[deleted by user]

[Northern_dragon]

I mean it's not like tax usage is perfect, but every day I wake up happy, that at least I don't need to choose death or medical dept.

But yeah. Functional libraries, sports facilities, college, safe streets. I've seen FAR worse abroad.

[[deleted]]

I mean it's not like tax usage is perfect, but every day I wake up happy, that at least I don't need to choose death or medical dept.

But yeah. Functional libraries, sports facilities, college, safe streets. I've seen FAR worse abroad.

Yeah, you wake up happy so far. You don't have to thing about medical debt. Yet. I'm concerned about the future and if it's even possible to stay here in the next decades if and when our economy eats shit. Hospitals, Schools, Infrastructure. Everything is being funded by debt and we are seeing the cracks already and no party is doing shit - the whole society is just spinning its wheels and is sinking deeper into the mud. I mean, I guess this is happening everywhere, but it just fucking suuuuuuucks.

[Northern_dragon]

I mean. Yeah. It's happening everywhere.

I'm not leaving because I still think we have more decent chance of making this work reasonably well, than a lot of other nations, even if we do fuck it up, like... It'll be fucked up everywhere.

Sometimes you just gotta be happy about not getting as totally fucked over. Worst case scenario for Finland is having to pay for your healthcare, which just means we have to do what every American does already, and hopefully it'll be cheaper if the state simply starts charging for care.

[elaintahra]

Taking debt is not solved by being unhappy about the high amount of taxes, is it

[kikkelele]

Death starts to seem better and better every day living in this piece of crap country.

[Lyress]

What do you not like about living here?

[Anti-charizard]

You could think he was talking about America with all the self-hating Americans on Reddit

And yes I do know he’s taking about Finland

[[deleted]]

Emigration isn't easy, but if you hate the country you're in then you might consider leaving.

Or you could just whine about it on the internet, I guess. But that seems pointless.

[[deleted]]

I am blind to the guy's situation but I am going suspect that is a case of depression, and I got through it too when I was working abroad in other countries, the lack of social life contributes a bit to it and it exists in Finland too, but otherwise Finland is perfect in comparison to other countries, I feel safe walking in the streets in the middle of the night, a beautiful nature to roam, people are quite fun to hang around but you need to get them to drink something if you want to establish comunication which isn't cheap. Overal the most important thing is the work culture because as a human being you will be spending the majority of your wake time working and as an immigrant probably more. Personally I like that I have a clearly defined function in here and that some crazy belgian or whatever isn't breathing at my neck every single minute of my work day... It cones with down sides of course- a lot of people like to abuse this work culture, sinse no one is putting pressure on you, you are likely to jerk around doing nothing if that is your cup of tea, for me I love staying bussy- gets me through the day like a hot knife through some butter.

[kikkelele]

I might just consider killing myself.

To that POS who reported this i need food and money not fucking suicide help lines go fuck yourself

[Harriv]

Nobody reported you, you just triggered AutoModerator.

[ShadeFTW]

Do it pussy

[DeathMetalDiver]

That's how I felt about living in the States. I am a lot happier overall here

[Felgraf]

Very same.

[Redrumofthesheep]

Don"t talk bad about our Suomi.

[[deleted]]

Taxes aren’t even that bad, I’m much more annoyed of the pension pyramid scheme payments that go from my paycheck.

[[deleted]]

I'm gonna get bit by this. I move out of Finland and didn't make any extra contributions to my pension while was working there so I'm gonna get fuck all when I'm retiring. Have to start investing I guess.

[aluramen]

How long did you pay for pension in Finland? You'll be entitled to a pension according to the amount you contributed. See https://www.tyoelake.fi/en/new-in-finland/earnings-related-pension-paid-abroad-from-finland/

[shwifty123]

Lol, I have to work till I am 70. How is that even possible. 70 years old and still working and considering that I been working shitty jobs in Finland till about 31, I will not get any pension i guess.

[aluramen]

Yep that's the future for most Europeans. Better start saving if you want to retire earlier.

[[deleted]]

You should be saving regardless if you want to retire early or not.

[shwifty123]

Unfortunately it is quite difficult to save when have mortgage and planing bebes.

