Who Are The 47%?
Oct. 12th, 2011 08:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chris_gerribSo, various groups are claiming that they are the “53%” – the percentage of Americans who owe income taxes – and that somehow the 47% of Americans that don’t owe income taxes are, well, less American, I guess. So who are these lucky 47%?
Per the US Census Bureau (PDF here), the total US population is just over 308 million people, of whom 74 million, or 24%, are under the age of 18. I think it’s safe to assume practically nobody in that category is even considered eligible to pay income tax. That leaves just over 223 million eligible tax payers. Assuming the 47% number is right, that means 109.5 million Americans don’t pay income taxes. (Per that great source, Wikipedia, that just happens to be the same percentage of people who earn less than $25,000/year )
Some other research told me that if your annual income is less than $33,000, you probably are paying little or no income tax. (see here). Since I heard that “retirees are the largest group not paying income tax” I went and checked average income for the over-65 set. Per (these people), average income is $29,718. The median income (half over and half under) is lower, more like $16,000. So, clearly, few if any of the over-65 crowd pay income tax.
Going back to the census data, there are 39 million Americans over age 65. That number alone accounts for 36% of the non-taxpaying Americans. Also looking at the census data, I note that there are 30 million Americans between the ages of 18 to 24. I don’t know what you were doing when you were that age, but I got my first real job (US Navy) at 22. I think it’s fair to assume that few of the people in that cohort are paying much in taxes. I couldn’t find 2010 data, but this page for 2000 puts average income at $15,553 for this age group. Those 30 million age 18-24 account for 27% of the non-taxpayers.
In short, 63% of the people who don’t pay income tax are either retired or just entering the work force. When you put it that way, it seems pretty reasonable to me.
Per the US Census Bureau (PDF here), the total US population is just over 308 million people, of whom 74 million, or 24%, are under the age of 18. I think it’s safe to assume practically nobody in that category is even considered eligible to pay income tax. That leaves just over 223 million eligible tax payers. Assuming the 47% number is right, that means 109.5 million Americans don’t pay income taxes. (Per that great source, Wikipedia, that just happens to be the same percentage of people who earn less than $25,000/year )
Some other research told me that if your annual income is less than $33,000, you probably are paying little or no income tax. (see here). Since I heard that “retirees are the largest group not paying income tax” I went and checked average income for the over-65 set. Per (these people), average income is $29,718. The median income (half over and half under) is lower, more like $16,000. So, clearly, few if any of the over-65 crowd pay income tax.
Going back to the census data, there are 39 million Americans over age 65. That number alone accounts for 36% of the non-taxpaying Americans. Also looking at the census data, I note that there are 30 million Americans between the ages of 18 to 24. I don’t know what you were doing when you were that age, but I got my first real job (US Navy) at 22. I think it’s fair to assume that few of the people in that cohort are paying much in taxes. I couldn’t find 2010 data, but this page for 2000 puts average income at $15,553 for this age group. Those 30 million age 18-24 account for 27% of the non-taxpayers.
In short, 63% of the people who don’t pay income tax are either retired or just entering the work force. When you put it that way, it seems pretty reasonable to me.
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no subject
Date: 2011-10-12 02:21 pm (UTC)In 2010 my reported income was $18,255. (Hey, I have a job. Thanks to the Federal depression, a good many don't.) I believe this is considered below the “poverty line,” whatever that is.
In addition to the money withheld from my paychecks, I owed $288 more in Federal income tax.
“And we thank you for your support.”
no subject
Date: 2011-10-12 02:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-12 03:30 pm (UTC)No, I did not, though all that I can say now is that this was for a valid reason. And $288 is not bad as such things go; amusingly, my State tax refund nearly covered it!
But you see why your 'Beast Rabban' approach (“Squeeze them! Squeeze! Show no pity, or mercy! Give me spice!!”) doesn't strike me as the best approach. I mean, that turnip only has so much blood in it.
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Date: 2011-10-12 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-12 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-12 08:22 pm (UTC)Jerry Critter
critterscrap.blogspot.com