Economy articles
Just the Facts on federal taxes
The federal government collected $4.9 trillion in revenue in 2024, 99% of which came from taxes. How much does the average American pay? And who pays the most?
How much do you pay in gas taxes?
Gas prices are nearing $6.00 a gallon in some parts of the US, while other regions pay over two dollars less at the pump. How much are taxes adding to the equation?
What do your federal taxes pay for?
Enter some of your details into this calculator and get a tax receipt showing how much you spend on national defense, Medicare, and more.
Who doesn’t pay federal income taxes?
Whether someone owes federal income tax depends on their income, deductions, and credits. In 2023, 3 in 10 filers owed nothing.
How has TCJA impacted individual income taxes?
In 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded or made parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. Here's how the TCJA has affected taxes since 2018.
What does it cost the IRS to collect taxes?
In 2024, it cost the IRS 36 cents to collect each $100.
Just the Facts on donor and recipient states
Every year, the federal government collects trillions of dollars in taxes from individuals and businesses across all 50 states. But does your state get that money back? Or does it send more than it receives?
Who pays the most income tax?
In 2023, the top 5% of earners collectively paid nearly $1.3 trillion in income taxes, or about 60% of the national total.
Which states have the highest and lowest income tax?
Oregon collected the most state income taxes in 2023, while nine states collected no income tax at all.
How much revenue do states make from marijuana taxes?
Cannabis taxes fund a wide range of public initiatives, from healthcare to law enforcement.
How much money does the US federal government collect?
The federal government collected $5.26 trillion in fiscal year 2025. This is about $15,400 per person in the US, however individual contributions vary based on income, spending, and other factors. Government revenue is the total amount of money received from individual and corporate taxes, and other sources that are used to pay for government spending.
Diesel prices rose 89% from January low to September record high
The average cost of a gallon of diesel in the US is over $6. What's behind the increase?
How much does the average American family pay in taxes?
Combining direct and indirect taxes, as well as taxes from state and local government, the average American family paid $17,902 in taxes in 2021.
How do corporations avoid paying taxes?
Corporations reduce their tax liability through a variety of ways, such as accelerated depreciation and profit shifting.
'Sin taxes' by state: Where do people pay the most and least in alcohol and tobacco taxes?
Across all 50 states and Washington, DC, the average annual revenue from alcohol taxes amounted to $21.67 per person in 2020.
Where do people pay the most and least in property taxes?
Owning land, homes, or other buildings can be expensive — here’s where people are paying more of their income on them.
What is the average US tariff rate overall?
About 6.9% in August 2026. The average effective tariff rate shows how much the US collects in customs duties as a percentage of the total value of imported goods. However, imports may have different tariff rates (or none at all) depending on factors like country of origin, product type, trade agreements, and much more.
How did the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 change corporate taxes?
The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that about 150 corporations would be subject to a new minimum corporate tax each year.
What is the federal government's budget deficit?
The federal government’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget deficit is about $1.97 trillion as of August. A budget deficit occurs when the federal government spends more money than it brings in through taxes, customs duties, the sale of assets, and other revenues. When the government has a deficit, it borrows money by selling bonds and other securities in order to pay for it, adding to the national debt. A budget surplus, on the other hand, occurs when the government brings in more money than it spends.
Just the Facts about the US economy
How does the government measure the economy? By tracking GDP, unemployment numbers, and the prices people pay for goods and services.