March 1, 1957 Are High Surtax Rates Worthwhile? TF Staff TF Staff Print this page Subscribe Support our work Download Project Note No. 41, Part 1Download Project Note No. 41, Part 2 Project Note No. 41 Executive Summary The top bracket rate of the Federal income tax is now 91 percent (1957). In total the income tax may take up to 37 percent of an individual’s taxable income (maximum effective rate). Such rates bear little relationship to any principle of equity and have important effects on taxpayers’ incentives and actions. Moreover, they produce relatively little revenue. Indeed, it is often argued that lowering these rates would produce more revenue. This study has two purposes. The first is to try to determine how significant the effect of changes in tax rates on income reported on high income returns has been as well the manner in which tax rates have affected income reported. The second is to re-examine the case for a substantial reduction of the top bracket rates. Topics Center for Federal Tax Policy Individual Income and Payroll Taxes Research Tags Millionaires and High Income Earners Putting a Face on America's Tax Returns Tax Brackets
