Government spending
The federal government collected $4.47 trillion in revenue during the 2023 fiscal year.[1] That’s a lot (10 zeros to be exact) but it also represents a decrease of 15.5%, a drop from the 14.3% increase we saw between 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, the federal government collected just under $2.18 trillion in income taxes, or 48.7% of total revenue. Adjusting for inflation, this means income tax revenue fell $588.9 billion from 2022, after increasing by more than $880.7 million between 2020 and 2022, the result of additional capital gains taxes and increased income tax withholdings.
In 2023, payroll taxes accounted for 36.6% of the federal government revenue. Both employers and employees contribute to these taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare programs.
Other federal government revenue sources include corporate income taxes (9.4% of 2023 revenue), customs and duties (1.8%), sales and excise taxes (1.7%), and non-tax revenue like Federal Reserve earnings and the sale of government resources (1.8%).
For a more thorough inspection of the federal budget, read the 2024 State of the Union in Numbers.
The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.
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