World's Highest Tax Rates

no but yeah but no but yeah but no but

"* For the purposes of the OECD's report, “taxes” is confined to compulsory, unrequited payments to general government. Taxes are unrequited in the sense that benefits provided by government to taxpayers are not normally in proportion to their payments. In the OECD classification, taxes are classified by the base of the tax: income and profits, payroll, property, consumption and other taxes. Compulsory social security contributions paid to general government also are treated as taxes. "

What is "general government?" - is that Federal, State or Local? I believe I pay more than 24%. I question this study's validity.

Sorry, what's the theory, Steve?

bjw, that US taxes are high. In fact, they're low, among the lowest in the world.

Oh, thanks. I didn't know people actually thought that. How naive of me. Btw, Denmark is a fabulous place.

These are central government taxes, yes. In most of those cases, there is no local. But yes with local ours are higher than 24% of GDP - but not as high as the top ten.

Just looked it up. Spending is 28.7% of GDP in 2010 including all levels of govt. Its hovered in the 28-35% range for the last decade or so.

Wow, I wish I could move to the "United States" and get me that low 24pct rate. The country I'm in now is significantly higher.

We have lower taxes because of the mortgage interest deduction.

Denmark is wonderful - personally, I'm 2 weeks in Italy in a fortnight. I'll pay the tax just for the good coffee.

"We have lower taxes because of the mortgage interest deduction."

That most people can't even take? Silly billy, Juicy.