If you set up your withholding right, you shouldn’t ever owe taxes when it’s time to file.
Thing is, here in Germany you don’t even get to make the mistake of setting up your withholdings wrong if you’re a regular employee. I don’t think it’s even possible to end up owing the state money if you’re not self-employed or have considerable capital investments (which is rare for regular employees, which is probably its own issue …).
Oh for sure, I’m not trying to defend the American tax system as being good by any means - it’s most definitely not. But for most people it’s not as bad as some folks seem to believe.
Thing is, here in Germany you don’t even get to make the mistake of setting up your withholdings wrong if you’re a regular employee. I don’t think it’s even possible to end up owing the state money if you’re not self-employed or have considerable capital investments (which is rare for regular employees, which is probably its own issue …).
Oh for sure, I’m not trying to defend the American tax system as being good by any means - it’s most definitely not. But for most people it’s not as bad as some folks seem to believe.