Final answer:
Federal taxes have been the largest category of tax receipts in the U.S. for the past 35 years, typically making up 17% to 20% of GDP.
Step-by-step explanation:
For the past 35 years, federal taxes have consistently comprised the largest category of U.S. tax receipts. Federal revenue is primarily collected from individual income taxes, payroll taxes, and corporate income taxes. While state and local governments rely significantly on sales taxes and property taxes respectively, these do not surpass federal tax receipts.
The federal tax receipts usually remain within 17% to 20% of GDP, capturing the bulk of tax revenue to fund various government programs and services.