amusement park (sales tax)

in the end

* When you give something of value (car, home) to your relatives (gift taxes)

* When you die and your relatives inherit your possessions and business (death tax)

Daniel J. Mitchell is the McKenna senior fellow in political economy at The Heritage Foundation. Heritage intern Bentley Graves contributed to this report.

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Sep 19, 2005
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