GET INVOLVED



Email     Print

Monday, April 6, 2009
11:53 AM EDT
Ryan Ellis

The Federal Income Tax Is
Already Steeply Progressive

As tax day approaches, here are some facts you might not hear from the politicians in Washington about the current progressivity of the income tax:

  • The top 1% of households (those earning more than $389,000 per year) earn 22% of America’s income, but pay 40% of America’s income tax.  This is up from 26% in 1986 and 37% in 2000
  • The top 5% of households (those earning more than $154,000 per year) earn 37% of America’s income, but pay 60% of America’s income tax.  This is up from 43% in 1986 and 56% in 2000
  • The top 10% of households (those earning more than $109,000 per year) earn 47% of America’s income, but pay over 70% of America’s income tax.  This is up from 55% in 1986 and 67% in 2000
  • Meanwhile, the lower half of income earners (those earning less than $32,000) pay only 3% of income taxes.  This is down from over 6% in 1986 and 4% in 2000
  • The story these numbers tell is of an income tax system which is steeply progressive, and has gotten more so over time—not less

To read the full report, click here

Posted by Ryan Ellis on Monday, April 6, 2009 11:53 AM EDT

To follow Ryan Ellis's RSS feed click here. To follow them on Twitter, their handle is @ryanlellis

blog comments powered by Disqus

Americans for Tax Reform

  • 722 12th ST NW
  • Suite 400
  • Washington DC 20005
  • 202.785.0266 (P)
  • 202.785.0261 (F)

Quick Links

Connect

Join the ATR Email List

Designed and Developed by Braynard Group, Inc.
hidden