Tax season

'Tis the season to be jolly... 

Or not! I put on my [imaginary] CPA hat yesterday and tackled the joyful task of preparing the forms. 1040 and state. I don't really mind doing that. I do, however, mind greatly when i see the values we are supposed to pay. Forget about refund, we always pay. You would think we pay nothing throughout the year, right? But every month, dutifully, a large sum of mine (and his) paycheck goes off to the government. And when tax season comes, we are always invited to write a check and send over. How dare we have no mortgage on the house?   

I know this is me just bitching, but it just pains me to be so taxed. It feels like every time I turn around I have to pay something to the government. You want to file your taxes? Pay up! You want to work? Pay up! You want to get this form that we should provide you? Pay up! You want to step outside? Pay up! 

What exactly is this money being used for? And why can't I get ANY benefits out of it? It would be nice if someone could explain the phenomena to me....