Who is in the Tax ‘Net’ ….?

There has been much debate of increasing revenues by ‘increasing tax net’ so that more people can be brought under tax bracket. As the debate on levying taxes has been going on for quite some time, it may be important to discuss who are actually paying taxes and who are responsible for ‘ running major part of the economy’.

Figures disclose facts

According to an analysis (Top 3% of U.S. Taxpayers paid Majority of Income Tax in 2016, by Alexandre Tanzi, updated October 16, 2018, bloomberg.com) , Richest 1,409 taxpayers pay more income tax than bottom 70 Million. In fiscal year 2018, which ended September 30, the individual income tax is expected to bring in roughly $ 1. 7 trillion or about half of the federal revenues, according to Congressional Budget office.

In 2016, $ 1.44 trillion income taxes were paid by 140.9 million taxpayers reporting a total of $ 10.2 trillion in adjusted gross income, according to data released recently by Internal Revenue Services.

The detailed analysis shows that the top 50% of all taxpayers paid 97% of total individual income taxes. The average tax rates paid by the very wealthiest, however, have fallen in recent years from a peak of 24.1 percent in 2013 to 22.9 on 2016 and was a full four percentage points of 26.9 % below the top one percent paid on average. In 2016, the bottom 50 percent of income tax filers earned about 11.6 percent of total U. S income. The top one percent received 19.7% of overall income while the 1,409 people among the top 0.001percent had an aggregate income of $ 205 billion or 2% of US total. The most extensive rewrite of tax code laws was signed in early 2018 and its effects would be felt next year April with biggest benefits to top earners.

The statistics reflects only partial truth. As CHUCK MARR and CHYE – CHING HUANG in an analysis ( Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes, updated September 17, 2012, cbpp.org ) state ” ….figures cover only the federal income tax and ignore the substantial amounts of other federal taxes – especially the payroll tax – that many of these households pay. As a result, these figures greatly overstate the share of house holds that do not pay federal tax. Tax policy Center data show that only about 17 percent of households did not pay any Federal Income Tax or Payroll Tax in 2009, despite the high unemployment and temporary tax cuts that marked that year. In 2007, a more typical year, the figure was 14 percent. This percentage would be even lower if it reflected other federal taxes that households pay including excise taxes on gasoline and other items.

Moreover, low income groups do in fact, pay federal taxes. Congressional Budget Office data show that the poorest fifth of households paid an average of 4.0 percent in federal taxes in 2007. …not an insignificant amount given how modest these household incomes are: the poorest fifth of households had average income of $ 18,4000 in 2007. ‘

Moreover, these low income groups face burden of paying substantial total tax of state and local taxes. When all the federal, state and local taxes are taken together, the bottom fifth of households pay about 16 % of their income in taxes on an average.

Indian scenario

Even in India, the case is almost similar. Only 2 to 3 percent pay taxes. ( palash ghosh, 6/ 6/13, HoW Many in India Pay Taxes ? ,ibtimes.com ). Main reasons for the low payment include poverty, evasion by the rich using loopholes in tax laws and black money in Foreign Banks like Swissbank, and other institutes. About 95 percent of people have assets below $ 10,000.

According to Central Bureau of Direct Taxes (CBDT), only 2. 05 crore or 1.7 percent of 120 crore Indians paid taxes in 2015-16 and 4.6 per cent paid a whopping 62.34 per cent (Jan 30, 2018, timesofindia.indiatimes.com). The number of people with income of Rs. 1 and Rs. 2.5 lakh make a whopping 93.3% of total taxpayers in India.

Misconception

This data is leading to governments and the supporters demand increase in ‘ tax net’ so that many people can be brought under purview of taxpayer list. But, few are looking at the disproportionate incomes. The top 1% own about 58% of wealth. Hence, even if they contribute higher share of taxes, the percent of tax to their earning is less. But the low income group pays more through indirct taxes.

According to a study in USA, ( The Poor Pay A Higher Percentage of Income, by Elaine S. Povich, January 15, 2015, www.petwtrusts.org), the lower one’ s income, the higher the effective stake and local tax rate. Combining all the taxes, the effective rates are 10.9% for the poorest 20%, 9.4% for the middle 20% and 5.4% for the top 1%. The share of direct taxes has fallen from 38% in 2009-10 to 32% in 2017 – 18. The share of indirect taxes on essential commodities increased. The poor who have meagre income are forced to shell out huge percentage of their income in taxes.

Squeeze the rich

With few billionaires increasing their wealth by leaps and bounds, the government should try to make them pay large portion of their earnings rather than bringing many people, especially poor, into ‘ tax net’. Then only, the inequality of incomes may come down drastically.

The writer from everywhere and anywhere strives for promotion of equality among people. Some of the works appeared in scarlet leaf review, poemHunter, dissident voice , counterview, virasam, etc

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