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So what would be the total income tax of someone living in NYC earning (say) $100k, after all the federal and state taxes / levies / whatever apply? The system is so complex I can't make head or tail of it. I thought federal taxes were already pretty high!

Man, the yanks go on about Evil Socialism so much that I always expect taxes there to be like 20 or 30%. Then I go look it up and find it's mid 40s like everyone else!

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Historically speaking tax rates are actually very low right now

Indeed. I went and looked up the rates and it seems the maximum anyone would pay is hovering around 30%.

OK, that's pretty low.

Swedish tax rates on someone earning 100k USD would be hovering around 60%, and then there is between 12% and 25% sales tax on most things you buy. I'm surprised that I don't feel more ripped off than I do.

I think it's a question of value for money. You pay more, but you get more, too. The question is, do you get proportinately more than you pay? I think yes, but reasonable opinions can obviously differ.

I felt pretty frickin' ripped off last time I bought a beer in Stockholm, though. Just sayin'. : )

This is why Swedes have "förfest".

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