According to the oxford dictionary, the word taxes defines as a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.
Money is taken from your yearly earnings to pay for services such as the Police, Emergancy Services, Military, Schools, Postal Service ect. It is also used to pay workers who work in a federal agency such as Postal Workers and the FBI. Citizens of the United States are taxed on items that are non-edible, such as a TV, and phones in stores. Tax percentages differ in every state.
Taxes are destributed to states so the states could build roads, schools, police stations and a lot more stuff.
The country can run Social Programs such as Social Security from taxes.