The truth of the relative tax burden is best shown by the share of income taxes paid by income level. Afterall, the pretax income share of the top 1% is nearly twice that of the income of the entire bottom 50%. That includes all federal taxes (corporate income taxes, excise taxes, and estate taxes, as well as payroll taxes), which as a group are less progressive than the federal income tax. The effective tax rate of the richest 400 taxpayers was also less than the 24.2% effective tax rate of the bottom 50% of taxpayers. Reinstating that top marginal income tax rate for the super-rich would undoubtedly help to undo today’s tax injustice.

Source: Washington Post March 17, 2026 22:03 UTC