Fixing Tax Loopholes, 51% of Americans Pay NO Incomes Taxes

[WillowTree]

I love the names you guys come up with this stuff. The Fair Tax isn't fair. A 21% sales tax is not going to cause an economic boom.

Thanks, but I didn't actually name it. All taxes come out of sales already. Corporate taxes, income taxes, investment taxes, sales taxes. If we replace a myriad of taxes and the overhead that go with them and replace them with a tax that raises the same revenue only without all the accompanying overhead, then yes, that will trigger a boom. The cost of people and businesses complying with all the tax laws and the disincentives our tax laws provide to efficiency alone would dramatically drop prices. It would also make our enormous cash based underground economy taxpayers.

What is fair?

I find it hard to believe taxes can generate so much ignorant speculation. Few want to pay taxes, and those that do want the taxes to benefit them, not necessarily anyone else.

Taxes and fees take up a good deal of the income of the average wage earner in America. Everyone whines about raising taxes yet there is no hue and cry when banks raise fees and interest rates on loans, and still pay historically low interest on savings.

Some want a simple tax, everyone pays 10% of all sources of income without any deductions. What might be the consequences of such a plan? Think real hard. How many people are employed in the financial services industry? Hell, Mitt Romney might have to actually work, yikes. Imagine the howl when organized religion is faced with obtaining donations when the donation is no longer deductable.

And what of the spread between the haves and have nots? Imagine in ten years how much wider the spread between what the Koch Brothers get to keep and you get to keep with this 'fair' tax. Not only wealth, but the influence brothers Kock will have thanks to the collective 'wisdom' of Messers. Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Kennedy.

Fools march in and join the cocophony of thoughtless rhetoric from the New Right. Be careful what you wish for, plutocracy is not the way to greater freedom and liberty.

Bullshit on your class war fare. The KOCh brothers will spend more in taxes for the yacht they buy then you will in your lifetime. asswipe.

 

[Polk]

Not quite. Kaz makes a valid point. With taxes reduced on manufacturers and suppliers, it could end up being a wash in MOST cases, but not all if the consumption tax was commiserate with the ingrained taxes from our current system (payroll, FICA, Unemployment on all parties involved from resource to sale).

So, there's something to it.

There is something to it, but Kaz widely overstates the case. It would certainly be true that the proposal would increase the price by a lower percentage than the percentage of the tax, but it's not true that prices would remain stable. What would be peeled out of prices are taxes firms pay (corporate income tax, employer share of FICA).

As I said, those taxes are part of the Fair Tax as well and they are part of the price you pay for products today. There is no difference between that and other taxes.

And prices would go down because of the reduction of economic inefficiency. Even moreso over time.

Sure there aren't. Firms aren't paying their employees' income tax, for example.

 

[Polk]

I guess you assume you're talking to someone who has never been dirt poor? Right? Because you are wrong. But,, I managed to save a little money and I'll tell ya right up front.. I didn't piss it away on wall street or in the gambling halls,,, every red cent I've ever saved is still in da bank. I'll never be rich, but I'll hopefully never be dirt poor again.

Being able to save a few pennies here and there isn't really relevant. Poor people face tradeoffs the wealthy don't face. Not matter how strong your desire to save, rent/mortgage was still due every money and you still had to feed yourself.

It's relevant to me. And honey those pennies add up. And then you get to pay taxes on the interest.

It doesn't matter if it's relevant to you. It's not relevant to the discussion. No matter how much you desired to do so, you couldn't realistically save more than 20% of your income (and even that is generous). It would be very easy for someone making $500,000 a year though to save 20%, or even 50%, of their income.

 

[Susan45]

The Tax Foundation - Number of Americans Outside the Income Tax System Continues to Grow

Report after report has shown a growing majority, conservatively at 40%, of American workers pay no income tax, ZERO. Meanwhile the top 10% of American income earners fund 70% of total federal income taxes.

Where is the shared sacrifice?

If those who are paying zero income tax were to contribute 'their fair share' perhaps it would solve this current financial situation--for a few months at least. But it isn't politically expedient to go after people who don't pay taxes.

This is a result of tax credits, loopholes if you will, that allow median income earners to pay virtually nothing in income tax. Obama is all for inciting a mob against the evil rich who are currently funding this unsustainable spending spree that has intensified more under the short two years, though it seems much longer, of Obama's presidency than it has under any other administration.

