47% of American Families pay ZERO federal income taxes

[melensdad]

Apparently we are already doing a good job of 'spreading the wealth around' in this nation.

The ObamaCare bill will raise taxes for 'the rich' and the new V.A.T. that they are proposing will increase taxes and lower the standard of living for everyone in the US.

Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax - Yahoo! Finance
Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax
Recession, new tax credits have nearly half of US households paying no federal income tax

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tax Day is a dreaded deadline for millions, but for nearly half of U.S. households it's simply somebody else's problem.

About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and exemptions to eliminate their liability. That's according to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research organization.

Most people still are required to file returns by the April 15 deadline. The penalty for skipping it is limited to the amount of taxes owed, but it's still almost always better to file: That's the only way to get a refund of all the income taxes withheld by employers.

In recent years, credits for low- and middle-income families have grown so much that a family of four making as much as $50,000 will owe no federal income tax for 2009, as long as there are two children younger than 17, according to a separate analysis by the consulting firm Deloitte Tax.

Tax cuts enacted in the past decade have been generous to wealthy taxpayers, too, making them a target for President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. Less noticed were tax cuts for low- and middle-income families, which were expanded when Obama signed the massive economic recovery package last year.

The result is a tax system that exempts almost half the country from paying for programs that benefit everyone, including national defense, public safety, infrastructure and education. It is a system in which the top 10 percent of earners -- households making an average of $366,400 in 2006 -- paid about 73 percent of the income taxes collected by the federal government.

The bottom 40 percent, on average, make a profit from the federal income tax, meaning they get more money in tax credits than they would otherwise owe in taxes. For those people, the government sends them a payment.

"We have 50 percent of people who are getting something for nothing," said Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation.​

 

[IndyMonkey]

Yep, its doesnt make sense. There is more going out than coming in. Its a huge house of cards that will fall.

Checks and balances......we have none.

 

[mettle]

Apparently we are already doing a good job of 'spreading the wealth around' in this nation.

The ObamaCare bill will raise taxes for 'the rich' and the new V.A.T. that they are proposing will increase taxes and lower the standard of living for everyone in the US.

The economic toppling of the USA has been in the works by other countries and the UN for a long time... I'm not surprised at all.

 

[Fletch]

I just got back from picking up my tax papers at the accountant, and I can definitively say that I'm in the other 53%.

I would also note that the number who don't pay is undoubtedly much higher, since anyone who works in the public sector effectively does not pay taxes.

 

[CombatVet]

I'd gladly pay taxes again in trade for my disabilities. Ah to be pain free!

 

[dross]

Those were 2006 numbers. My understanding is that under the recent laws the number will go over 50%.

A scarier number to me is that the top 1% pays 40% of the income taxes. Think of it. Full half the country pays none, and 1% pays almost half. Half the people don't care about taxes because they don't pay any, and another solid percentage pays a reasonable amount. Who cares about the few who foot most of the bill? In fact, I think they're commonly known as "those who don't pay their fair share."

 

[melensdad]

I'd gladly pay taxes again in trade for my disabilities. Ah to be pain free!

But you are the type that we don't, and should not, worry about not paying taxes. You are one who desires to do it but physically can not. How many folks do everything they can do to game the government to get more than they pay, but have the ability and capacity to earn?

 

[CombatVet]

But you are the type that we don't, and should not, worry about not paying taxes. You are one who desires to do it but physically can not. How many folks do everything they can do to game the government to get more than they pay, but have the ability and capacity to earn?

I know what you mean. I've got family that does that and it makes me sick. A family member was trying to get me to file taxes this year even though I didn't pay any in, because I am eligible for some of the big tax breaks. So basically get 5,000+ for not paying taxes. Which is horse crap.

 

[dross]

I know what you mean. I've got family that does that and it makes me sick. A family member was trying to get me to file taxes this year even though I didn't pay any in, because I am eligible for some of the big tax breaks. So basically get 5,000+ for not paying taxes. Which is horse crap.

No, it's not. You should do it, and this comes from a libertarian.

You've paid in, you've served your country, and the cost of all this crap has been imposed on you, and will be imposed on you and your childrent for the rest of your lives. I deplore these programs, yet I'll take advantage shamelessly of any for which I am eligible. This is the game they've set up, and you can take personal advantage of it, even while you fight the concept. Look at it as getting back some of what has been stolen from you.

