you have to remember that when they withold that money from your paycheck, it goes towards paying your taxes in april. you arn't really paying anyone. in april, they figure out how much you made and tax you accordingly. if you're taxed more then you put into the "pot" you have to pay. if you are taxed less, you get a refund. This explanation is the super simplified way it works. Hell, if you wanted to, you could set it up so that no money is taken out of your paychecks each time. If you do that, you will have to pay a big chunk of change in april. I just try not to think about it. The government is screwing us one way or another. I'm just lucky i have an accountant for a wife.