You and I are probably the only two people on this message board who have actually been there and know what it's really like.
I was born in New Zealand and go back there every two years.
New Zealand's taxes are actually higher than the US taxes and yes they are more socialist than the US with a generous Social Security program and they have Universal Healthcare.
Among the world, s rich countries, the US has one of the lowest tax rates in the world.
Countries With The Highest And Lowest Taxes
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The Lowest
Surprise! Despite endless American complaints about over-taxation, the U.S. has one of the world’s lowest marginal income tax rates, at 27%. Along with what, by comparison with the high rates cited above, seems a relatively low rate, the U.S. has the world’s biggest economy, with a GDP of over $1,400 billion. The next largest economy, China’s, is only one third as large.
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The Bottom Line
The cost of running a country, providing services, maintaining a military, supporting and repairing the infrastructure, and all the other essential functions of government, is immensely expensive. Taxation, along with selling government bonds, assessing fees and imposing tariffs, are the principal means by which governments raise money to meet these expenses. Therefore, taxes are inevitable, but if you’re living in the U.S., your share of the tax burden is among the world’s lowest.
Countries With The Highest And Lowest Taxes - Forbes