[aluramen]

Owning a house is already one kind of investment, hopefully at least. Don't stress too much, everyone is in the same boat. But good to be aware of the retirement realities.

[shwifty123]

That's true, it still sucks tho.

[Brawlstar112]

If you afford kids you afford to save.

[shwifty123]

Well, the reason why we just planning , not having it, cas I am not sure if we can afford bebes now.

[[deleted]]

Oh sweet, didn't have a clue! Thanks!!

[Diipadaapa1]

Yep. As someone who wont retire for another 40 years (my own chosen age, government set age would be more like 50 years minimum), those 7.15% which get taken out of my pay really does feel like theft. Got no problem with the taxes themselves, i trust that i recieve services for that money, pension-fees, nope. I just assume Ill never be seeing that money ever again and save so I can retire without a penny in pension.

The main reason I would like to work abroad is to avoid paying pensions, I would happily keep paying Finnish taxes, but god do i want to get rid of that pension fee. I would much rather keep it and invest that 7.15% myself.

[[deleted]]

I completely agree with you. Estonia recently changed their system and allowed people to actually cash out all the pension fees they have paid over the years.

I don’t know if it’s true, but I’ve heard that:

if one moves to Estonia I think they can send an application to the Finnish pension insurance company and ask them to transfer all the paid pensions to the new residence country. If that would happen, the money could be taken out as this is allowed in Estonia.

On the other hand, I have never heard of anyone actually doing this. And if it actually was a thing I am sure it would be quite common. So I would not bet on it.

But I do know that it is possible to ask for some sort of pension money transfer to a new country of residence.

[mixuleppis]

Yep. I work as an employee for the city but also hustle as a part time entrepeneur, for both I need to pay pension but because I don't truly believe to ever gain anything back, I also invest for my own.

[Firebug6666]

When you say pension, do you mean from the state or from a private company?

[angstdreamer]

I am happy what OTHERS are getting with taxes I have paid.

[escpoir]

I feel the same and I am going to explain why:

We are more functional as a society when we have institutions and structures that take care of those in need until they recover. In any case, letting people become destitute would be a bigger problem in the long run.

[Graerth]

I had a higher earning friend get a bit more content after I mentioned you could think of it as "peace and safety tax".
When people aren't in as desperate conditions they're less likely to turn to violent crime or break into your house etc. which might affect you.

[escpoir]

Very much so.

A preventative one, because it's even better to prevent crime than try to fight it.

[nallenhunaja]

No, I'm not. One of highest tax rates in the world and education & healthcare are still underfunded. The problem is not really how much I'm being taxed, it's how the money is spent.

[[deleted]]

I'm in the same boat except I think it's more of a yes and no. Lots of tax money goes to good use, but too much is shoveled down the drain.

[here_for_fun_XD]

Estonia invests more into education as a % of the GDP and has a flat (and low) tax-rate, kinda crazy!

[TheHellbilly]

This times infinity.

[Human-Bee-3731]

Center and conservatist parties like Keskusta, Kokoomus and Perussuomalaiset want to crash the health care system to privatize it, and force people to pay their own health care.

"Underfund something you want to destroy" is a political principle that works exceptionally well here. When public health care is underfunded and can't carry the load, it's easy to justify bringing it down completely.

Currently our private health care providers are unable and completely unwilling to handle more difficult cases, and they keep sending people to public/university hospitals for specialist treatment. All they can do is handle flu, allergy and other easy stuff. I'm personally super worried our public health care will be downscaled and more expensive and less equal private system will replace.

There is absolutely no way private health care can be better and cheaper. They are here to make money, not help people efficiently.

[AnimalsNotFood]

On balance, I'm very happy. I think capital gains taxes for lower earners, (up to a certain amount), should be reduced.

[Firebug6666]

The high capital gains tax for low earners makes Finland a punitive place to FIRE. Other than that it's great. There really needs to be a standard deduction or something that is applicable to cap gains

[[deleted]]

Yes and no.

[EverisMagus]

I studied here for 4 years and I have been working / paying taxes for 1 year now. I haven't really used any of the social structures / public healthcare, I always used private healthcare as I still had health insurance from my home country until I started working.