Record monthly deficit spending was reached back in March and has continued at $200 billion a month. The US Federal Government spends $200 billion more a month than it takes in revenue, and Obama wants everyone to believe the problem is the rich aren't paying their fair share .

But we're told that cutting deficit spending will damage the economy. That is the justification for this absurd situation: fixing it will hurt the economy; as if continuing in this manner is going to have anything but an apocalyptic outcome .

Americans have become desensitized to the constant cries of crisis that Obama has used to achieve the entirety of his legislative agenda, it isn't working anymore.

Wow! Nothing like anticipating kids going hungry to rile up the pearl clutchers. I went through the thread to see if there was any real figures posted and found very few links. I'm not surprised of course. The right mostly believes in magic and the left has gotten tired of dealing with the lack of compassion coming from the right.

The reason I am linking to this OP is because it is from 2005. A little old IMO. So here are a few things I've been reading.

The “half of Americans pay no income tax” fraud

One of the right-wing’s favorite talking points is the claim that 50 percent of American households don’t pay income taxes. From that claim flow a couple of other points: First, it’s impossible to “cut” taxes for those households because they don’t pay any tax in the first place; second, those households are somehow less deserving of respect or even a voice in politics because they aren’t paying their own way.

That claim is bogus both in its details and its general charge.

The actual figure of “taxable units” who don’t pay the standard income tax — a taxable unit being a couple filing jointly or a person filing — is somewhere around 38 percent. Even that number is grossly exaggerated, because it excludes what people pay through the payroll tax.

That tax, in total, amounts to 15.3 percent of earned income up to a gross income ceiling that this year is $102,000. Above the ceiling amount, a taxpayer pays only 2.9 percent. (Employers technically contribute half the 15.3 percent, but economists classify the entire amount as a tax burden on the worker because it is a tax on their labor. If you’re self-employed, you have to pay that entire 15.3 percent yourself.)

Because of that income ceiling, high-income workers end up paying the tax only on a relatively small part of their income, while poor and many middle-income households pay it on everything they earn, so the payroll tax is to some degree a surtax on the poor and middle-class worker.

How much does the payroll tax amount to? Well, last year the standard income tax brought in $1.17 trillion, while the payroll tax brought in $873.4 billion.
Atlanta Opinion  | ajc.com

This is from the Atlantic Journal written by this man.

Meet Jay Bookman

By AJC | Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 04:35 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jay Bookman is columnist and deputy editorial page editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, specializing in foreign relations, the environment and state and local politics. He has twice won national awards for editorial writing — the National Headliner Award (1998) and the Scripps-Howard National Journalism Award (1993) — and the Green Eyeshade Award for editorial writing (2005) and is a seven-time winner of the Best of Cox Newspapers awards for editorials and for columns. In addition, his work on environmental issues has been recognized with the Aldo Leopold Award, granted by the Wilderness Society (1998), and the American Conservation Award (1994), by the National Wildlife Federation. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with degrees in history and journalism. He has lived in Atlanta since 1990, and previously worked for newspapers in Washington state, Nevada and Massachusetts. His first book, “Caught in the Current,” was published by St. Martin’s Press in July, 2004.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

All responsible Americans want to pay taxes realizing that this is a necessary evil if you want to live in such a great country.
Trouble is, more and more people are not responsible. More and more people having gotten use to the "2nd Christmas" every year - are whining high screaming such nonsense as "the rich don't pay any taxes" - which is utter garbage.
And it doesn't help when we have a President who realizes that many of his voters ARE these whiney people - irresponsibly gets in front of the cameras and goes on HIMSELF about "wealthy not paying their fair share" - pathetic.

In the end I have no faith in this government in solving our massive problem - and thus - like Rome, we will fall as the world super country....and China is first in line to take our place. (With our blessing)

 

[iamwhatiseem]

There is something to it, but Kaz widely overstates the case. It would certainly be true that the proposal would increase the price by a lower percentage than the percentage of the tax, but it's not true that prices would remain stable. What would be peeled out of prices are taxes firms pay (corporate income tax, employer share of FICA).

As I said, those taxes are part of the Fair Tax as well and they are part of the price you pay for products today. There is no difference between that and other taxes.

And prices would go down because of the reduction of economic inefficiency. Even moreso over time.

