Tax The Rich - Redeem the American Dream by Eliminating America’s Billionaire Class
The Billionaire Bailout: How the Ultra-Wealthy Sidestep Taxes and Undermine Democracy
1. Shockingly Low Tax Rates for the Super-Rich
A groundbreaking study by economists Akcan Balkir, Emmanuel Saez, Danny Yagan, and Gabriel Zucman reveals that the wealthiest Americans—those on the Forbes 400—paid an average tax rate of just 24%, far below the commonly cited figure of 34% and even lower than many middle-class workers. Between 2018 and 2020, these billionaires paid a mere 1.3% of their total wealth in federal taxes, down from 2.7% in prior years!
2. Named Examples of Billionaires Paying Almost Nothing
ProPublica’s investigation into IRS data shows staggering individual disparities:
Jeff Bezos paid zero federal income tax in 2007 and 2011.
Elon Musk paid none in 2018.
Michael Bloomberg repeated the feat in multiple years.
George Soros paid zero for three consecutive years ProPublica+2Americans For Tax Fairness+2Americans For Tax Fairness.
Among the top 25 billionaires (2014–2018), wealth increased by $401B yet they paid a federal income tax rate averaging just 3.4%.
3. The One-Percenters Dodge Over $160 Billion Annually
Academic estimates place the tax gap—the portion of taxes owed but not paid by the wealthy—at over $160 billion per year, driven largely by the top 1% U.S. Department of the Treasury.
4. Outrageous Corporate Tax Dodges
The “Silicon Six”—Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, Netflix, Apple, and Microsoft—collectively avoided nearly $278 billion in U.S. corporate taxes over the past decade. Despite earning $2.5 trillion in profits, their average effective tax rate was only 18.8%, well below the statutory 29.7%. When exclusions are considered, rates dipped as low as 16.1% The Guardian.
Across the board, 342 of America’s most profitable corporations paid only 14.1% in effective federal income tax between 2018 and 2022—far lower than the statutory rate ITEP.
5. Tax Loopholes and Untaxed Wealth Growth
Astonishingly, over 56% of the wealth held by billionaires and centi-millionaires is embedded in untaxed capital gains, versus only 24% for the average household. Collectively, they control $8.5 trillion in unrealized gains—wealth that goes completely untaxed Americans For Tax Fairness.
Researchers Saez and Zucman estimate that of the $4.25 trillion owned by U.S. billionaires, $2.7 trillion in gains remain untouched by taxes.
6. Offshore Havens and Global Tax Losses
The U.S. loses approximately $73 billion annually to offshore profit shifting and tax avoidance by multinational corporations and wealthy individuals. Globally, tax abuse costs countries $427 billion each year, with high-income nations—including the U.S.—among the biggest enablers and casualties.
Democracy Undermined
Budget Shortfalls and Shrinking Services
Billions in lost tax revenue starve vital public services—healthcare, education, infrastructure—forcing cuts or increased debt.Erosion of Fairness
When billionaires pay lower rates than teachers or nurses, the principle of equal citizenship is hollowed out.Political Corruption
Wealth funnels into political influence, defending loopholes, cutting IRS budgets, and weakening enforcement.
A Path Forward: Demand Accountability
Tax the Rich Properly through reforms targeting capital gains, inheritance taxes, and wealth.
Strengthen the IRS to audit and enforce among the ultra-wealthy, reversing budget cuts.
Crack Down on Corporate Avoidance—through tighter rules, global cooperation, and closing loopholes.
Enact a Wealth Tax: Proposals like a 2% annual tax on fortunes over $50 million could raise massive revenue while ensuring fairness.
Bottom Line
The billionaire class is choosing to dismantle the democratic ideals that made their wealth possible. By exploiting tax laws and underpaying what they owe, they let the working class foot the bill—jeopardizing the very future of American democracy.
MAGA = Made America Gilded Again