It is argued that fulfilling tax obligations is already great for societal contribution, but others believe that there are other ways through which individuals can contribute to society than simply paying taxes. This essay will discuss both perspectives before giving my personal viewpoint.
On the one hand, tax compliance provides governments with revenue for public funding. This budget can be used to upgrade, fix, and construct facilities to improve people’s quality of life more conveniently, such as building a park for providing residents with a green environment for recreation. Government subsidies can also support individuals who struggle with financial obstacles due to physical disability or other challenging circumstances, which enables them to meet their own basic needs, such as taking care of family or pursuing their own educational goals. Furthermore, paying taxes directly supports the government’s vital public services, including national defense, social order, and healthcare, helping employees working in these fields such as police officers, doctors, and firefighters have a stable income to fulfill their essential duties for society.
On the other hand, besides paying taxes, there are more responsibilities to make a contribution to society. Firstly, individuals have to comply with the law, as this can help governments reduce crime rate as well as upholding social order. Meanwhile, serving in the military is another important responsibility, as it represents every individual’s patriotism and loyalty towards the country. Moreover, each person has to practice good public hygiene, as doing so protects people from diseases thanks to a clean environment. Additionally, maintaining physical and mental well-being is beneficial for both individuals and governments, because people may not spend money on health checks and the national budget can be allocated to other sectors instead of the healthcare system.
In conclusion, although paying taxes can help governments enhance and develop public facilities to improve people’s living standards and subsidise individuals in difficult circumstances, I contend that people also have to implement other aforementioned responsibilities to fulfill social contribution.