Adam N. Michel
Adam N. Michel and Joshua Loucks
As Americans file their taxes and square up with the IRS, it’s worth taking a closer look at where the federal government’s $4.9 trillion in revenue came from last year—and what it actually pays for.
Despite persistent political narratives, IRS data show that the federal tax system is not only highly progressive but has become more so over time. High-income Americans pay a disproportionately large share of federal income taxes and face the highest average rates across the entire tax code.
Already facing high tax rates, top earners can’t cover the cost of the ever-expanding government alone. The experience of the European welfare states illustrates that, eventually, everyone has to pay for big government. With annual deficits nearing $2 trillion, the real problem isn’t too little tax revenue—it’s too much spending.
Here are five charts to refresh your tax knowledge.
Most Federal Revenue Comes from Taxes on Income
Personal income taxes raise about half of the federal government’s revenue. However, for all but the top 10 percent of income earners, Americans pay more payroll tax on average than income tax each year. Payroll taxes account for 35 percent of federal revenue. Figure 1 shows the remaining revenue comes from corporate income taxes and other sources, including tariffs, excises, taxes on estates, and other fees.
Unlike federal taxes, more than half of state and local tax revenue comes from property and sales taxes. While it varies significantly by state, income taxes often make up less than a quarter of sub-national revenues.
The Rich Pay the Highest Tax Rates
Data on income tax payments and estimates from the Treasury Department show that the US federal tax system is highly progressive. The top 10 percent of income earners pay more than 60 percent of all federal taxes and 72 percent of income taxes, » Read More
https://www.cato.org/blog/its-tax-season-five-charts-who-pays-whats-risk