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Warren Buffett’s recent call to increase taxes on the super- and mega-rich has garnered much media attention. But how much money could such increases actually raise? What effect could they have on reducing the nation’s deficit or debt? As it turns out, not much. Below is a quick look at the latest IRS data on earners making more than $100,000:
|
(Figures in $Thousands) |
|||
|
Adjusted Gross Income |
Income Tax Paid |
After-Tax Income (What’s left) |
|
|
$100,000 under $200,000 |
$1,801,446,897 |
$212,290,589 |
$1,589,156,308 |
|
$200,000 under $500,000 |
$905,347,402 |
$176,322,148 |
$729,025,254 |
|
$500,000 under $1,000,000 |
$332,037,478 |
$80,458,185 |
$251,579,293 |
|
$1,000,000 under $1,500,000 |
$130,149,237 |
$32,755,871 |
$97,393,366 |
|
$1,500,000 under $2,000,000 |
$76,148,200 |
$19,393,235 |
$56,754,965 |
|
$2,000,000 under $5,000,000 |
$182,986,391 |
$46,943,489 |
$136,042,902 |
|
$5,000,000 under $10,000,000 |
$97,493,167 |
$24,617,005 |
$72,876,162 |
|
$10,000,000 or more |
$240,133,885 |
$53,790,072 |
$186,343,813 |
Source: IRS data, http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/indtaxstats/article/0,,id=96981,00.html, table 1.2.
Mr. Buffett specifically called to raise taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. rates on Americans making more than $1 million and proposed an additional increase on taxpayers whose income exceeds $10 million. Suppose Mr. Buffett got his wish and loopholes and deductions were eliminated, making it possible to tax the “super-rich” (those earning $1M – $10M per year) at an effective rate of 50%. The following table shows the effect that such a historic hike on effective rates would have on the deficit and debt:
|
Taxing the “Super-Rich” (Annual Income of $1 to $10 Million) at an Effective Rate of 50% (dollar amounts in $Thousands) |
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|
Current Taxes Paid |
Taxes Paid at New 50% Rate |
Revenue Gained |
Reduction of Deficit |
Reduction of Debt |
|
$124,709,600 |
$243,388,498 |
$119,678,898 |
8% |
1% |
In addition, Mr. Buffett wanted those making more than $10 million per year to pay even more. The table below exhibits the effect of imposing a 100% effective rate on these individuals:
|
Taxing the “Mega-Rich” (Annual Income over $10 Million) at an Effective Rate of 100% (dollar amounts in $Thousands) |
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|
Current Taxes Paid |
Taxes Paid at New 100% rate |
Revenue Gained |
Reduction of Deficit |
Reduction of Debt |
|
$53,790,072 |
$240,133,885 |
$186,343,813 |
12% |
2% |
So taking half of the yearly income from every person making between one and ten million dollars would only decrease the nation’s debt by 1%. Even taking every last penny from every individual making more than $10 million per year would only reduce the nation’s deficit by 12 percent and the debt by 2 percent. There’s simply not enough wealth in the community of the rich to erase this country’s problems by waving some magic tax wand.
Finally, to put everything in perspective, think about what would need to be done to erase the federal deficit this year: After everyone making more than $200,000/year has paid taxes, the IRS would need to take every single penny of disposable income they have left. Such an act would raise approximately $1.53 trillion. It may be economically ruinous, but at least this proposal would actually solve the problem.
Follow David Logan on Twitter @Loganomix
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