If you are talking about Russia, the taxes are so hidden, paid by the corporations, and Gov is taking oil money https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Russia, compare to Kuwait where people getting pensions from exporting oil. Not saying Russia is better or worse, just different ways of grabbing money from common folks, and making them feel better. It was always such a common thing, when Russians go to Europe on vacation - and find how clean and nice everything else is - they say "well we pay 13% of taxes, not 50%", which makes every Russian feel so much better.