 If, instead, it calls the receipt "borrowing," it raises the reported deficit.Thus, if you give the government, say, $1,000 this year, it can say it is taxing you $1,000 this year.Alternatively, it can say it is borrowing $1,000 from you this year and will be taxing you in, say, five years the $1,000 plus accrued interest and using this future tax to pay you the principal plus interest due on the current borrowing.