Thank you for pointing this out. Many people, especially at HN for some reason, don’t realize that the Tax Reform Act of 1986 made tax rates more transparent w

Thank you for pointing this out. Many people, especially at HN for some reason, don’t realize that the Tax Reform Act of 1986 made tax rates more transparent which is why the “sticker rate” was lower. Interestingly, the former tax rates often times screwed the middle class much more, because they couldn’t afford an accountant and/or engage in the wide range of financial maneuvers that could substantially reduce one’s tax burden. No higher earner ever paid sticker price tax rates when they were that high. Source: My mother. She has been a tax accountant since the 70s. The Tax Reform Act changed the field considerably.