Earned Income Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Additional Child Tax Credit
Child Care Credit
Paid Family Leave
American Opportunity Credit*
Lifetime Learning Credit*
529 Plans*

*Can be used by childless taxpayers as well.

I left out EITC, because for a childless taxpayer to qualify, they'd have to make ~$10,000 or less. I can count the instances I've seen in 40 years of tax prep on one hand, and I won't be needing three of those fingers.

Other than the caveats, ALL of the above are child-rearing subsidies, plastered onto the 1040. It was literally the authors' goal to move the needle on the talking point about "who pays taxes".

And speaking of the richest...tax guy joke:

D'you know what a Billionaire says to Congress for not repealing Grantor Annuity Trusts?

"GRATs."

"The more taxes you roll into the calculation, the less the 1% pay as a total share of all taxes."

I've done an analysis, and if you ONLY COUNT inheritance taxes...

...the wealthy pay ALMOST ALL the taxes!!!

"your response was "bUh TrUmP wAs GuNnA wAnT mOrE bAiLoUt mOnEy"

Yeah...getting MORE of something goosing inflation will only goose inflation more. Duh.

It's like you don't understand the basic concepts of greater than and lesser than.

"I know enough to know"

You just took the position a 42% higher stimulus wouldn't have resulted in higher inflation. That answer will get you flunked from an Econ 101 class.

But congrats...you're top of the class at Dunning-Kruger!

"you're retarded, because Trump didn't get his way"

That's what happens when you lose a Presidential election.

"you're reduced to using a hypothetical to defend your opinion on the economy."

What a riot.

Never took statistics, did you? No idea what a Macro Dial is, right?

"But I'm not. I'm asking because to remove payroll taxes always skews the % paid by the wealthiest up significantly."

So...you ARE.

"folks who make less than the median line pay in total income taxes."

When we were kids, if a family paid $1000 in income taxes over the year via their W-2, they were scored as "paying taxes". If they got $100/month in welfare because they had three kids, that would be paid to them separately, and the family would still be scored as "paying taxes". Why? BECAUSE THEY PAID INCOME TAXES.

Now, a half-dozen child-rearing subsidies later, that SAME SCENARIO would be scored as "NOT paying (income) taxes"...which is A LIE. The subsidies are simply on the 1040 BY DESIGN, for the sole purpose of the talking point.

"Payroll taxes are regressive. "

Medicare is regressive, but Social Security is actually super-regressive, since it disappears entirely over ~$200,000.

"Almost
nearly
could've"

Wow

Now you've been reduced to fantasy. You have to pretend a newly re-elected Trump wouldn't have gotten his way.

You also have to pretend the inflation under Biden wouldn't have happened with a 42% larger stimulus.

That's MAJOR math moron territory!

Nice werk, Brownie!

" I'm asking because to remove payroll taxes always skews the % paid by the wealthiest up significantly."

Excellent, Sherlock!

Let's have Boaz put up a thread that only counts payroll taxes!

" I'll take $1M"

Apologies; I meant I'd TAKE your money for 2%.

Still in?

" You haven't mentioned payroll taxes"

Because I don't need to; folks like you are doing it for me.

But go ahead: explain to Boaz the actual equation. Let him know the vast majority of workers pay more in payroll taxes over their lifetimes than income taxes. Point out the chasm of value between a 25 yr 2% bond, and upfront cash tax cuts.

Or, you could stay silent and keep letting him get away with it.

Whatever floats your boat.

" one can accept the financial reality yet agree it's still just"

Not even close.

Top incomes have spiked, and the marginal rates haven't kept up.

Now, add GRATs, and inheritances at a stepped-up basis.

The tax code has not kept up.

" Facts aside......does this mean the wealthiest don't pay enough?"

Depends ... Are you claiming you're paying them all, or not?

But anyone who actually believes that, I'm more than willing to loan you money for 25 years at 2%.

Anyone interested? Or would you rather have upfront tax cuts where the money can be assumed to grow 8 to 9% per year?