Where Does Your Tax Money Go Ever wonder where your tax dollars are spent each year? The table below provides a summary of government tax spending percentages applied to the tax you paid in. Your Money Is Spent On Your Share % National Defense $4,176 20% Veterans and Foreign Affairs $835 4% Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Related Programs $3,340 16% Unemployment and Social Services $1,879 9% Social Security, Medicare, and Other Retirement $7,516 36% Net Interest on the Debt $1,253 6% Law Enforcement and General Government $418 2% Physical, Human, and Community Development $1,461 7% Total Paid $20,878 100%