While getting together all taxable income documents for 2023 to file with the IRS, I came across something that is quite amazing. The Social Security System keeps a list of all earnings you ever made starting with the first time you ever worked.
I began “earning a living” as a messenger boy for a printing firm called Typo in Philadelphia. I travelled throughout center city using the old PTC buses (Philadelphia Transportation Company) delivering negative proofs of print jobs the firm was asking clients to approve. I made it all the way to 30th and Market streets where the old Philadelphia Evening Bulletin once published and took a train on occasion to go to Radnor to deliver items to the old TV Guide headquarters there.
My salary was a whopping $617 that first year in 1964 when I had to get “working papers” at age 15. It was one year before Medicare was installed and funds were required by the government to but funds aside each year to help with medical costs later.
Check Out a Lifetime of Annual Payements
“My Social Security” is the name of the website where you can see all of your annual payments. I noticed that there were only two years when I paid $0. The first was when I attended Temple University for an undergraduate degree and the second was Temple Law School for my first year in law school.
What angered me was having to pay taxes for the work I did from July 1970 to June 1971 when I served as a combat infantry platoon leader in the Vietnam War. You would think the USA would cut a person a break who was placing themselves in harm’s way for their country and not force ’em to pay taxes.
I have arranged for an accountant with the VITA program is scheduled to do my taxes again. VITA stands for the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance and along with the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program helps those making $64,000 or less. I’ve done the past four years and got refunds everytime.
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Now all I have to do is try to figure out how much I put into the system and how much I think I’ll take out before I kick the bucket. The website showed I paid $81,571 while my employers paid $81,588 toward social security. In addition, my payment toward Medicare was $18,875.
Check it out yourself!
Contoveros 
The following messages were exchanged on LinkedIn:
Michelle Seidner:
I find it offensive that you had to pay taxes while serving our country. I’d like to see a class action by veterans and their families if applicable for all those payments to be reimbursed with interest… and penalties against the government.
Michael J Contos:
I’ll drink to that Michelle. Or should I say “I’ll salute that idea.” Unless you’re a general or an Admiral, you ain’t going to make much during your tour of duty. Enlisted men as well as officers could have the savings given as part of a GI bill.
Thanks for your input!
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Wow! I have never seen that website! I do receive notices every once in a while, but the website makes it all so clear and easy to understand. I’m heart-broken that when I reach retirement age, I’ll still have to work just to pay the rent! It really is not a lot of money at all! Goodness. But it is interesting to see how long I’ve worked a “real” job. I was 14 when they started taking out monies. Wow! I knew I had worked at a convenience store when I was about 12, stacking food on shelves and making some little cash here and there, but I didn’t realize that at 14 I was getting a real paycheck enough to pay into social security at such a young age. WOW. Thank you for this insight and post today.
And yes, along with the strange idea that we worked “real” jobs as kids, I think I’m a little more than annoyed that any service person has to pay taxes while protecting and fighting for – AND IN A WAR – our country. I don’t even know what to say. I’m just embarrassed as an American.
I appreciate all you’ve done – for our country – and yes, for educating me today, but for always teaching with your great insight and interesting blog posts. 🤗
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Thank you sweetheart for your kind words about not taxing servicemen and women particularly when they are in a war zone.
We never gave any thoughts to where our tax dollars were going when we began to work and it is only when you see how much you contributed that you wonder if any of it will help or benefit you at some point.
The Social Security site is interesting for people of all ages to visit and check out what they made and point out like you did that you started at age 14, a year earlier than I did. Like you said, it’s fun to recall our “real” jobs as kids
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