It’s the time of year when we think more about taxes. Our completed returns show just how much we paid last year to the government. Collectively, it’s a big number. According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation, Americans paid a total of $4.2 trillion in 2013 in federal, state and local taxes.

That number will be a little bigger this year.

The Tax Foundation’s annual report says our total tax bill for 2014 will be $4.5 trillion or 30.2 percent of our income. The Foundation says our Tax Freedom Day—the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough to pay the entire tax bill–is April 21st, or 111 days into the year. In other words, the average taxpaying American works almost four months out of the year just to pay for government.

April 21st is the average date for the nation. The state’s tax freedom day varies depending on a variety of factors. Connecticut and New Jersey have the largest tax burdens. Residents there have to work until May 9th to cover this year’s tax liability. West Virginia’s tax freedom day is tomorrow, April 10th.

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