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kpete

(71,996 posts)
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 05:12 PM Aug 2012

AND - buried in the data is the startling disclosure that six of the 400 paid no federal income tax.

Can People as Rich as Romney Escape Taxes? They Can.
By JAMES B. STEWART
Published: August 10, 2012 55


On the face of it, Senator Harry Reid’s explosive but flimsily sourced claim that Mitt Romney paid no income tax seems preposterous. Mr. Romney has denied it, and without his returns no one can say for sure. But would it even be possible for someone who makes millions of dollars a year?

Evidently, it is.

It so happens that this summer the Internal Revenue Service released data from the 400 individual income tax returns reporting the highest adjusted gross income. This elite ultrarich group earned on average $202 million in 2009, the latest year available. And buried in the data is the startling disclosure that six of the 400 paid no federal income tax.

The I.R.S. has never before disclosed that last fact.

Not even Mr. Romney, with reported 2010 income of $21.7 million, qualifies for membership in this select
group of 400. But the data provides a window into the financial lives and tax rates of the superrich. Since the I.R.S. doesn’t release data for the tiny percentage of Americans at Mr. Romney’s income level, the 400 are the closest proxy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/business/in-the-superrich-clues-to-romneys-tax-returns-common-sense.html?pagewanted=all

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AND - buried in the data is the startling disclosure that six of the 400 paid no federal income tax. (Original Post) kpete Aug 2012 OP
I can't wrap my head around an income of $202 million. hedgehog Aug 2012 #1
It's only $384 a minute Shampoobra Aug 2012 #4
Sure hope this won't get any IRS employees in trouble... sad sally Aug 2012 #2
while I don't know for certain left is right Aug 2012 #6
You are correct. The 400 top earners is a bracket. Just like the 1 or 2 or 3 percent. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2012 #12
Only the little people pay taxes DearAbby Aug 2012 #3
Bumper sticker idea nichomachus Aug 2012 #5
How about "Free the rMoney 1040s"? HopeHoops Aug 2012 #8
If you make that much, what the hell is the problem with paying taxes? HopeHoops Aug 2012 #7
In a word: "Entitlement" Hydra Aug 2012 #9
I think the word you're looking for is "assholes". HopeHoops Aug 2012 #13
Taxes are for common people gollygee Aug 2012 #10
I think I'll just go eat some cake now - D'OH! I can't AFFORD cake! HopeHoops Aug 2012 #14
Which is perfectly legal... Spider Jerusalem Aug 2012 #11

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)
1. I can't wrap my head around an income of $202 million.
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 05:14 PM
Aug 2012

That's more than my family would earn in 1500 years!

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
4. It's only $384 a minute
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 05:28 PM
Aug 2012

which sounds like a lot until you consider the taxes you'd have to ... oh never mind

left is right

(1,665 posts)
6. while I don't know for certain
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 06:31 PM
Aug 2012

this study was released in statistical form without any identifying data. that is perfectly legal

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,330 posts)
12. You are correct. The 400 top earners is a bracket. Just like the 1 or 2 or 3 percent.
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 10:45 PM
Aug 2012

And to be clear, the IRS isn't saying those 6 families in the top 400 are the ONLY high earners that paid Zero taxes. There most certainly are others in the top 1 or 2 percent.

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
7. If you make that much, what the hell is the problem with paying taxes?
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 07:44 PM
Aug 2012

We make a "middle income" wage and have no problem with paying our taxes. We drive on roads, have schools, etc. rMoney doesn't understand the value of paying taxes. It comes back ten times over in infrastructure - and that's even WITH everything that's wasted on useless bullshit like military projects the military doesn't even want.

Hydra

(14,459 posts)
9. In a word: "Entitlement"
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 10:06 PM
Aug 2012

Ever wonder why they use that word so much lately? the $200+ million per year club is the American Royalty. It's their view that we are LUCKY to have them here to run things, because there's no way little people like us could do it.

As such, we need to pay THEM to do it, and to hell with taxes.

Nice people, huh?

 

Spider Jerusalem

(21,786 posts)
11. Which is perfectly legal...
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 10:40 PM
Aug 2012

if all of one's income is derived from investments in tax-free municipal bonds. Considering that this is a perfectly legal way to avoid tax, if one has enough capital to make the return worthwhile, what's startling is that more extremely wealthy people aren't taking advantage of it, not that six out of the 400 highest earners are.

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