Sure there aren't. Firms aren't paying their employees' income tax, for example.

YES THEY DO.
OMG - don't you all hate the fact that people like this poster votes???
Every employer pays a BUNCH of employee taxes...what a...

 

[WillowTree]

Being able to save a few pennies here and there isn't really relevant. Poor people face tradeoffs the wealthy don't face. Not matter how strong your desire to save, rent/mortgage was still due every money and you still had to feed yourself.

It's relevant to me. And honey those pennies add up. And then you get to pay taxes on the interest.

It doesn't matter if it's relevant to you. It's not relevant to the discussion. No matter how much you desired to do so, you couldn't realistically save more than 20% of your income (and even that is generous). It would be very easy for someone making $500,000 a year though to save 20%, or even 50%, of their income.

Yeah! so? they pay taxes on the interest too.

 

[WillowTree]

As I said, those taxes are part of the Fair Tax as well and they are part of the price you pay for products today. There is no difference between that and other taxes.

And prices would go down because of the reduction of economic inefficiency. Even moreso over time.

Sure there aren't. Firms aren't paying their employees' income tax, for example.

YES THEY DO.
OMG - don't you all hate the fact that people like this poster votes???
Every employer pays a BUNCH of employee taxes...what a...

 

[Polk]

As I said, those taxes are part of the Fair Tax as well and they are part of the price you pay for products today. There is no difference between that and other taxes.

And prices would go down because of the reduction of economic inefficiency. Even moreso over time.

Sure there aren't. Firms aren't paying their employees' income tax, for example.

YES THEY DO.
OMG - don't you all hate the fact that people like this poster votes???
Every employer pays a BUNCH of employee taxes...what a...

My God, your reading compensation is terrible. The taxes on my salary come out of my salary, not out of my employer's coffers. That's not saying employers don't pay taxes on their employees (like unemployment taxes and employer share of FICA).

 

[Polk]

It's relevant to me. And honey those pennies add up. And then you get to pay taxes on the interest.

It doesn't matter if it's relevant to you. It's not relevant to the discussion. No matter how much you desired to do so, you couldn't realistically save more than 20% of your income (and even that is generous). It would be very easy for someone making $500,000 a year though to save 20%, or even 50%, of their income.

Yeah! so? they pay taxes on the interest too.

That assumes they spend it.

 

[shintao]

We should have a pure flat rate tax on all personal income with no deductions.

Well, if you mean, we should set a figure that ALL equally have to pay, and base the tax on the poorest among us ability to pay, THEN YES!

But the idea we set percentages & other gimicks to cause discrimination and unfair taxation, then NO! NOT!!!

 

[Polk]

Thanks, but I didn't actually name it. All taxes come out of sales already. Corporate taxes, income taxes, investment taxes, sales taxes. If we replace a myriad of taxes and the overhead that go with them and replace them with a tax that raises the same revenue only without all the accompanying overhead, then yes, that will trigger a boom. The cost of people and businesses complying with all the tax laws and the disincentives our tax laws provide to efficiency alone would dramatically drop prices. It would also make our enormous cash based underground economy taxpayers.

What is fair?

I find it hard to believe taxes can generate so much ignorant speculation. Few want to pay taxes, and those that do want the taxes to benefit them, not necessarily anyone else.

Taxes and fees take up a good deal of the income of the average wage earner in America. Everyone whines about raising taxes yet there is no hue and cry when banks raise fees and interest rates on loans, and still pay historically low interest on savings.

Some want a simple tax, everyone pays 10% of all sources of income without any deductions. What might be the consequences of such a plan? Think real hard. How many people are employed in the financial services industry? Hell, Mitt Romney might have to actually work, yikes. Imagine the howl when organized religion is faced with obtaining donations when the donation is no longer deductable.

And what of the spread between the haves and have nots? Imagine in ten years how much wider the spread between what the Koch Brothers get to keep and you get to keep with this 'fair' tax. Not only wealth, but the influence brothers Kock will have thanks to the collective 'wisdom' of Messers. Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Kennedy.

Fools march in and join the cocophony of thoughtless rhetoric from the New Right. Be careful what you wish for, plutocracy is not the way to greater freedom and liberty.

Bullshit on your class war fare. The KOCh brothers will spend more in taxes for the yacht they buy then you will in your lifetime. asswipe.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for them because of that?