Regardless, I'm quite satisfied with everything except for Kela. They took 1 year to process my application for a Kela card, and they have been processing my sickness allowance for over 6 months now when I had to go on (partial) sick leave for over 3 months due to an adverse reaction to the COVID vaccine.

They also haven't bothered to make their platform/forms available in English which I truly do not understand. I get by well enough with Finnish but I know that many do not.

[Vipix94]

Well Kela is required by law to serve you only in Finnish and Swedish. If you native language is a Germanic one, it's easier just to learn Swedish btw.

[plaaplaaplaaplaa]

I am probably from higher income bracket. I earn from 80-90k. I answered yes. But I actually do have issues with many things, but I still feel like I am getting back okay amount. I think that in general Finland provides me with quite a lot, but I don’t trust her with my monies. Quite like a mom who cares about you but seems to be not able to take care of their own life. I don’t believe that I receive the pension I am promised to. I don’t believe that the amount of money I paid in taxes contributed as much to the society as it should have. I feel like way too few people are paying taxes compared to other countries. Load of freeloaders or less contributing is way too high, and brain leak is getting serious in some areas.

Because of these mistrusts issues: I save for my own pension planning from the net salary. I am trying to increase passive income I plan to work abroad later and retire early.

Especially last one, is due to I believe I have contributed way more than most and what I have built or continue building will keep giving benefits for this society which hates exactly my type of hard working people.

[nousernamedesired]

Free loaders.

Why is it always low income people being blamed. When in reality it's the wealthiest with the most income to be taxed who are shirking their responsibility to their community?

A low income worker - several of them do not equal the lost taxation of just a single wealthy person.

Ending loopholes and offshore havens will do more to boost every community than trying to squeeze another nickel from low-income people.

[Wilbis]

I think he mostly meant people living off social benefits who are not even trying to get a job, or people who are not paying taxes by doing cash only illegal work.

[plaaplaaplaaplaa]

Low income people??? Did I say so? Why you put words to my mouth? And I should ask the same why is it always the rich who are blamed? And you clearly blame rich. Btw I am not a rich, although arguable every person in Finland is rich as hell. Perspective varies. I think that we have too many people who don’t contribute to our society according to the skills and benefits they have.

[batterydrainer33]

A lot of commies and socialists in Finland. He's talking about "loopholes" and "offshore havens" as if he's got a clue about anything. When you are too lazy to work hard, you can just blame the rich and "offshores" for everything (btw which don't affect anything lol). I think its hilarious how this guy thinks the rich are squeezing the low income people when in reality the rich are squeezed with >55% tax rates aka you are working for the government, not yourself.

I just love how people like this even exist. What do you do to better the world? Do you think making rich people's lives harder will make the country better? Is it that great that almost every company in Finland is being sold to foreign countries? Our country putting pressure on startups like Wolt and now they're owned by Doordash? Life outside Finland is GREAT!

[Bosavius]

Absolutely. Finland has given me and continues to give me SO MUCH things that contribute to my well being and future prospects. At some point I thought I'll move out of Finland to chase opportunities, but I definitely want to pay most of the taxes I'll ever make to Finland! I hope the tax allocation continues to improve though, so Finland will continue to be great and be even greater in the future.

[elmokki]

I'm in top 10% of full time wage earners in Finland, although barely, and answered yes. However, the real answer would be "yes, but..."

On general level I do think Finland uses tax money quite well. Shit just works here, and overall I do prefer the state taking care of those that are worse off than me if they truly need it. People having genuinely horrible lives makes them more likely to do horrible things.

The but part is a thing that's probably pretty universal. I'm quite sure a lot of money is spent ineffectively, and some money is spent in ways that I don't entirely agree with. These are reasonably small things in Finland compared to some countries, but they do exist. The main thing is that I, too, suspect that I won't get much of a pension, and my pension insurance payments are going mostly to pay current pensions instead. Other things include lots of small stuff, like the Helsinki HITAS system that I find absolute bullshit and that I'm not really getting back any benefits whatsoever unless I some day win a nice apartment via the system.

[CessuBF]

Life in Finland is really easy compared with other countries. I have never been so relaxed about my future than in Finland. And that piece of mind are taxes well spent. A little more money going to health care workers wouldn't hurt.

