Israelis Guess Tax Payments, Discover Real Costs Via Online Calculator
Translated & summarized from TheMarker by baba
Israelis surveyed by TheMarker identified rent, food, and clothing as major expenses, with one noting small purchases now cost around 150 shekels. When asked about taxes paid over four years, most admitted they didn't know where the money went. TheMarker's online calculator revealed actual tax amounts and allocations, eliciting surprise and disbelief from users who found they had paid "a lot of money."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israelis surveyed cited rent, food, and clothing as top expenses, with small purchases costing about 150 shekels.
- Most Israelis surveyed had no idea how much tax they paid or where the money was allocated.
- TheMarker launched an online calculator to show users their tax payments over the last four years.
- Users expressed surprise and disbelief after discovering the actual amount of taxes they had paid.
- Speculation on tax allocation included defense, military grants, and budgets for the ultra-Orthodox.
When asked about their biggest expenses, Israelis surveyed by TheMarker cited rent, food, and clothing, with one participant noting that "every small purchase suddenly costs about 150 shekels." Another highlighted the high cost of fruits. However, when the conversation shifted to taxes paid over the last four years and where that money went, confidence turned to guesswork. Many admitted they had "no clue" about their tax contributions, with some vaguely mentioning income tax and national insurance. Others speculated that funds were allocated to defense, military grants, or budgets for the ultra-Orthodox community.
To provide clarity, TheMarker introduced an online "money machine" calculator. This tool allows users to discover their total tax payments over the past four years and track the allocation of those funds. Participants expressed a mix of apprehension and surprise upon using the calculator. One person remarked, "Either it will depress us, but okay," before trying it. After using the tool, reactions included "I wouldn't have believed it" and "a lot of money."