 

[Wabatuckian]

They stole $1100 from me. How do you suggest I get that back?

 

[evansvillethompsongunner]

I'm against taxation in all forms, even with it being an enumerated power.

Take away the money and government starves itself.

No one, not even the most loyal government bureaucrat, will labor for free.

Not sure why G.M. expects anyone else to do the same.

"Get your hand out of my pocket." - Malcolm X

 

[CombatVet]

No, it's not. You should do it, and this comes from a libertarian.

You've paid in, you've served your country, and the cost of all this crap has been imposed on you, and will be imposed on you and your childrent for the rest of your lives. I deplore these programs, yet I'll take advantage shamelessly of any for which I am eligible. This is the game they've set up, and you can take personal advantage of it, even while you fight the concept. Look at it as getting back some of what has been stolen from you.

There's a point when to much is to much in my eyes though. My schooling and my kids college is being payed for, and free life time care at the VA, so I'm calling it even.

 

[Rizzo]

thank you

If you received those "disabilities" while serving our country in the US military then you paid one of the highest taxes of all.

And let me tell you thank you for risking your life for my freedom and that of my family. You will be in my prayers. May God bless you with a relief from your physical pain.

I hope you know if you ever needed anything all you would have to do is ask and dozens of people on this message board would help you.

I'd gladly pay taxes again in trade for my disabilities. Ah to be pain free!

 

[LPMan59]

thats why i laugh sometimes when i hear so many people complain about taxes...1/2 of them dont pay any income tax at all! i on the other hand get the pleasure of paying more than the maximum withheld. and no i am not uber rich. the upper middle class is where the tax burden comes in. if i made $10 mil a year, paying $4m in taxes wouldnt matter much in terms of my lifestyle. but if i made $100k a year and pay $30k in federal income tax (and that doesnt include medicare, SS, state income tax, state property tax, county tax, etc etc) , thats a big deal.

thanks america for punishing me for taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans so i could get a good job.

 

[dross]

thats why i laugh sometimes when i hear so many people complain about taxes...1/2 of them dont pay any income tax at all! i on the other hand get the pleasure of paying more than the maximum withheld. and no i am not uber rich. the upper middle class is where the tax burden comes in. if i made $10 mil a year, paying $4m in taxes wouldnt matter much in terms of my lifestyle. but if i made $100k a year and pay $30k in federal income tax (and that doesnt include medicare, SS, state income tax, state property tax, county tax, etc etc) , thats a big deal.

thanks america for punishing me for taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans so i could get a good job.

But that's the flaw in the thinking. Why should someone have to pay $4M in taxes? It's ridiculous. BTW, if you gross 100K, you don't pay 30K in taxes, you pay less than that.

 

[LPMan59]

i agree, no one should have to pay that much. but my point was more about how the taxation does (not) affect one's lifestyle.

and ok so i exaggerated a bit.

 

[mettle]

I just got back from picking up my tax papers at the accountant, and I can definitively say that I'm in the other 53%.

I would also note that the number who don't pay is undoubtedly much higher, since anyone who works in the public sector effectively does not pay taxes.

The poor inner city community thanks you for your contribution to their crack habit-- keep up the good work! They are counting on you!

 

[bigiron]

have we all forgotten that a federal income tax is UNCONSTITUTIONAL? by rights none of us should have to pay. that being said, why would we want to frown on anyone not having to pay and prehaps even getting a little back? i haven't paid federal income tax in the last 8 years. yes, i file a return but i also have a good tax guy who knows how to claim all of the possible deductions, within the law, and therefore i always come out ahead. i feel for the folks who have to pay but prehaps you could do something about it. i don't support those who are exploiting the system either, but i show no pity on our government for their thievery! it would be great if none of us had to pay a cent and then the government had to stop subsidising all of these welfare programs that keep able people from supporting themselves and putting the strain on those who do support themselves. i cannot wait till tax time next year, i'm already planning my vacation!

 

[Bunnykid68]

All that is the key reason we are supposed to be a representative Republic. Otherwise the masses rule and that is not always a good thing. If you have 5 women and 15 men and have a vote on whether the men can have sex with these women the men will win that majority vote and that is a bad thing. Just like all these people who pay no taxes but get to vote themselves more money just like Congress and the Senate.

 

[Rizzo]

BTW, if you gross 100K, you don't pay 30K in taxes, you pay less than that.

You don't pay 30K... you pay 28K.