And there are free tax programs. People just get scared to use them because US taxes are literally menacing. I’ll call out the fact that some of the disabled low income people I know also shell out massive amounts of money to pay some one to do their taxes because they are so damned scared of messing it up. Even if it means they skip meds or meals to do so.
People who don’t have any contact with poor and disabled people really shouldn’t talk about it like they know anything.
Hallelujah. Off topic, but I’ve been finding the news coverage about inflation and how, “the Joneses have had to postpone their bathroom remodel,” or, on a more real level, “Mrs. C had to decide between this and that,” really frustrating because they never bother to mention that a huge portion of our population always has to choose between paying the bills or buying food or medicine or school supplies. 
It could be covered in a way more humane way by pointing out that now a lot of USians are experiencing what low-wage workers and others live with all the time and maybe that could influence their opinions of programs that help lift people out of poverty.
That’s a good point. The article that started this discussion seems to frame it in terms of government waste and harassing the poor instead taxing the rich. Even though “poorest households” is described as earnings less than $25,000 per year, there’s nothing to indicate how many people that represents.
Financial publications used to regularly post articles emphasizing how close the middle-class was to winding up poor, but not so much lately. That was a fear tactic to get people saving and investing more, without getting into the cause of limited disposable income. Now they seem to be more focused on debt (from medical bills or student loans) and promoting inter-generational conflicts/class divisions based on wages and retirement.
Corporate-owned media supports the American myth of wealth to encourage folks to keep working toward a goal most of the population might reach but won’t remain for long. The lessons learned from hardships people faced because of the pandemic are being pushed aside for “get back to work and spending normal” messaging. Still, people are continuing the fight to end poverty in the US - and they are putting those figures front and center:
so, despite what many have said you don’t have to file taxes if you earn under a certain amount. however the threshold is very low: $12,500
( i don’t think that number has moved in decades, so there was a time it probably seemed more reasonable )
if you did earn that little - and survived to tell the tale - you still would want to file - because probably the government owes you, and there (might) be tax credits available too
Huh, curious.
I wonder if my experience was because I got a tuition scholarship, so they counted that as income, even though I was living on less than $6K…hadn’t thought of that before.
Reminds me of the game shows where contestants win, “A brand new car!!!” but then have to pay taxes on all that stuff.
But my education was worth way more than a brand new car, I’m not complaining!
that could be. us tax rules are deliberately complicated 
my biggest personal complaint is having to pay both sides of payroll taxes just because im self employed. it’s exactly the opposite of encouraging small businesses. also, of course, i wish my taxes were going more to healthcare and education and less to the police and military… i really want a conscientious objector check box.
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