Federal Employees Owe More than $1.03 Billion in Unpaid Taxes

Nearly 100,000 federal employees owe a total of more than $1 Billion in unpaid taxes, according to a story in the Washington Post.

About 98,000 federal, postal and congressional employees owed $1.03 billion in unpaid taxes at the end of fiscal 2010, according to records provided by the Internal Revenue Service. The total number of delinquent employees dipped slightly from 2009, but the amount owed jumped by $32 million.

The figures are “totally unacceptable and disrespectful to hardworking American taxpayers,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). “If you’re on the federal payroll, the very least you can do is pay your taxes.”

Often when you speak with government workers about pay and benefits and the burden they place on taxpayers, they reply that they are taxpayers, too. That is true, but it seems as though a significant number of them don't take that role as seriously as they take the role of tax consumer.

Republicans have introduced bills that would allow federal agencies to fire government employees who are delinquent on their taxes. It only makes sense that those who are unwilling to pay their fair share are should not be allowed to collect from other taxpayers.

What these numbers really reveal is a disrespect among some, not insignificant number of, government employees for those who foot the bill for their pay and benefits. They apparently don't feel the same obligation to contribute to the functioning of government as they expect others to.

Failing to rein in this type of abuse could lead to private sector workers trying to shun their obligations to pay what they legitimately owe - if those who are in government don't believe they should pay then why should anyone else. The proposals to allow the agencies to fire delinquent tax payers is a good start.