Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Top 400 US taxpayers: $16.1b, Bottom 50%: $19.5b

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

my friend, the group that bears the brunt is the top 25%, who pay more than 85% of all personal income taxes.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Fact is most people under $40K a year pay near zero or get money back.