State and federal taxes are a pain. And having to do them every year is a hassle.
But are those really the only taxes we’re paying throughout our lives?
Are there other taxes that we’re forgetting about?
What taxes are we (really) paying?
Every decision we make and action we take costs us something. A tax is a demanding cost that makes us use our resources or energy. And there are plenty of examples of such taxes that occur throughout the day. I call them ‘Hidden Taxes’ and they are silently shaping our future.
| Resource | Cost | Hidden Tax |
| Time | Waiting, commuting, bureaucracy | Less time for family/leisure |
| Mental Load | Cognitive burden of constant decision-making | Fatigue, reduced focus |
| Health/Stress | Accumulated toll of chronic stress or poor health | Lower quality of life |
| Convenience Fees | Small, frequent charges | Less disposable income |
| Debt/Interest | Future cost of borrowing for present needs | Financial strain |
| Societal Expectations | Pressure to conform to societal norms | Emotional, financial burden |
| Privacy/Data | Loss of privacy in exchange for “free” services | Targeted ads, surveillance |
| Environmental Costs | Long-term societal costs of unsustainable | Health, climate impacts |
These are just a few examples of the many hidden taxes.
Some internal hidden taxes are fear, self-doubt, shame, ego, and overthinking.
There’s a cost in how we act and what we do. And while some might think of them as opportunity costs, not all of them are— there are costs that go unnoticed outside of our given choices.
Hidden taxes are the whole, and opportunity costs are just a fraction of it.
If you’re aware of these hidden taxes, you can make more conscious decisions about how to spend your time and money. I mean, you wouldn’t want to pay taxes on something you don’t like, would you?
The biggest taxes are the ones we impose on ourselves.
So let me ask again: what taxes are you really paying?
Here’s my quote for the day.
“Many people believe that where taxes are concerned, they are victims, held hostage by an inevitable process that allows them no input, no control. This passive approach becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy; where people believe that they lack control, they seldom try to assert control.”
— Richard Carlson