Where Do Your
Tax Dollars Go?
A free calculator that shows where your federal, state, and local taxes go, using your ZIP code, your income, and official budget data.
Currently available for Michigan & Massachusetts & New York & Indiana & California & Ohio & Connecticut & Pennsylvania & New Jersey & North Carolina & Georgia & Illinois & Washington & Utah & Wisconsin & Tennessee & Wyoming & Minnesota & Iowa & Rhode Island & Alabama & West Virginia & Florida · More states coming soon
Tax Transparency is a free calculator for U.S. residents that estimates your federal, state, and local taxes from your ZIP code and income, then shows which government programs and budgets each tax dollar funds, using official public budget data.
Where do my federal taxes go?
As of fiscal year 2024, the latest year in our OMB data, the federal government spent $6.96 trillion. The largest shares went to health programs (24.5%), social security (21.0%), national defense (13.0%), net interest (12.8%), income security (10.9%). Social Security and most of Medicare are funded by payroll (FICA) taxes, while individual income tax mainly funds defense, interest on the debt, veterans' benefits, and other programs. Source: OMB Historical Table 3.2 - FY2024 Outlays (from FY2025 President's Budget, March 2024).
| Category | Share of FY2024 federal spending |
|---|---|
| Health Programs | 24.5% |
| Social Security | 21.0% |
| National Defense | 13.0% |
| Net Interest | 12.8% |
| Income Security | 10.9% |
Where do my state taxes go?
Choose your state for a guide to its income and property taxes and the official sources behind each estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Where do my federal taxes go?
As of fiscal year 2024, the latest year in our OMB data, the federal government spent $6.96 trillion. The largest shares went to health programs (24.5%), social security (21.0%), national defense (13.0%), net interest (12.8%), income security (10.9%). Social Security and most of Medicare are funded by payroll (FICA) taxes, while individual income tax mainly funds defense, interest on the debt, veterans' benefits, and other programs. Source: OMB Historical Table 3.2 - FY2024 Outlays (from FY2025 President's Budget, March 2024).
How does Tax Transparency calculate where my taxes go?
You enter a ZIP code, income, and filing status. The tool estimates your federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, your state taxes, and your local property tax, then splits each one across the budget it funds, using official federal, state, and municipal data for that ZIP code.
Which states does Tax Transparency cover?
23 states today: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. More states are added as their official data is verified.
Is Tax Transparency free, and is it tax advice?
It is free and needs no account. Results are educational estimates from public data, not tax advice or a tax return.