Taxed And Trapped

It’s a beautiful Monday morning. Rajeev, our typical middle-class corporate employee, checks his bank account after salary credit, only to realise half of it is already gone in taxes.

He sighs, sips his overpriced coffee (GST included), and mutters, “Is this what financial freedom feels like?” Spoiler alert: It’s not.

The Great Indian Taxpayer—A Living Meme
The life of a salaried middle-class person in India is basically like that one overused meme:

• Govt: You earn ₹100, give me ₹30.

• Rajeev: Okay, but can I get good public schools, hospitals, and roads in return?

• Govt: LOL. No.

Let’s break down Rajeev’s tragedy for a moment. He earns ₹15 lakh a year and ends up paying 30% of it in taxes, which means around ₹4.5 lakh goes straight into the government’s pocket.

Fair enough, right? After all, taxes are for public services. Except Rajeev doesn’t really get to use them:

• Healthcare? Private hospital. The government ones? Better take a day off to wait in line.

• Education? Private school. Government schools? Thanks, but no thanks.

• Transport? Private vehicle. Public transport? Not unless I want to age 5 years in one commute.

• Roads? Oh, he uses them alright. But his mechanic uses them better—because someone’s got to fix the suspension every six months.

Meanwhile, Rajeev’s neighbor, who doesn’t pay a single rupee in income tax, gets free gas cylinders, subsidized rations, and medical care. Moral of the story? If you pay taxes, you pay for others to live better. If you don’t pay taxes, you live better.

Where’s the Money Going?
Now, here’s the million-rupee question: Where exactly is this tax money going? Because despite all the revenue the government collects, inflation continues to rise, fuel prices burn a hole in our pockets, and basic infrastructure remains in shambles. It’s like being forced to buy tickets for a blockbuster movie only to end up watching an ad-filled, low-budget soap opera.

Year after year, taxpayers are promised “relief,” but it usually ends up being something like:

• Govt: We’re reducing your tax burden!

• Also Govt: Here’s a new cess to compensate for that reduction.

Middle Class: The Real National Fundraisers
Here’s a fun fact: less than 3% of India’s population pays income tax, but they’re carrying the financial burden of an entire country.

So, while Rajeev and his fellow taxpaying comrades slog away, paying taxes on income, fuel, food, and pretty much everything else, the remaining 97% continue to enjoy subsidies, free amenities, and little to no contribution toward public revenue.

Final Thought: Are We Asking the Wrong People to Pay?
While Rajeev keeps paying 30% of his salary and gets nothing in return, shouldn’t we ask: Is it fair to expect a small section of people to carry the nation’s entire burden? If the system continues like this, how long before the middle class starts wondering whether it’s worth staying in the tax net at all?

At some point, we have to ask ourselves: If those who contribute the most are also suffering the most, is this truly a sustainable system? Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to rethink who’s paying and who’s benefiting. After all, if Rajeev is taxed to the brink and still gets nothing, why should he continue footing the bill for everyone else?

Until then, dear taxpayer, keep calm and… well, just keep paying. Because in India, if you’re earning, the only guarantee is that somebody’s always got their hand in your pocket.