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Warren Buffett and Mitt Romney have managed to create one of the enduring myths of our tax debate: that the rich pay a lower rate than the rest of America.This may be individually true. Buffett pays a lower rate than his secretary and Romney pays a lower rate than most of us who make our living from salaries.But nationally, the tax code is still broadly progressive. The more your make, the more taxes you pay as a percentage of your income.
Mike Kemp | Getty Images
According to new data from the IRS, people who make $1 million or more had an average tax rate of 20.4 percent in 2010. Tax filers who earned $30,000 to $50,000 paid an average rate of 4.8 percent, while those who made between $50,000 and $100,000 paid 7.7 percent. Those making under $30,000 had a negative effective rate, meaning they paid no federal income taxes after deductions and credits.
Put another way, millionaires pay a rate that’s more than four times that of the middle class.
One caveat: Rates go up as income goes up — but only to a point. Once you hit a certain magic number among super-high earners, your tax rates start to fall slightly.
According to the IRS, average tax rates increase as income increases — until you get to around $1.5 million in annual income. Once you make $2 million, average tax rates start to decrease. The average tax rate peaks at 25.1 percent for those making between $1.5 million and $2 million.
After that it starts to go down, and falls to 20.7 percent for those making $10 million or more.
So the millionaires who pay the highest average tax rates in America are those who make between $1.5 million and $2 million. That $2 million could be called the “Top Turning Point” on the income ladder, where rates reverse. (Related: Where the 1 Percent Live)
The reasons for this aren’t complicated. Once you get above $2 million, your share of income from investments increases. Investments are generally taxed at the 15 percent capital-gains rate, compared with the top ordinary-income rate of 35 percent.
The Millionaires Who Pay the Highest Tax Rate - U.S. Business News - CNBC
We must not just accept the propaganda, and rhetoric that is dominating the conversation today.
Although Obama and his fellow Democrats repeatedly call on wealthier Americans to pay their "fair share," they never specify what percentage of the nation's tax burden the wealthy would have to bear. As matters stand, the top 1 percent of American households paid 39 percent of income taxes in 2009, according to the most recent data compiled by the Congressional Budget Office, and the top 5 percent of taxpayers paid 64 percent.
But income taxes, taken in isolation, do not tell the whole story, because lower-income Americans do pay payroll taxes. But even taking into account all forms of taxation, the top 1 percent still paid 22 percent of federal taxes while earning just 13.4 percent of household income. The top 5 percent paid 40 percent of all federal taxes, despite earning only 26 percent of all income. No matter how you slice the numbers, it's hard to understand why anyone would think the wealthy aren't already shouldering a burden commensurate with their blessings.
Examiner Editorial: If top 5% paid 40% of taxes, what is their 'fair' share? | WashingtonExaminer.com
It is reported that the increase we have been hearing Obama repeat since Jan 20th, 2009 about "fair share" and "taxing families over $250K per year" would be around $80 billion. That is a drop in the bucket in terms of doing anything concerning Obama's run away spending vision. So what gives? Is this just a 'get even' measure? though up by progressives that are jealous that they didn't become successful? or is it a pillar of communism?
Communist Manifesto 10 Planks
It is a sad time in history we are seeing here folks, hopefully we can endure, and fix what this progressive shift to the planks of Marx is attempting.