For those paying income taxes later this month and wondering just what their money goes toward, here is a breakdown of how the U.S. government spends it.

 

One quarter of all income taxes are consumed by national defense, which represents the largest slice of the tax-money pie. More precisely, 10.3% goes to “ongoing operations;” 7.9% to research, development, weapons and constructions; and 5.6% to salaries and benefits.

 

Almost another quarter (23.7%) is spent on health care programs, such as Medicare (10.5%) and Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (10.0%).

 

Among the other big ticket categories are veterans’ benefits (4.5%), military and civilian retirement and disability payments (4.4%), and food and nutrition assistance (3.7%). And—not to be overlooked—interest on the national debt…8.1%.

 

There are also several categories that get a lot of attention, but don’t really cost that much, relatively speaking. All international affairs spending, including military assistance, maintain embassies and humanitarian aid, makes up just 1% of total federal spending, as does all spending on science and NASA.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Your 2011 Federal Taxpayer Receipt (White House)

Where Does Your Tax $$ Go? (by David Wallechinsky, Parade)