The Rich Don’t Pay Their Fair Share? Really?

Government finances its spending (benefits) with taxation. While benefits are distributed fairly equally across different income groups, taxes are not. 

A new Tax Foundation report shows that families in the bottom fifth of income earners receive

$5.28 in government spending for every $1 they pay in total (federal, state, and local) taxes. 

Families in the middle fifth of income earners receive $1.48 in government spending for every $1 they pay in total taxes. 

In contrast, families in the top fifth receive 29 cents back for every $1 they pay in total taxes. 

Poor and middle-class families benefit from our tax system. 

These statistics should bring into question wide-spread claims of those at the top of the income distribution not paying their fair share of taxes.

For more information, read the full Tax Foundation report here.