Let us Think About This Tax Thing

By

Jamez

docjamez10@hotmail.com

There's something about paying for things I can’t see or control that bothers me a lot. Taxation being the chief vexation of mine in this regard. I however live in both Nigeria and the United States, the later where I pay about 30-43% of my salary in taxes.

I am certainly not egalitarian, but like I said, things I cant see, that I am made to pay, for bother me just as much as the fear of things, I don’t want to see coming to hunt me. Things Like the poverty of most of my kin, the need to buy a generator, build a borehole, sand fill a Tar road. I would trade off my inconvenience for another if they will do the same for me. I remember someone called that collective responsibility and a tad bit of being social and moral responsibility.

I ask myself regularly why anyone will be willing to pay so much in taxes and not whine or opine an antagonistic or nihilistic view of the government of the land, the beneficiary of my sweat dollars. The answer sometimes comes and is glaring, and sometimes is tucked away in the binds of my denial of fact and repudiation of all the evidence of the wonderful fruits of a functional and structurally progressive society. Layly put all the antithetic evidence in developing countries of the efficiency of, NEPA, Water works, good roads, adequate policing/security etcetera is largely funded through taxation albeit heavy. I would pay anything for these things to be available in more than moderate or measly amounts and for more than can afford to live unsqualored live.

I have never seen as much frenzy as I see here when "tax season" comes and everybody is hustling to get their taxes done right, for fear of being charged or imprisoned for defaulting in the littlest of amounts due to "Uncle Sam".

I have always wondered why not in Nigeria. Well not wondered that much because I don the don’t care about taxes hat when I am in my sweet Nija. But the truth is however that on the list of things done in the march to development is a sense of accountability of the citizens of a country in the workings of the government. I argue that this in turn entails an investment in time, resources, and patriotism to the land. Stone me when I say this " Let us all reform our tax systems" in our hearts and in enforcement. Let the rich pay something and certainly more, but let the poor and middle class pay too. They are Nigeria and the last frontier for collective financial responsibility from the government. It is a roundabout way of doing things, but it must be done. Let us all feel the pinch of corruption in our pockets and souls, and then let us rise to quell it.

I swear to you that if three quarters of the country paid taxes, the leadership will certainly be held accountable for its use. I would take more than a good whipping or bulala to stop me from getting answers when I am bled. My sweat will not buy travel expenses for wives and concubines to Europe. I would reconsider though if it is ehhhhh for my own wife and conc…..but you all will stop me my people because it will be your money and not just be Gofernment money wey no be my papa own.

Anyway the way to do this will be another story but now “Let us Think About This Tax Thing”