Taxes: Income

Taxes: Income

The income tax has been the primary means of funding the federal government since 1913 when the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted. It is a progressive tax on individual and corporate income, based on income levels.  43 states impose an income tax on individuals, while 47 states impose a tax on the income of corporations. Many municipalities and counties also levy income taxes on their residents.

Commentary

Chamber of Commerce, Wrong Again

May 19, 2011

The California Chamber of Commerce released its hit list of so-called "job killer" bills. Like every year, they oppose every proposal to protect consumers, workers and the environment from irresponsible business practices, or raise revenues to fund public services, or support middle and working class families. 

They were wrong before and they are wrong now.

 Read More
Taxes and the wealthy

Will Higher Taxes on the Rich Kill Jobs?

December 01, 2010

Will raising income taxes on the rich hurt or help the economy? That's the key question that Congress will be debating as they consider whether to extend the tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

As he pledged during the 2008 campaign, President Obama, along with most Congressional Democrats, wants to maintain the Bush 2001 tax cuts for the middle class but allow them to expire for high income Americans. Business groups and Republicans are, predictably, claiming that such a plan would "kill jobs," harm small businesses, and deepen the recession. They are crying wolf, but they repeat their misleading warnings so often -- and the media report them as if they were true -- that many Americans believe them.

 Read More
More Commentary >

Cry Wolf Quotes

This is really the Dr. Kevorkian plan for our economy. It will kill jobs, kill businesses, and yes, kill even the higher tax revenues that these suicidal tax increasers hope to gain.

-
Rep. Thomas Ewing (R-IL), Congressional Record.
08/05/1993 | Full Details | Law(s): Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993

It's disappointing and discouraging. The tone and tenor was often venomous, trying to pit the haves against the have-nots…[the business community now must figure out] how to participate in a system that's largely disconnected from us.

-
Pat McCormick, spokesman for Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes, The Oregonian.
01/26/2010 | Full Details | Law(s): Oregon's Measures 66 and 67

[This is] a fight to allow businesses, taxpayers and private industry to keep more of their money so that they can provide real stimulus and lasting growth to the economy.

-
House minority whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Wall Street Journal.
09/20/2010 | Full Details | Law(s): Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003

[The income tax would] divide the population into two classes, the class which contributes to the support of the Government, and the class which does not contribute.

-
In 1910, the Albany Evening Journal, a partisan Republican paper.
01/01/1910 | Full Details | Law(s): Tax: Income
More Quotes >

Related Laws and Rules

Evidence

More Evidence >

Backgrounders & Briefs

Taxes Not Seen as Making the Rich Flee New York

Almost everyone agrees that raising taxes on the rich does not induce mass upper-class migration. 

More Briefs >

Resources

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a think tank focused on tax and fiscal policy. They provide in-depth analysis of state issues.

Citizens for Tax Justice is an organization that represents low and middle income citizens in the tax debates on Capitol Hill.

More Resources >