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"feels unfair" depends completely on the Overton Window. What proportion of Americans have a federal income tax liability of zero or less? (Yes, some Americans

"feels unfair" depends completely on the Overton Window. What proportion of Americans have a federal income tax liability of zero or less? (Yes, some Americans get paid to file taxes, via "refundable" tax credits) I believe it is around 42%. What proportion of the top income earners pay 80% of Federal income taxes? Our system is overall quite progressive. To complain that the five or so people mentioned in the article "only" paid billions in taxes over a five year period is a bit nonsensical.

vkou 5y ago
Given that the federal government collects its revenue through income taxes, and that 53% of Americans are children, the elderly, students, retired, disabled, or simply unemployed, how many of those people, in your opinion, should have a federal tax liability? Also, another 13% of Americans make less than $12/hour, with many of them working under 30 hours a week. Roughly how many of those people, in your opinion, should have a federal tax liability?
reedjosh 5y ago
> "only" paid billions It was millions over the period of 2014 to 2018. Not that I disagree with your overall point. Bezos did almost pay $1b himself though. In total the people in the article paid under $2b.
ethbr0 5y ago
How would top income earners feel without employees or workers (either their own or everyone in every business they patronize)? I hate paying taxes. But I'm honest about what I'm buying for my money -- the broader community I live in and happen to like and care about.
HWR_14 5y ago
Our overall system is not progressive. Once you factor in the regressive nature of social security taxes and average sales taxes, you quickly see that the rate of taxes paid on all income remains fairly consistent up until you get to people with a net worth in tens of millions plus who pay a much lower percent rate.
- bpt3 5y ago
  > Our overall system is not progressive. Yes, it is, overall: https://theintercept.com/2019/04/13/tax-day-taxes-statistics/ https://theintercept.com/2019/04/13/tax-day-taxes-statistics... > Once you factor in the regressive nature of social security taxes Social security is effectively a mandatory pension scheme where you get benefits at retirement based on what you paid in, so calling it a regressive tax seems inaccurate. > and average sales taxes Many states have exemptions for essential goods to limit the regressive nature of sales taxes, but yes they are regressive overall. > you quickly see that the rate of taxes paid on all income remains fairly consistent I'm not sure what your definition of fairly consistent is, but your first sentence is incorrect above, so it's probably not accurate here either. > up until you get to people with a net worth in tens of millions plus who pay a much lower percent rate. This is absolutely true, and is something that should be addressed in my opinion. Just taxing capital gains as income would be a great start, and might be enough.

vkou 5y ago

Given that the federal government collects its revenue through income taxes, and that 53% of Americans are children, the elderly, students, retired, disabled, or simply unemployed, how many of those people, in your opinion, should have a federal tax liability? Also, another 13% of Americans make less than $12/hour, with many of them working under 30 hours a week. Roughly how many of those people, in your opinion, should have a federal tax liability?

reedjosh 5y ago

> "only" paid billions It was millions over the period of 2014 to 2018. Not that I disagree with your overall point. Bezos did almost pay $1b himself though. In total the people in the article paid under $2b.

ethbr0 5y ago

How would top income earners feel without employees or workers (either their own or everyone in every business they patronize)? I hate paying taxes. But I'm honest about what I'm buying for my money -- the broader community I live in and happen to like and care about.

HWR_14 5y ago

Our overall system is not progressive. Once you factor in the regressive nature of social security taxes and average sales taxes, you quickly see that the rate of taxes paid on all income remains fairly consistent up until you get to people with a net worth in tens of millions plus who pay a much lower percent rate.

bpt3 5y ago
> Our overall system is not progressive. Yes, it is, overall: https://theintercept.com/2019/04/13/tax-day-taxes-statistics/ https://theintercept.com/2019/04/13/tax-day-taxes-statistics... > Once you factor in the regressive nature of social security taxes Social security is effectively a mandatory pension scheme where you get benefits at retirement based on what you paid in, so calling it a regressive tax seems inaccurate. > and average sales taxes Many states have exemptions for essential goods to limit the regressive nature of sales taxes, but yes they are regressive overall. > you quickly see that the rate of taxes paid on all income remains fairly consistent I'm not sure what your definition of fairly consistent is, but your first sentence is incorrect above, so it's probably not accurate here either. > up until you get to people with a net worth in tens of millions plus who pay a much lower percent rate. This is absolutely true, and is something that should be addressed in my opinion. Just taxing capital gains as income would be a great start, and might be enough.