 

[Susan45]

From the CBPP

Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes

Executive Summary

A recent finding by Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation that 51 percent of households owed no federal income tax in 2009 [1] is being used to advance the argument that low- and moderate-income families do not pay sufficient taxes. Apart from the fact that most of those who make this argument also call for maintaining or increasing all of the tax cuts of recent years for people at the top of the income scale, the 51 percent figure, its significance, and its policy implications are widely misunderstood.

The 51 percent figure is an anomaly that reflects the unique circumstances of 2009, when the recession greatly swelled the number of Americans with low incomes and when temporary tax cuts created by the 2009 Recovery Act — including the “Making Work Pay” tax credit and an exclusion from tax of the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits — were in effect. Together, these developments removed millions of Americans from the federal income tax rolls. Both of these temporary tax measures have since expired.

# In a more typical year, 35 percent to 40 percent of households owe no federal income tax. In 2007, the figure was 37.9 percent. [2]

# The 51 percent figure covers only the federal income tax and ignores the substantial amounts of other federal taxes — especially the payroll tax — that many of these households pay . As a result, it greatly overstates the share of households that do not pay any federal taxes. Data from the Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center show only about 14 percent of households paid neither federal income tax nor payroll tax in 2009, despite the high unemployment and temporary tax cuts that marked that year.[3]

# This percentage would be even lower if federal excise taxes on gasoline and other items were taken into account.

# Most of the people who pay neither federal income tax nor payroll taxes are low-income people who are elderly, unable to work due to a serious disability, or students, most of whom subsequently become taxpayers. (In a year like 2009, this group also includes a significant number of people who have been unemployed the entire year and cannot find work.)

# Moreover, low-income households as a whole do, in fact, pay federal taxes. Congressional Budget Office data show that the poorest fifth of households as a group paid an average of 4 percent of their incomes in federal taxes in 2007 (the latest year for which these data are available), not an insignificant amount given how modest these households’ incomes are — the poorest fifth of households had average income of $18,400 in 2007. [4] The next-to-the bottom fifth — those with incomes between $20,500 and $34,300 in 2007 — paid an average of 10 percent of their incomes in federal taxes.

# Even these figures understate low-income households’ total tax burden, because these households also pay substantial state and local taxes. Data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy show that the poorest fifth of households paid a stunning 12.3 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes in 2010.[5]
Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

I have reached a point where I don't expect the right to do any reading but this hate fest towards the poor is just a bit much.

 

[Big Fitz]

14 pages of bickering (some of it fun) and yet, the OP stands firm.

 

[hellofromwarsaw]

Poorpeople pay the SAME RATE in taxes and fees as the rich- fact. Total myth.

This is all proven fact- YOU try and prove any of it wrong!!! You will fail. This is my synthesis of 3 years of arguing on here. Background information my azz. 30 years of neocon voodoo.... NONE OF THIS WAS TRUE (OR "EUROPEAN"!!) UNTIL THE DEMENTED RAYGUN (IT"S CONTAGIOUS!!!) Read it and weep, unless you're an AZZHOLE!!:
only modern country in the modern world where full time workers live in poverty and have no health care (500k bankruptcies a year, most HAVE insurance - crap insurance!), worst min. wage, work conditions, illegal work safeguards, vacations, work week, college costs, rich/poor gap, upward social mobility, % homeless and in prison. Happiness? We're # 23!!
And if you complain dupes say you're a commie. PFFFFFT! Racism and hate? We're #1!! Thank you Neocons! and this was before the most recent Pub financial scandal and Depression. Pub dupes!! Tell me facts are European, socialist, communist ya fegging morons...ty

The min wage in Australia is $15, NZ $13. We are pathetic, thanks to Pubs.

 

[WillowTree]

What is fair?

I find it hard to believe taxes can generate so much ignorant speculation. Few want to pay taxes, and those that do want the taxes to benefit them, not necessarily anyone else.

Taxes and fees take up a good deal of the income of the average wage earner in America. Everyone whines about raising taxes yet there is no hue and cry when banks raise fees and interest rates on loans, and still pay historically low interest on savings.

Some want a simple tax, everyone pays 10% of all sources of income without any deductions. What might be the consequences of such a plan? Think real hard. How many people are employed in the financial services industry? Hell, Mitt Romney might have to actually work, yikes. Imagine the howl when organized religion is faced with obtaining donations when the donation is no longer deductable.

