Report: Connecticut poor pay more of income on taxes, than rich

[razors edge]

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=8167184&nav=3YeX

New Haven (AP) -- A new report shows Connecticut's middle class and poor families pay a higher percentage of their income in state sales and local taxes than the wealthiest families.

The report by Connecticut Voices for Children is based on an analysis of state and local tax data, the New Haven Register reported.

The report says the wealthiest Connecticut families pay 4.7 percent of their income in state and local taxes.

Middle-class families pay 9.6 percent of their income in state and local taxes. The report shows the poorest 20 percent pay 10.9 percent.

Opponents of increasing taxes for Connecticut's wealthiest families city state figures show the top 5 percent of Connecticut taxpayers pay more in state income taxes than the bottom 95 percent combined.



Joementum in action.

[Breeze54]

1. I'm betting many of the states are just the same.

I'm not even sure what the rate is in MA.

I suspect it's high though although MA gives credit if you pay rent and other things.

[razors edge]

2. You are probably right.

Unfortunately.

[MADem]

8. MA is very good to military retirees. They don't tax retirement pay.

They don't tax the retirement pay of state or town workers, either.

[razors edge]

18. Thats great.

The majority of these people never made large sums during their careers to begin with.

[Juche]

3. Its been like that for a while

The poor pay more as a % of income in state taxes, gas taxes and sin taxes while the wealthy pay more in federal income taxes, estate, capital gains or dividend. The wealthy also pay less in FICA taxes.

I think overall middle class families spend 25-30% on taxes, the wealthy spend about 30-35%. We have a flat tax more or less.

[scarletwoman]

4. I think that's pretty much the case all across the whole country.

Actual earned income is taxed at a higher rate than unearned income. And it's very much on purpose.

[Bozita]

5. It's class warfare. Been that way for a while now. By the way, the rich folks are winning.

Gawd wanted it that way.

[alarimer]

6. I just saw a story on this on PBS.

Only it was about Alabama, which apparently has the most regressive tax structure of all the state. Income tax is practically a flat tax, so that the poor end up (when sales taxes- and Alabama is one of the few states to tax FOOD) paying a higher percentage.

[Breeze54]

7. Saw it too and AL was actually taxing people with incomes in the $4K range!

Gheebus cripes!! It's now been moved up to $12,500.00 before they
can tax you and even that is way below the poverty line! :grr:

[razors edge]

19. Who can even live on that?

$12,500.00 a year would have starved even Ted Kazinski to death.

[Hannah Bell]

9. Gotta get the federal dollars lost in various "tax reforms"

back somehow. The rich don't want to pay, & they have the power to make sure they don't have to.

[BlooInBloo]

10. Talk to the jackass fuckwipe Connecticut electorate about that.

[Nutmegger]

11. Not surprising.

In the richest state in the nation (thanks to the bigwigs who reside in the "Gold Coast" region for bestowing this state with a title like that) the middle-class and poor/working poor get screwed.

[cali]

12. all about that area

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_locations_by_per_capita_income

[AP]

13. I suspect the top 5 percent of CT's taxpayers have much much more wealth than the other 95 percent

The notion that the top 5% pay 51% of all taxes paid is not a relevant statistic by itself. What you want to know is whether they earn and control wealth that is greater than 51% of all wealth in CT.

If they do, then they're tax burden is lower, and you have wonder why it's not apportioned fairly according to capacity to pay and who is benefitting the most from society and the economy.

[bean fidhleir]

15. Given that the top 1% own (last I checked) 49% of all wealth, and the

top 10%, 85% of all wealth, I'd guess the top 5% own MUCH more than 51% of the wealth.

(My numbers come from Edward Wolff's published studies)

[Indenturedebtor]

17. Yeah no kidding

The fact that the people who control 95% of the wealth in this country don't pay 95% of the taxes is utter crap.

My forehead is irreversibly scarred from all the burst blood vessels I've suffered - every time I hear some dittohead spout off about how the rich pay "most" of the taxes in this country trying to justify the fact that their functional tax rate is lower I think my head is going to explode!

My other favorite is "Why should we punish them for being rich?" You're absolutely right. We should punish the poor for being poor. And for that matter, contributing to society is a punishment! Furthermore there would be no rich people if we didn't let rich people do whatever they want. If we tax the rich just 10% more no one will want to be rich! :sarcasm:

GAH!!!!!!!!!

Will someone shut down faux news already please?

[scrinmaster]

14. What about federal income tax?

I'm not familiar with Connecticut state taxes, but lower income people will obviously pay a higher percentage of their income in sales tax.

[L. Coyote]

16. Oregon. No sales taxes, higher minimum wages by law.

[seabeyond]

20. OKLAHOMA TOO. hubby told me tonight that he is paying more than his brother and sister

they have income coming out of oklhoma. we live in texas. we were taxed on the money and we paid the most. cause.... we made the least.

ours (hubby works computers) i am stay at home was 1200, brother (lawyer) stay at home wife 1000, and sister (lawyer) her hubby (doctor) paid 850.

[T Monk]

21. I'm seeing two rw media myths busted in gd tonite

that of a large number of people making over 100k a year - the very opposite is true- and now this one that the rich pay more taxes than the poor.

[Initech]

22. I posted this George Carlin quote the other day but it's perfectly relevant here:

"The rich make all of the money, pay none of the taxes. The middle class pay all of the taxes, do all of the work. And the poor are there, just to scare the shit out of the middle class! Keep them showing up at those jobs!"