You’ve spent this year working for the government — next year it could be worse

You’ve worked hard all year, but until now, your paycheck hasn’t really been yours.

This year, you were still working well into April to earn the equivalent of what you’ll pay in taxes.

Next year, however, you might have to work into May to fund Washington’s wasteful spending.

That’s because the 2017 Trump tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year, and if Congress doesn’t act, millions of hardworking Americans like you will face a massive tax hike and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars more a year to fund the same broken government programs.

But before Congress votes on whether to extend the tax cuts, this is a good moment to remember how much you’re already paying to fund the government.

THE PRICE OF GOVERNMENT: WHAT WE’RE PAYING EVERY YEAR

A few days ago, you calculated your final tax bill for 2024. You might have wondered, Why am I paying so much?

You’re not alone.

The average American household paid over $14,200 in federal taxes in 2024. That’s almost $1,200 every month.

You probably would have rather paid for other priorities, like groceries, housing, or saving for your future — especially if you consider Americans pay more in taxes than they do for all those things combined.

Instead, you send your money to the government so it can fund things like unused cellphones, demolished buildings, vacant offices, and hundreds of failed government programs filled with waste and abuse.

To make matters worse, the national debt has ballooned to over $36 trillion. In fact, in 2024, the federal government paid more in interest on the debt than it did for national defense — and by 2051, the debt will be the biggest item in the budget.

Right now, you’re working for Washington. It should be the other way around.

A MASSIVE TAX HIKE LOOMS AROUND THE CORNER

Regretfully, things can get worse.

If Congress doesn’t extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts before the end of the year, Americans will face a $4.5 trillion tax hike, the largest in American history.

Washington sleepwalking into a massive tax hike could have disastrous effects on your bottom line. Here’s how:

• The average American household will pay $1,500 more in taxes every year to finance more reckless spending.
• A whopping 6 in 10 Americans will pay Uncle Sam hundreds or thousands more in taxes.
• Hundreds of thousands of small businesses will be at risk of shutting down.
• The entire economy would suffer as people and businesses tighten their belts and have less to spend, save, and invest.

After four years of sky-high inflation and a slumbering economy, the last thing Americans need is for Washington to hurt their bottom line just to keep recklessly spending.

HERE’S HOW WE CAN STOP IT

Fortunately, we can prevent this tax hike from happening.

Congress has the chance to extend the Trump tax cuts and offer fiscal relief to millions of hardworking Americans across the nation.

At Americans for Prosperity, we believe you should keep more of what you earn — because you know how to spend it better than Washington does.

That’s why we’re mobilizing our powerful grassroots movement to push Congress to extend the 2017 tax cuts and protect your prosperity.

Click here to join the movement and help us defend your paycheck, your family, and your future.