Marina Yardaeva How do they explain to schoolchildren that everyone who is against taxes is an ass 01/17/2024, 08:03

Schools started teaching children about taxes. “Conversations on important issues” are dedicated to this, and separate blocks of extracurricular lessons on financial literacy are being developed. This is a necessary thing, a good thing. Taxes are serious, you must understand that.

However, it is always important what the message and quality of the material presented is. So far, both the first and second questions arise. The state’s interest seems strangely one-sided, and the level of new lessons (perhaps as a result of this) seems very primitive. And that’s a shame. But as always, it’s relevant.

It is possible that the authorities are interested in the formation of tax responsibility in the minds and hearts of the younger generation, because the idols of our schoolchildren are increasingly appearing who, for some reason, often have problems with the tax service.

First of all, we are talking about bloggers. In this regard, the past year has been particularly generous in terms of news about some incredible debts of Internet stars to the tax authorities. So frankly, he is an example for young people. But young people are fascinated by the talking heads of YouTube and TikTok. And many young people see their future in the blogosphere.

Here is the latest data. According to a joint study of Yappy and MAGRAM Market Research groups, 65% of schoolchildren aged 10-13 subscribe to a channel or blogger, and 55% express a desire to also earn money from posts on social networks in the future. There are studies where the share of those who want to become bloggers does not exceed 35% (MTS data), but even then this position still remains the most popular among young people. For example, according to a study by the same company, the number of school-age children who dream of becoming programmers is much less – only 20% (probably because young people understand that they still need to think a lot and somehow manage to pass the exam to get into a university specialized in damn mathematics).

Secondly, we are talking not only about professions, but also about the form of employment. According to Sberbank, 84% of Russian schoolchildren dream of working only for themselves. Of course, everyone understands that not all, or even half, of these dreamers will get what they want, but on average in Russia the share of free workers is still growing, and various tax difficulties may arise here too.

How can a young man not figure out where and how to pay various deductions that will benefit the whole society in the future? Then of course you need to explain everything to him in advance. But what if the opposite is the case? What if an enterprising citizen turns out to be too “smart” and solves everything so cleverly that he finds some loopholes and begins to irresponsibly evade his direct responsibilities? Again, it is better to prevent this in advance, and perhaps frank conversations about the social contract and civic awareness will do the trick.

In general, the purpose of the state is clear. It is better to invest in prevention rather than unsuccessful treatment of an advanced disease. Everything is correct. However, the content of this prevention is a bit confusing.

No, there are no questions about primary school supplies. Everything is pure. Well, fairy tales. So what else can you offer seven-year-olds? Maybe “nothing” is also a good option. But why don’t we talk about taxes for overall development? The stories are simple, like “Turnip”, but not without a touch of trolling. No, it is true that the only animal that does not understand why taxes are needed is the donkey, I personally appreciated it. Rude? Isn’t it somehow elegant? Don’t be cunning, don’t run away from the needs of the society you are a part of.

But high school materials cause confusion and distress. Everything is so vague, fragmented, superficial, even primitive. It is reported that there is a personal income tax of 13 or 15 percent, professional income tax for the self-employed is between 4 and 6 percent, and there are different regimes for entrepreneurs.

No information was reported about other contributions to the Social Insurance Fund, such as insurance premiums. (Social Insurance Fund)Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (Compulsory Health Insurance Fund)retirement fund (Pension Fund of the Russian Federation). Yes, these are not actually taxes, but we need to talk about this when talking about taxes. At least to understand how the first differs from the second. Otherwise everything falls into one heap and it turns out that with 13% they will build a hospital for us and if something happens they will treat us there and maybe everyone from the same heap will pay sick leave.

It is also worth noting that the country’s budget does not consist only of taxes. Lesson scenarios, by contrast, are structured in such a way that nothing else is expected. We open the guides for teachers and see something amazing. Here the teacher poses the following question to the students: Where should the government find money for schools and hospitals? And for some reason there is only one answer. I don’t even know what to do if an impudent Petya proposes to direct part of the country’s oil and gas revenues to the development of the social structure, for example, to the unfortunate Maryivanna who teaches music or physical education. Do you see this as a challenge? Scolding the insolent person? Methodological materials are silent.

The same materials are also silent on the difference between direct and indirect taxes. Many types of taxes are not mentioned at all in the presentation and video of the lesson, but then, like a box in a box, various VAT, transport, real estate and land taxes appear in the final test.

No, in fact, everything is the same as in our sad life. You live and live, and then in December there is an explosion and “Gosuslugi” says hello: please pay a few thousand rubles to the treasury. From where? Why? Because. Okay, there is some logic in the transport tax: you drive on public roads, they break down, you need to repair them, and it is also advisable to build new ones so as not to get stuck in traffic jams. But the essence of the property tax on square meters is, to be honest, not very clear when housing and communal services are paid, contributions for major repairs are collected, even various environmental fees are deducted. At least there’s a possibility of debate here.

Overall, polemics look good in terms of civic engagement. But apparently not at school. At least the scripts of pedagogical “educational” speeches do not provide for such a thing. Just general remarks, moral appeals and warnings.

By the way, it is interesting that the lecture in the framework of “Conversations about Important Things” ends with the analysis of an instructive case about a girl blogger who earned a penny from advertising, but forgot to pay taxes. “You can’t do that,” say those who prepare the guides, “wow, let it be like this!” Actually that’s all. But of course I want something else.

The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the position of the editors.