It's amazing what the facts are compared to what the politicians tell you. Here are 10 truths about our taxes pulled from official IRS data. These are facts from the data, not spin or massaged.

http://www.politibyte.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=44

I wonder do the candidates running for office actually know this data and just choose to continue spouting off their populists, "tax the rich" rhetoric because they know it sells?

a great post,,, if those #'s aren't "spun",, pinnochio's nose just got smaller...

I almost hate to do this, but it's been bugging me for quite a while.  Some of these statistics are often used by my fellow conservatives, but I find them meaningless.


I do not agree with our current progressive tax rates -- taxing a larger percent of income for those with higher incomes.  This is innately a redistribution of wealth, and punishes success.

However, the statistics most commonly cited say nothing about the fairness/equality of taxes among various income brackets as a percentage of income.


1. The bottom 48% of all American families pays little or no taxes.
     Which is it? little? or none? It is true that below a certain income, zero taxes are due. Does this "fact" mean that 48% of all American families have incomes below this level? What exactly does it mean to pay "little" tax? Far be it from me to suggest that if a family has "little" income, then it is fair for them to pay "little" tax.  
     This "fact" lacks specificity.  It is useless. It means nothing.

2. In 2005, the top 13, 776 tax payers out of 134,372,678 paid over 10% of all income taxes. In other words, about 1/10 of 1% of our wealthier citizens paid a full 10% of our total tax bill.
a) Does this "fact" address only individual income taxes, or does it include corporate income taxes?  If it does not include corporations, that should be specified.  If it includes corporate taxes, it's a useless statistic.  It compares apples and oranges.
b) I'm not suggesting that this is the case; BUT if it were the case that the top 13,776 taxpayers actually made 10% of all income, then this would be a fair tax.  Without knowing the actual income of these top 13,776 taxpayers, this is a meaningless statistic.  It says nothing about whether the tax is fair or unfair because it says nothing about the income of those taxed.


3. The top 2.7% of taxpayers pay over 51% of all income taxes collected.
a) Just as above -- Does this "fact" address only individual income taxes, or does it include corporate income taxes?  If it does not include corporations, that should be specified.  If it includes corporate taxes, it's a useless statistic.  It compares apples and oranges.
b) Again, not saying that this is the case; BUT if it were the case that the top 2.7 of taxpayer made 51% of all income, then this would be a fair tax. Without knowing the actual income of these top 2.7% of taxpayers, this is a meaningless statistic.  It says nothing about whether the tax is fair or unfair because it says nothing about the income of those taxed.

4. In 2005, there were 303,000 households reporting income over $1,000,000. These taxpayers paid over 25% of all income taxes collected.

AGAIN, do these 303,00 households make more than 25% of all income?

5. In 2005, 10.7% of all taxpayers (households) made over $100,000 and were forced to pay 71% of all income taxes collected.

AGAIN, (is there a trend here?) IF this 10.7% of taxpayers makes 71% of the income, then it's a fair tax.  AGAIN, without knowing the income of this 10.7%, the statistic is meaningless.

Now, can I get a witness?