Why are taxes important?

The IRS indicates that taxes are vital to support the infrastructure that citizens rely on at the local, state and federal levels. Taxes support national defense programs, roadway construction, social service programs, public health and education. Without taxpayer support, many of these programs cannot exist.

Taxes are a way for the government to pool some amount of important resources from the private sector to the public one, according to the IRS. The ability of the government to provide basic safety and community systems with tax revenue is important to maintaining the freedoms and basic living standards that typical Americans expect.