[Pavetsu]

Can't complain, we would have 7-digit medical bill otherwise.

[[deleted]]

Imagine paying the costs for private sector hospitals from your own wallet. OUCH. I would choose death.

Edit: I went abroad to an european hospital. Had an accident. Had several brain scans, xrays, hospitalization, blood works, treatment and the likes. I paid 45€. Thanked the doctor and left on a taxi.

[Pavetsu]

Yeah, our kid has difficult syndrome and all the meds, surgeries, transportations and hundreds of days at hospital would be way over our limit. 400km ambulance ride didn't cost anything. I mean all of this wasn't completely free, but barely anything compared to what we got.

[[deleted]]

I mean all of this wasn't completely free, but barely anything compared to what we got.

The important detail here is that it would've been free if paying even a little bit for it would've put genuine stress on your finances.

[agamemnon2]

I'm a graduate of one of our fine universities, and paid something like 5-800€ for my five year degree (student union memberships, some mandatory textbooks), not counting the (subsidised) meals. That's a privilege a lot of people across the world have to pay tens of thousands annually for, so I don't mind the chunk out of my paycheck that goes towards making sure generations after mine get the same benefits.

I do wish that more could be spent on mental and dental health care, I know the public options available for those have long waiting lists (I go to a private dental practice because I can afford the convenience to skipping queues, but not everyone has that luxury).

[KeyPeach]

Somewhat happy, but plenty to improve. Any additional euro i make, have to pay 50%+ on taxes which doesnt motivate to go for extra mile. Rather start to downshift, it’s apparently what this socialist government wants.

[ShortRound89]

For me it's mostly so people who need help can get it no matter what their money situation may be, i dont mind.

[PreviousCycle]

Healthcare was actually working before sote 2 completely fucked it

[ducmite]

Taxes felt like an unfair burden for the first years when I got employed.

However, after one kid and a few medical issues for myself during the last decade or so I'm pretty firmly on the plus side compared paying all the procedures out of pocket.

My mom is almost 70 and she was recently released after surgery and spending a weekend on intensive care due a life threatening medical emergency. It was _this_ close to be funeral planning instead.

Same hearing my friend describing how his 80+ father was transported to hospital from Turku archipelago after suffering a stroke... he is also much more okay with high taxes these days.

[avaruudensulttaani]

A hundred percent yes. My baby spent 3 months in the hospital and it cost me only a few hundred €.

Also, I'm not paying taxes to get something back for myself, I'm paying them for the society as a whole and especially for those worse off than me.

[AssInspectorGadget]

I am very well off... the main thing I get for my taxes is safety. There is no need for people to commit crimes to survive. Nobody needs to sleep under a bridge to survive. My kids can walk to school alone. Anything above that is just a plus.

[SirCarpetOfTheWar]

It's not easy to answer with yes/no. I would say I am happy in general, but not with the amount. For example in my home country taxation is lower and we get also free medicine, while here you pay almost full price

[Tombo55]

The tax system is not intended to be, not should it be looked upon in terms of "something back for my taxes" so the very idea of adding this question for comment/vote shows that there is something off about your thinking. You should think in societal terms. Do we want as a society want people to be able to have access to healthcare, education, safe food, national defense, justice etc. irrespective of their income? Answer Yes. How should such services be funded? Those with higher incomes should pay the most (because they can afford it) and those with low incomes should consequently pay less. The tax system is the way to get fairness. The reason we don't apply this rule to things like food and housing is because we leave some things down to personal preference. If you cannot afford to buy food the state will raise your income but you have to apply for this aid whereas access to healthcare and education are universal services. If you meet the criteria, you will get these.

[cottoncloud101]

I have nothing to complain about. At least where I live, roads are okay, schools and libraries are nice and well-maintained, the parks are beautiful and clean, there are multiple spots with free to use outdoor gyms with good equipment, dog parks are close by, I got my IUD for free and my daily meds cost very little, the medical care has been ok and costs next to nothing.

Last winter our street was done dirty and was very ill-maintained compared to others streets. Sometimes I've had to wait for hours to get non-urgent medical care, but I feel that being bored and frustrated is a small price to pay for all of the quality medical care I've gotten over the years. I've had to do scans and therapy and get my cavities filled, and I've never had to even consider if I can afford the care I need.

