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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,345 Likes: 1 |
An amazing statistic We hear all the time that the "rich don't pay their fair share of taxes" (123,000 Google search results for that phrase). Here's an analysis using recent IRS data that suggests otherwise.
1. In 2009, the top 400 taxpayers based on Adjusted Gross Income earned $81 billion as a group, and paid $16.1 billion in federal income taxes (see chart above).
2. In 2009, the bottom 50% of taxpayers, a group totaling 69 million, earned collectively more than $1 trillion and paid $19.5 billion in federal income taxes (see chart above).
Bottom Line: A small group of 400 of America's most successful earners in 2009, about the number of residents living in a typical apartment building in Washington, D.C., paid almost as much in federal income taxes as the entire bottom half of America's 138 million tax filers, which is a population equivalent to the combined number of residents living in America's 29 least populated states, plus the District of Columbia. What makes this disparity possible is the fact that an estimated 47% of individual income tax returns filed in 2009 had a zero or negative tax liability.
When you have only 400 Americans paying almost as much in federal income taxes as the entire bottom 50% of American filing income tax returns, I think we can dismiss any notion of the rich not paying their fair share of taxes. In fact, the IRS should publish the names and addresses of the Top 400 (or to protect anonymity, agree to provide a forwarding service), so that we can all send them "Thank You" letters to express our gratitude for shouldering such a disproportionate share of our collective tax burden.
Carpe' Scrotum
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
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Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 19.5% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2003
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You are free to write a check to the government anytime you feel motivated to do so.
"Don't believe everything you see on the Internet" - Abraham Lincoln
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,666 |
Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 19.5% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.htmlHappy to help.
Broncos are officially the worst team in the nation this year.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2003
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From the URL: Citizens who wish to make a general donation to the U.S. government may send contributions to a specific account called "Gifts to the United States." This account was established in 1843 to accept gifts, such as bequests, from individuals wishing to express their patriotism to the United States.
"Don't believe everything you see on the Internet" - Abraham Lincoln
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 16,540 |
Who's to say DJS hasn't sent a check, or even several checks, as gifts to the Gov't?
Why avoid his main point?
The middle 49.99% of the people bear the brunt.
I will add that it is shocking to me that 400 people have almost the same income as everyone in the bottom 50% (69 million people according to the post!!) of taxpayers!
Last edited by nsaqam; 06/07/12.
The Chosin Few November to December 1950, Korea. I'm not one of the Chosin Few but no more remarkable group of Americans ever existed.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
flat tax across the board is the way to go.
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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DJS...Since when is 19.5 billion 19.5% of 1.05 TRILLION?
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2008
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There is a math issue here. The bottom 50% did NOT pay 19.5% of their income in taxes.....they paid 1.9% of their income in taxes. Likewise they did not earn roughly the same as the top 400....they earned over 10 times that amount.
If you look close, the top 400 earned $81 billion. (On the graph it looks like 881 billion, but the first character is actually a dollar sign.) Wheras the lower 50% earned $1.05 trillion (or a thousand billion).
Edit: looks like others also spotted the math errors.
Last edited by Gregdoo; 06/07/12. Reason: Slow typist
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,345 Likes: 1 |
Shhhhh... Don't tell DJS about his math error. He thinks he's almost a 1%'er, too.
Carpe' Scrotum
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 48,411 |
Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 19.5% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
I hope your job doesn't involve math or reading graphs....you might want to try those numbers again.
Proudly representing oil companies, defense contractors, and firearms manufacturers since 1980. Because merchants of death need lawyers, too.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
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Add the 50% of americans that pay no tax...
Kent
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 48,411 |
Who's to say DJS hasn't sent a check, or even several checks, as gifts to the Gov't?
Why avoid his main point?
The middle 49.99% of the people bear the brunt.
I will add that it is shocking to me that 400 people have almost the same income as everyone in the bottom 50% (69 million people according to the post!!) of taxpayers! someone else needs to go to remedial math and graph reading school. and no, my friend, the group that bears the brunt is the top 25%, who pay more than 85% of all personal income taxes.
Proudly representing oil companies, defense contractors, and firearms manufacturers since 1980. Because merchants of death need lawyers, too.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
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my friend, the group that bears the brunt is the top 25%, who pay more than 85% of all personal income taxes. Bingo !
"Only Christ is the fullness of God's revelation." Everyday Hunter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
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Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 1.95% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
Liberals even change math to make their point.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 19.5% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
You're numbers are screwed up.....besides they can quit fuggin spending and the welfare rats can go get a fuggin job.
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 19,722 |
Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 19.5% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
Fact is most people under $40K a year pay near zero or get money back.
NRA Lifetime Member
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
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DOH!!!!
I read that as $881 billion.
The Chosin Few November to December 1950, Korea. I'm not one of the Chosin Few but no more remarkable group of Americans ever existed.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,810 |
Who's to say DJS hasn't sent a check, or even several checks, as gifts to the Gov't?
Why avoid his main point?
The middle 49.99% of the people bear the brunt.
I will add that it is shocking to me that 400 people have almost the same income as everyone in the bottom 50% (69 million people according to the post!!) of taxpayers! And, that was my point. The poorest can't pay much; they just don't have it. The middle class can (and should) pay taxes, but they are stressed with daily expenses. The wealthiest can pay more (although I recognize they too have limits); how many 150' yachts can they use at one time.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,810 |
Let's look at it this way, using your numbers:
- the TOP 400 earners paid 19.8% of their income in taxes. - the BOTTOM 50% of earners paid 19.5% of their income in taxes.
Unmentioned is those between the bottom 50% and the top 400 (probably the (0.0001%) - they are the ones bearing the brunt.
I am just below the top 1% in earnings and within the top 1% in wealth, and I feel that top earners can and should pay more to support the nation.
Fact is most people under $40K a year pay near zero or get money back. Who pays little or no taxes in the USA? see: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3505
Last edited by djs; 06/08/12.
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