Friday, July 01, 2005

The Rich Get Richer and Then Don't Pay Taxes

Unbelievable. Thanks, George!
The number of affluent individuals and married couples who paid no federal income taxes jumped more than 15 percent in 2002, to 5,650, new government data showed yesterday.

The chances of having a large income but not paying taxes on any of it are growing, according to the data, issued in the Internal Revenue Service's annual report to Congress on well-to-do Americans who live tax free. About one in every 436 high-income Americans paid no taxes in 2002, up from one in 531 in 2001 and one in 1,010 in 2000.

Over all, the top 2 percent of earners, the 2.5 million filers with income of $200,000 or more, paid almost 27 cents in taxes for each dollar of income they reported in 2002, other I.R.S. data showed. This group accounted for 53.5 percent of the income tax paid by all Americans.

Among that high-income group, however, almost 83,000, or one in 33, paid less than a dime in taxes for every dollar of income. An additional 79,000 paid less than 15 cents. The average for all Americans was 13 cents.
When are the lower and middle income earners who voted for their beloved 'W' going to wake up? Worst...President...Ever.

7 comments:

Grandes Cigarro said...

This is why.

That...was...easy.

Dave said...

No, George Bush continues to cut taxes for the wealthy. Period.

Grandes Cigarro said...

George Bush continues to cut taxes for everyone who pays them and continues the process of removing more taxpayers from the bottom of the taxrolls, shifting the burden further up. Period.

Dave said...

Percentage-wise the wealthy are doing much, much better. Many aren't paying ANY tax. I'm middle class and my taxes have not been affected much and I am certainly paying taxes! Spin it how you want but this administration clearly favors the rich and super rich. If you don't object to that then fine but to deny it is just dishonest.

Grandes Cigarro said...

Your beef should be with accountants and lawyers. I won't deny that Rep tax policy doesn't help the rich. But it's helped everyone because no one's taxes have gone up.

I think lower and middle income earners don't care what other people pay in taxes as long as they aren't getting screwed. And they aren't so this rhetoric is a non-factor. Class warfare is a tired talking point with no weight behind it.

Pat said...

" An additional 79,000 paid less than 15 cents."

Among those: Teh-RAY-za Heinz Kerry.

JeromeProphet said...

Anyone remember the term, "Balanced Budget"?

He's not only sticking it to the lower, and middle class, but he's totally bankrupting the nation's future.