Monday, May 9, 2011

Ahhh those crazy rich people

When it comes to taxes, do the rich pay their fair share?

The answer, of course, is loosley used since "fair" is not an absolute concept and tax data, depending how it's sliced, can tell different stories.
Those who say the rich pay their fair share point to the fact that the top 1% of taxpayers end up paying almost as much in federal income tax (and some years even more) as the bottom 95% combined.
Still, it's unlikely that even the most anti-tax, pro-wealth advocates would find this particularly fair: A very small number of millionaires end up owing no federal income tax at all, isn't that crazy...!!!

They're in good company, of course. 1/2 of all U.S. households, or 69 million, are estimated to have owed no federal income taxes for 2010, were's that tax break on H&R block..? I didn't see it. The vast majority of them, however, are low income. But 18,000 were households taking in more than $500,000 -- and of those, 4,000 made more than $1 million.

How can it be that those with big income streams owed zip to Uncle Sam?
Janice Johnson and Jay Safier, members of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, explained the likely reasons.

Such tax filers probably have big portfolios and big investment losses from the 2008 financial crisis. They are also more likely to be retired or self-employed, and may be charitably inclined.

4 comments:

  1. we require a progressive tax. And no income tax if income is under $20,000. Well, thats what I want, anyway.

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  2. Unfortunately, this is the reality and many other countries ...
    The gvt from the right is brave ... you have to be brave to tell poor people that they have to do sacrifices for the good of the society ...
    The bastards!

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  3. The rich are greedy. What a surprise. With many countries revolting, I see a global revolt happening in every nation where it makes sense. America beware!

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  4. Yeah I wish they werent so greedy

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