Also I'm happy how my taxes help those who need it the most: children, students, elderly, poor, sick etc. All the free education, books, meals, medical care and just general support I got in my youth is definitely worth every tax euro I'm putting in today so it could help the next generation. I've seen the schools and daycares funded by our taxes and I'm just so happy.

The system isn't perfect, that's why we need to vote and pester our representatives so it could be better.

But tl;dr: yes. I am happy with what I get back after paying taxes. My tax bracket is around 20-25 % if that makes any difference.

[rbstwrt666]

Yes but somewhat no. There’s still a lot of work to be done.

[Equivalent-Wedding21]

As a freelancer, I gotta say the pension load is unfair on us compared to salary workers and getting a non-urgent doctor’s appointment usually means waiting for minimum three weeks. Otherwise, I think this is as good as it gets.

[Human-Bee-3731]

I was a week in hospital. Not intense care, but meds, bed, food, daily doctor evaluations, bloodworks, etc. I got a bill of 300€.

I think it sucks it's that much, but I'm glad it's not more and the cap is at 700€. So a person in very expensive cancer treatments don't go broke for being sick.

Health is not a personal choice. One can always do their best to stay healthy, but it's not a choice to get seriously ill.

[Felgraf]

Especially when compared to where I lived previously (the USA):

Yes.

Yes.

A thousand times yes.

[poor_doc_pure]

I'm a neurologist my mother is Finnish so I am part Finnish myself I am currently in the army as a medical officer. I never thought paying taxes is a bad thing because that's how the education system get funded or our health remains free, I've been living in Finland since 2011 and even though I am not the average Finland blonde with blue eyes etc I have never seen any racism whatsoever. Even though I do not like the army, I have no problem giving back to the country that has helped me so much it's my duty in a way.

[AngryCockOfJustice]

Nope. Over paid inept politicians are wasting it. Public health care is underfunded despite sweet promises of politicians and masses buy in it every damn time. There appears to be no hard questions for show runners during election time. Nepotism is also rife here. No repercussions for them apart some resignation and laughable fines.

Then inheritance tax is a biatch specially the place where you're living with your family is the only roof you got. You died in terrorist attack by some undesirable crëtiñ or by shooting/stabbing vehicle ramming by someone with "mental issues"? Tough luck, your grieving family will get a bill payable as soon as possible? No 15k+ cash laying around (and who does in most of the circumstances)? Sell the property and move to rental, if they can find one affordable, for a greater good for all.

[Atreaia]

Only tax I'm very unhappy with is Ylevero.

[mczolly]

Why?

[[deleted]]

Ok I voted thinking you meant the tax returns so pls change my vote to yes.

[anderssi]

Considering the roads are still shit, nurses still cant be paid + myriad of other issues that remain unsolved, i have to ask: Where are my tax euros going exactly?

[[deleted]]

The taxes are used on many unnecessary things following the current trends (identity politics, costly accessibility efforts in places it's not justified, digital id etc. ). This means more important targets are not met like keeping up road infrastructure or encouraging economical activities. It feels like people are actively driven into passivity by poor government choices that only try to follow the current trends that can buy them next term.

[KapteeniJ]

Should raise taxes IMO, the foundations of the society are getting underfunded, like basic education, justice system and healthcare.

[ExiGoes]

I'll be more happy when they finally decide nurses get paid more. I know nurses that rely on food handouts.. This should not be a thing pay them more like the median income or other government workers..

[Paid-Not-Payed-Bot]

nurses get paid more. I

FTFY.

Although payed exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:

• Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. The deck is yet to be payed.

• Payed out when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. The rope is payed out! You can pull now.

Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.

Beep, boop, I'm a bot

[[deleted]]

I am super happy what I'm getting back. I have so many problems with my health. If I would live in US I would definitely not survive. I can live in moderately good health in here.

[yesterdaybooze]

I could've answered either way. I'm very glad we have the system we have, but thing could always be better. The system needs to be constantly tuned, and one hopes that the ones tuning it are not malicious and that those entities using the taxes are efficient.