Public servants and taxation

I want to be clear about this topic, I am asking a specific question here.
This isn't a topic about the size of government and/or the tax rate.
Nor am I demeaning anyone's profession or career.
But, how can a police officer or a member of the armed forces pay taxes?
They get 100% of their salary from the government, so where does their tax come from?
I'm not talking about additional jobs they have, but their main job.
Similarly, if someone is employed in the private sector, but that company works wholly and exclusively for the government, how can that person pay taxes. As all the revenue that flows into the company to pay their salary comes from the government.

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Ontheroad · M

I always wondered about that. Each month for over twenty years i looked at my LES (pay stb in the Army) and chuckled at the line (Federal tax line) that showed i was in part paying so I could get paid. At least they stopped the taxes while I was deployed in a combat zone. That was something.

Wol62 · 51-55, M

@Ontheroad The honest answer is that you didn't pay tax. But then neither do people in companies that only make equipment for the military.

SomeMichGuy · M

@Wol62 The HONEST answer is that he DID get a reduced paycheck *because* of withholding for the income tax.

This is like everyone else.

Also, like everyone else, he filled out a yearly tax form to figure out if he gave up too much (and so gets a refund) or not enough (and so owes $ from whst he *did* receive).

Why do you think that this is different because they work for the government?