Jay Evensen
  • Front Page
  • Opinions
  • Second Thoughts
  • Portfolio
  • Awards
  • About

Tax burden falls heavily on the rich

4/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The United States has the most progressive income tax system in the industrialized world, and the wealthiest 10 percent here pay a greater share of the tax burden than do the wealthiest 10 percent in other nations that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

That includes nations such as France, Italy and, yes, even Sweden.

614489_Allergy & Asthma Air Purifiers
Picture
In addition, the tax burden here has become more progressive over time, and a rising percentage of Americans pay no income tax at all.

Those were just some of the conclusions of a newly released Tax Foundation study, just in time for April 15. They ought to inform debate about how to fix the nation’s economy and institute long-range deficit reduction. Chances are, though, you’ll still hear the left shouting about making the rich pay their “fair share.”

Look at the chart to the left. You can click on it to make it larger. It shows which income groups pay the most. The chart below shows the percentage of people who pay nothing at all.

Picture
  The report contains the example of a family of four earning $45,000 who takes advantage of credits and deductions and ends up owing nothing and receiving a nice refund.
  The chart below shows that being a millionaire is not necessarily a permanent thing.
Picture
  And the next chart demonstrates that the nation doesn't have a wage gap so much as it has an education gap. The greater your level of education, the more money you make. Perhaps that ought to be more of an emphasis with government spending.
Picture
  I don't have room to include all the charts here. The report itself is worth reading. Just click on this text and go see for yourself. The Tax Foundation is a non-partisan think tank interested in sensible tax policy.
  The report's conclusion is that the nation needs fundamental tax reform in order to restore its competitiveness and put it on the path to growth.
  That takes hard work, though. Don't count on it.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Search this site


    Like what you read here?

      Please subscribe below, and we'll let you know when there is a new opinion.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture

    The author

    Jay Evensen is the Senior Editorial Columnist of the Deseret News. He has nearly 40 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct journalism professor at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Campaign 2012
    Congress
    Crime
    Culture
    Iran
    Oil And Gas
    Poverty
    Steroids
    Taxes
    Utah
    Washington
    World Events
    World Events

    Links

    Deseret News
    Newslink
    Marianne Evensen's blog

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.