And what of the spread between the haves and have nots? Imagine in ten years how much wider the spread between what the Koch Brothers get to keep and you get to keep with this 'fair' tax. Not only wealth, but the influence brothers Kock will have thanks to the collective 'wisdom' of Messers. Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Kennedy.

Fools march in and join the cocophony of thoughtless rhetoric from the New Right. Be careful what you wish for, plutocracy is not the way to greater freedom and liberty.

Bullshit on your class war fare. The KOCh brothers will spend more in taxes for the yacht they buy then you will in your lifetime. asswipe.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for them because of that?

Did I say that asshole?

 

[WillowTree]

14 pages of bickering (some of it fun) and yet, the OP stands firm.

Yep!

 

[WillowTree]

From the CBPP

Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes

Executive Summary

A recent finding by Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation that 51 percent of households owed no federal income tax in 2009 [1] is being used to advance the argument that low- and moderate-income families do not pay sufficient taxes. Apart from the fact that most of those who make this argument also call for maintaining or increasing all of the tax cuts of recent years for people at the top of the income scale, the 51 percent figure, its significance, and its policy implications are widely misunderstood.

The 51 percent figure is an anomaly that reflects the unique circumstances of 2009, when the recession greatly swelled the number of Americans with low incomes and when temporary tax cuts created by the 2009 Recovery Act — including the “Making Work Pay” tax credit and an exclusion from tax of the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits — were in effect. Together, these developments removed millions of Americans from the federal income tax rolls. Both of these temporary tax measures have since expired.

# In a more typical year, 35 percent to 40 percent of households owe no federal income tax. In 2007, the figure was 37.9 percent. [2]

# The 51 percent figure covers only the federal income tax and ignores the substantial amounts of other federal taxes — especially the payroll tax — that many of these households pay . As a result, it greatly overstates the share of households that do not pay any federal taxes. Data from the Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center show only about 14 percent of households paid neither federal income tax nor payroll tax in 2009, despite the high unemployment and temporary tax cuts that marked that year.[3]

# This percentage would be even lower if federal excise taxes on gasoline and other items were taken into account.

# Most of the people who pay neither federal income tax nor payroll taxes are low-income people who are elderly, unable to work due to a serious disability, or students, most of whom subsequently become taxpayers. (In a year like 2009, this group also includes a significant number of people who have been unemployed the entire year and cannot find work.)

# Moreover, low-income households as a whole do, in fact, pay federal taxes. Congressional Budget Office data show that the poorest fifth of households as a group paid an average of 4 percent of their incomes in federal taxes in 2007 (the latest year for which these data are available), not an insignificant amount given how modest these households’ incomes are — the poorest fifth of households had average income of $18,400 in 2007. [4] The next-to-the bottom fifth — those with incomes between $20,500 and $34,300 in 2007 — paid an average of 10 percent of their incomes in federal taxes.

# Even these figures understate low-income households’ total tax burden, because these households also pay substantial state and local taxes. Data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy show that the poorest fifth of households paid a stunning 12.3 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes in 2010.[5]
Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

I have reached a point where I don't expect the right to do any reading but this hate fest towards the poor is just a bit much.

Well, thanks moron for your input.. But,,, it is the FEDERAL INCOME TAX we are talking about,, it you think paying taxes by other means is acceptable then I'm sure you'll be okay with the flat tax and or the fair tax. Thanks in advance.

 

[WillowTree]

From the CBPP

Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes

Executive Summary

A recent finding by Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation that 51 percent of households owed no federal income tax in 2009 [1] is being used to advance the argument that low- and moderate-income families do not pay sufficient taxes. Apart from the fact that most of those who make this argument also call for maintaining or increasing all of the tax cuts of recent years for people at the top of the income scale, the 51 percent figure, its significance, and its policy implications are widely misunderstood.

The 51 percent figure is an anomaly that reflects the unique circumstances of 2009, when the recession greatly swelled the number of Americans with low incomes and when temporary tax cuts created by the 2009 Recovery Act — including the “Making Work Pay” tax credit and an exclusion from tax of the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits — were in effect. Together, these developments removed millions of Americans from the federal income tax rolls. Both of these temporary tax measures have since expired.

