The first $8,950 (standard deduction of $5,450 plus the one personal exemption of $3,500) you make, you don't pay taxes obviously.
Yes, a large number of "tax payers" pay no federal income taxes.
During 2006, Tax Foundation economists estimate that roughly 43.4 million tax returns, representing 91 million individuals, will face a zero or negative tax liability. That's out of a total of 136 million federal tax returns that will be filed.
That's 32% for the math challenged.
source
Now, the 45% is a play on words, depending upon what you want to say. 45% may not pay "federal Income tax", but everyone pays "payroll tax". Or, at least your company pays it for you. (we can argue who pays till the cows come home) Payroll tax is social security and medicare tax, also known as FICA tax.
So, even the bottom 50% pay like 3% taxes, on average. Since the payroll tax is like 9.2 percent, that means a lot of people are getting back a lot more federal income tax, than they paid in. Basically, it's welfare. You can call it what you will, but if the IRS is playing Robin Hood, it's welfare. We can argue about the effectiveness of the earned income credit and all, but it's wealth redistribution, wrapped up as an entitlement. (which it aint, by my way of looking at things)
example data
Notice, the bottom 20% pay like -6.5% federal income tax. But, pay around 8.3% payroll tax. That's where the 3% tax comes from. You will also notice that the bottom 45% pay no federal income tax, and from there down, get more than they pay. 8.2 + -6.5% = 1.7% (for the bottom 20% household income in 2005)
Everyone has to pay property taxes, and sales tax, ect.....
There Ruffy, chew on that a little, Don't make a bitter beer face.
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