The United States system of taxes is so convoluted as well that it's difficult to do an apples-to-apples comparison. Sure, someone with a low income and even many people with decent middle class incomes don't end up paying much in federal income tax, or even get refunds due to refundable tax credits. But you have to think about Medicare and Social Security withholding also at the federal level. And then you have to think about all the state and local taxes that vary so much from one place to the next. Property tax, sales tax, state income tax, city income tax, city fees, personal property tax, etc. In the end, it is incredibly difficult for someone to accurately know just how much they are paying in taxes. Which is, unfortunately, I think by design.