It’s hardly hidden. Withholding is clearly listed on each pay stub. It’s true that people often don’t pay attention, but that’s not at all the same thing as hid

It’s hardly hidden. Withholding is clearly listed on each pay stub. It’s true that people often don’t pay attention, but that’s not at all the same thing as hiding it. If you ended withholding, tons of people would spend too much during the year, not have enough saved to pay their taxes, and get into serious trouble. It would be the mirror of how so many idiots are giddy about their refund each April, except instead of feeling like they got a windfall, they’d end up with massive penalties. You could argue that it’s their own fault and they should be more responsible. I’d agree that they should, but they won’t, any more than they’ll be responsible enough to read their pay stubs and understand their withholding.