# In a more typical year, 35 percent to 40 percent of households owe no federal income tax. In 2007, the figure was 37.9 percent. [2]

# The 51 percent figure covers only the federal income tax and ignores the substantial amounts of other federal taxes — especially the payroll tax — that many of these households pay . As a result, it greatly overstates the share of households that do not pay any federal taxes. Data from the Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center show only about 14 percent of households paid neither federal income tax nor payroll tax in 2009, despite the high unemployment and temporary tax cuts that marked that year.[3]

# This percentage would be even lower if federal excise taxes on gasoline and other items were taken into account.

# Most of the people who pay neither federal income tax nor payroll taxes are low-income people who are elderly, unable to work due to a serious disability, or students, most of whom subsequently become taxpayers. (In a year like 2009, this group also includes a significant number of people who have been unemployed the entire year and cannot find work.)

# Moreover, low-income households as a whole do, in fact, pay federal taxes. Congressional Budget Office data show that the poorest fifth of households as a group paid an average of 4 percent of their incomes in federal taxes in 2007 (the latest year for which these data are available), not an insignificant amount given how modest these households’ incomes are — the poorest fifth of households had average income of $18,400 in 2007. [4] The next-to-the bottom fifth — those with incomes between $20,500 and $34,300 in 2007 — paid an average of 10 percent of their incomes in federal taxes.

# Even these figures understate low-income households’ total tax burden, because these households also pay substantial state and local taxes. Data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy show that the poorest fifth of households paid a stunning 12.3 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes in 2010.[5]
Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

I have reached a point where I don't expect the right to do any reading but this hate fest towards the poor is just a bit much.[/QUOTE]

Oh **** a duck moron, you missed a golden opportunity to use the buzzword the left has for the right... instead of a bit much you could have said "EXTREME"

 

[Susan45]

From the CBPP

Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes

Executive Summary

A recent finding by Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation that 51 percent of households owed no federal income tax in 2009 [1] is being used to advance the argument that low- and moderate-income families do not pay sufficient taxes. Apart from the fact that most of those who make this argument also call for maintaining or increasing all of the tax cuts of recent years for people at the top of the income scale, the 51 percent figure, its significance, and its policy implications are widely misunderstood.

The 51 percent figure is an anomaly that reflects the unique circumstances of 2009, when the recession greatly swelled the number of Americans with low incomes and when temporary tax cuts created by the 2009 Recovery Act — including the “Making Work Pay” tax credit and an exclusion from tax of the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits — were in effect. Together, these developments removed millions of Americans from the federal income tax rolls. Both of these temporary tax measures have since expired.

# In a more typical year, 35 percent to 40 percent of households owe no federal income tax. In 2007, the figure was 37.9 percent. [2]

# The 51 percent figure covers only the federal income tax and ignores the substantial amounts of other federal taxes — especially the payroll tax — that many of these households pay . As a result, it greatly overstates the share of households that do not pay any federal taxes. Data from the Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center show only about 14 percent of households paid neither federal income tax nor payroll tax in 2009, despite the high unemployment and temporary tax cuts that marked that year.[3]

# This percentage would be even lower if federal excise taxes on gasoline and other items were taken into account.

# Most of the people who pay neither federal income tax nor payroll taxes are low-income people who are elderly, unable to work due to a serious disability, or students, most of whom subsequently become taxpayers. (In a year like 2009, this group also includes a significant number of people who have been unemployed the entire year and cannot find work.)

# Moreover, low-income households as a whole do, in fact, pay federal taxes. Congressional Budget Office data show that the poorest fifth of households as a group paid an average of 4 percent of their incomes in federal taxes in 2007 (the latest year for which these data are available), not an insignificant amount given how modest these households’ incomes are — the poorest fifth of households had average income of $18,400 in 2007. [4] The next-to-the bottom fifth — those with incomes between $20,500 and $34,300 in 2007 — paid an average of 10 percent of their incomes in federal taxes.

# Even these figures understate low-income households’ total tax burden, because these households also pay substantial state and local taxes. Data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy show that the poorest fifth of households paid a stunning 12.3 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes in 2010.[5]
Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

I have reached a point where I don't expect the right to do any reading but this hate fest towards the poor is just a bit much.

Well, thanks moron for your input.. But,,, it is the FEDERAL INCOME TAX we are talking about,, it you think paying taxes by other means is acceptable then I'm sure you'll be okay with the flat tax and or the fair tax. Thanks in advance.

Love the name calling, it really shows your intelligence.