A U.S. dollar is an IOU from the Federal Reserve Bank. It's a promissory note that doesn't actually promise anything. It's not backed by gold or silver. P. J. O'Rourke
paper dollar, printed by the sovereign U.S. government, is nothing more—and nothing OTHER than—a tax I.O.U. which states, in effect: “The sovereign U.S. government owes the bearer one dollar of tax credit on the day taxes are due.”
Because of this I.O.U. pledge, the government is able to use the paper dollar, in the MEANTIME, to purchase real goods and services from private citizens and businesses.
“MONEY. In usual and ordinary acceptation it means gold, silver, or paper money used as circulating medium of exchange, And does not embrace notes, bonds, evidences of debt, or other personal or real estate. Lane v. Railey, 280 Ky. 319, 133 S.W.2d 74, 79, 81.”
So now we are all clear that "money" means gold or silver or a paper representation of gold or silver. We also know that it does not mean a promisory note or an I owe you.
The mental “trick” here is to realize that the ACTUAL taxes are collected when the government purchases the real goods and services—those goods and services being, in fact, the actual taxes paid.