[Carry_Okie]

Since the "soak the rich" rhetoric has begun again, I though it was a good time to make sure that everyone knows exactly how adjusted gross income and federal individual income taxes are distributed among the various income brackets.

Well then I'm sure you considered "income" sheltered in tax-exempt "charitable" foundations that the extreme rich use to game regulations? You know, like the donations they make to green groups to put their competition out of business. Oh and while you're at it, please add in the hidden income reported as deductions in corporate expenses.

You didn't? Well wake me when you get it done and I'll consider your sob story. Until then I'll stick with the observation that it isn't the rich being soaked for taxes by total percentage of cash flow they enjoy nearly as much as their upper middle class competition.

[muawiyah]

The influential super rich use the income tax to throttle their competitors in the cradle.

The folks carrying the water for the super rich probably work for them.

[justlurking]

Well then I'm sure you considered "income" sheltered in tax-exempt "charitable" foundations that the extreme rich use to game regulations?

This most recent data from the IRS does not.

But, earlier data from the CBO doesn't use adjusted gross income: it uses total income from all sources (including transfer payments like the earned income credit). It also distributes corporate income and taxes among households according to their share of capital income:

US Federal taxes by income level 1979–2007

The resulting numbers aren't exactly the same, due to the differing basis. But, the trends are very similar.