# Tax burden on average Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 18, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452 "2022-10-18T17:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/21 "2022-10-19T21:43:49Z")
These are the federal excise taxes: [![](https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/original_optimized/public/book_images/3.14.1.fig2_.png?itok=MK5FLLGH) ](https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/original_optimized/public/book_images/3.14.1.fig2_.png?itok=MK5FLLGH) I’ve never seen a state breakdown. From: > **[What are the major federal excise taxes, and how much money do they raise?](https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-are-major-federal-excise-taxes-and-how-much-money-do-they-raise)** > > Excise taxes are narrowly based taxes on consumption, levied on specific goods, services, and activities. They can be either a per-unit tax (such as the... ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/22 "2022-10-19T21:47:32Z")
They are on top of sales taxes. The total tax on tobacco and liquor is higher than the sales tax. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/23 "2022-10-19T21:49:57Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > No, they are in addition. So like, the playing card company pays a nickle for each stamp for each deck of cards, but you also pay sales tax when you buy them. Wait, what? There’s a tax in addition to sales tax on the sale of playing cards? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/24 "2022-10-19T21:49:58Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > and usage taxes. Does this include taxes on your phone bill and cable bill, etc? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/25 "2022-10-19T21:53:01Z")
If you truly want the average, it’s simple: Take the government’s total income, and divide that by the number of Americans, and that’s the average amount of tax each individual pays. For the average rate, take the income of the government, and divide that by the total earnings of all Americans. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/26 "2022-10-19T22:01:23Z")
Sure. I was thinking of road tolls and registration fees, but yours works too. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/27 "2022-10-19T22:01:49Z")
In some states. In Alabama there is, or at least was 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/28 "2022-10-19T22:03:45Z")
> [@Quondam\_Mechanic](#): > > Mitt Romney went on about how 47% of Americans are “freeloaders,” His point was that 47% of Americans pay no federal taxes. Which is stupid: a large number of that 47% have no income being children and retirees. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/29 "2022-10-19T22:05:16Z")
Thanks. I never heard of such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/30 "2022-10-19T22:20:21Z")
> [@Quondam\_Mechanic](#): > > in a more Socialist state like Sweden Do update your clichés. Sweden has 0 % property tax for private housing 0 % tax on wealth 0 % tax on inheritance 0 % tax on gifts I also wouldn’t call my country socialist: In the latest election the conservatives (think Tories) took control of the parliament in a coalition with the Christian Democrats, the Liberal party (not to be confused with the label liberal in the US,) and with the aid of the second largest party in Sweden: Swedish Democrats, who among other things, wants to: Stop immigration, especially muslims. Make immigrants return to their native countries Deport family members of immigrant criminals (as well as the criminal, of course) Lower the age for when children can be prosecuted to about 9 (it’s currently 15) Forbid museums to show art that isn’t Swedish enough or just what they think is weird (they call it menstruation art) And so on and so forth. They campaigned with the slogan: _Gör Sverige Bra Igen_ [Make Sweden Good Again, even our far right wingers aren’t as boastful as TFG] Socialist. Nah. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/31 "2022-10-19T22:29:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Take the government’s total income Plural governments. Federal, state, county, town, village, city, school district, probably tribal I don’t know how that works. (Also, some non-citizens who are only here temporarily – tourists etc. – pay some of those taxes; though I don’t know whether the number’s enough to affect your averaging technique much.) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/32 "2022-10-19T22:40:13Z")
Retirees have income and pay federal income taxes. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/33 "2022-10-19T22:43:32Z")
Depends. If I’m retired and spending my after tax money (or tax free like munis), and am waiting 'til 70 to take SS, I have no taxable income. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/34 "2022-10-19T22:57:48Z")
What percentage of retirees live only on after-tax money or munis? IME, most retirees have SS and possibly other retirement income sources, such as 401ks, pensions, interest income, etc. that is taxable. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/35 "2022-10-19T23:01:25Z")
They may not have enough such income for them to actually owe federal tax. Some portions of it are likely to be exempt. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/36 "2022-10-19T23:02:03Z")
Last year, 5[7% of American households paid no federal income tax](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/25/57percent-of-us-households-paid-no-federal-income-tax-in-2021-study.html), “due to Covid-relief funds, tax credits and stimulus.” ---
**Author:** ![Quondam\_Mechanic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quondam_mechanic/32/3404_2.png) [@Quondam\_Mechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quondam_Mechanic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/37 "2022-10-19T23:26:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I also wouldn’t call my country socialist: In the latest election the conservatives (think Tories) took control of the parliament in a coalition with the Christian Democrats, the Liberal party (not to be confused with the label liberal in the US,) and with the aid of the second largest party in Sweden: Swedish Democrats, who among other things, wants to: > Stop immigration, especially muslims. > Make immigrants return to their native countries > Deport family members of immigrant criminals (as well as the criminal, of course) > Lower the age for when children can be prosecuted to about 9 (it’s currently 15) > Forbid museums to show art that isn’t Swedish enough or just what they think is weird (they call it menstruation art) > And so on and so forth. > They campaigned with the slogan: _Gör Sverige Bra Igen_ [Make Sweden Good Again, even our far right wingers aren’t as boastful as TFG] > > Socialist. Nah. Point taken, but you can be Socialist in terms of running a welfare state even if you are xenophobic, and the welfare-state aspect is where the question of a higher tax burden arises. ---
**Author:** ![Quondam\_Mechanic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quondam_mechanic/32/3404_2.png) [@Quondam\_Mechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quondam_Mechanic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/38 "2022-10-19T23:31:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If you truly want the average, it’s simple: Take the government’s total income, and divide that by the number of Americans, and that’s the average amount of tax each individual pays. For the average rate, take the income of the government, and divide that by the total earnings of all Americans. Not all taxes are paid by individuals, and even if you say that taxes on corporations are ultimately paid by the customers, not all the customers are Americans even if the corporation is taxed here. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/39 "2022-10-20T00:15:23Z")
Right, but he said no income. Which isn’t likely, in 99% of all cases. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452/40 "2022-10-20T00:18:00Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Assuming that the average American is single, no dependents and making $54,132 (median wage according to BLS) This would be an incorrect assumption, though. For tax year 2019, the IRS report on number of returns and sources of income by filing status ([Excel file](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/19in13ms.xls)) shows 55 million returns filed by married couples and surviving spouses [hence around 130 million individuals], plus 21 million returns filed as head of household [unmarried but with one or more dependents] and 3.7 million returns filed as married filing separately; that equals about 153 million people. Meanwhile, about 77.6 million filed as single no dependents. People who are not single and/or do have dependents far outnumber single/no dependents. Meanwhile, about a third of all income reported was not wage income, and in fact around a sixth of all returns reported zero income from salaries and wages. The average total income for singles was $41,456; for married couples filing jointly $140,888; for heads of household, $44,210. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-burden-on-average-americans/973452.md?page=3)