See 2018 Update

The Internal Revenue Service has recently released new data on individual income taxes for tax year 2015, showing the number of taxpayers, adjusted gross income, and income tax shares by income percentiles.[1]

The data demonstrate that the U.S. individual income tax continues to be very progressive, borne primarily by the highest income earners.

In 2015, 141.2 million taxpayers reported earning $10.14 trillion in adjusted gross income and paid $1.45 trillion in individual income taxes.

The share of reported income earned by the top 1 percent of taxpayers rose slightly to 20.7 percent in 2015. Their share of federal individual income taxes fell slightly, to 39.0 percent.

In 2015, the top 50 percent of all taxpayers paid 97.2 percent of all individual income taxes while the bottom 50 percent paid the remaining 2.8 percent.

The top 1 percent paid a greater share of individual income taxes (39.0 percent) than the bottom 90 percent combined (29.4 percent).

The top 1 percent of taxpayers paid a 27.1 percent individual income tax rate, which is more than seven times higher than taxpayers in the bottom 50 percent (3.6 percent).

Reported Income and Taxes Paid Both Increased in 2015

Taxpayers reported $10.14 trillion in adjusted gross income (AGI) on 141.2 million tax returns in 2015. Total AGI grew $434 billion from 2014 levels, less than the $675 billion increase between 2013 to 2014. There were 1.6 million more tax returns filed in 2015 than in 2014, meaning that average AGI rose by $2,261 per return, or 3.3 percent.

Taxes paid rose to $1.45 trillion for all taxpayers in 2015, a 5.8 percent increase over the previous year. The average individual income tax rate for all taxpayers rose slightly, from 14.16 percent to 14.34 percent, and the average tax rate increased for all groups except the top 1 percent.

The most likely explanation behind the higher tax rates in 2015 is a phenomenon known as “real bracket creep.” [2] When incomes rises faster than inflation, more income is pushed into higher brackets and thus becomes subject to higher tax rates.

The share of income earned by the top 1 percent rose slightly to 20.65 percent of AGI, up from 20.58 percent in 2014, but the share of the income tax burden for the top 1 percent fell slightly, from 39.48 percent in 2014 to 39.04 percent in 2015. The reason for this slight decrease is that growth in itemized deductions claimed by this group of taxpayers outpaced growth in AGI for this group from 2014 to 2015. Particularly, taxpayers claimed significantly larger deductions for state and local taxes paid.[3] By claiming an increased amount of itemized deductions in 2015, the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid federal income taxes on a smaller share of their income, resulting in a slightly lower effective income tax rate than in 2014.

Table 1. Summary of Federal Income Tax Data, 2015 Top 1% Top 5% Top 10% Top 25% Top 50% Bottom 50% All Taxpayers Note: Does not include dependent filers Number of Returns 1,412,046 7,060,231 14,120,463 35,301,156 70,602,313 70,602,313 141,204,625 Adjusted Gross Income ($ millions) $2,094,906 $3,658,556 $4,803,327 $6,997,737 $8,998,075 $1,144,545 $10,142,620 Share of Total Adjusted Gross Income 20.65% 36.07% 47.36% 68.99% 88.72% 11.28% 100.00% Income Taxes Paid ($ millions) $567,697 $866,447 $1,026,601 $1,259,698 $1,413,200 $41,125 $1,454,325 Share of Total Income Taxes Paid 39.04% 59.58% 70.59% 86.62% 97.17% 2.83% 1 Income Split Point $480,930 $195,778 $138,031 $79,655 $39,275 Average Tax Rate 27.10% 23.68% 21.37% 18.00% 15.71% 3.59% 14.34%

High-Income Americans Paid Majority of Federal Income Taxes

In 2015, the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers (those with AGI below $39,275) earned 11.28 percent of total AGI. This group of taxpayers paid approximately $41 billion in taxes, or 2.83 percent of all income taxes in 2015.

In contrast, the top 1 percent of all taxpayers (taxpayers with AGI of $480,930 and above), earned 20.65 percent of all AGI in 2015, but paid 39.04 percent of all federal income taxes.

In 2015, the top 1 percent of taxpayers accounted for more income taxes paid than the bottom 90 percent combined. The top 1 percent of taxpayers paid $568 billion, or 39.04 percent of all income taxes, while the bottom 90 percent paid $428 billion, or 29.41 percent of all income taxes.

Figure 1.

High-Income Taxpayers Paid the Highest Average Income Tax Rates

The 2015 IRS data show that taxpayers with higher incomes pay much higher average income tax rates than lower-income taxpayers.[4]

The bottom 50 percent of taxpayers (taxpayers with AGIs below $39,275) faced an average income tax rate of 3.6 percent. As household income increases, the IRS data show that average income tax rates rise. For example, taxpayers with AGIs between the 10th and 5th percentiles ($138,031 and $195,778) paid an average effective rate of 14.0 percent – nearly four times the rate paid by those in the bottom 50 percent.

The top 1 percent of taxpayers (AGI of $480,930 and above) paid the highest effective income tax rate, at 27.1 percent, 7.5 times the rate faced by the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers.

Figure 2.

Taxpayers at the very top of the income distribution, the top 0.1 percent (with AGIs over $2.22 million), paid an even higher average income tax rate of 27.4 percent.

Appendix

For data prior to 2001, all tax returns that have a positive AGI are included, even those that do not have a positive income tax liability. For data from 2001 forward, returns with negative AGI are also included, but dependent returns are excluded. Income tax after credits (the measure of “income taxes paid” above) does not account for the refundable portion of EITC. If it were included, the tax share of the top income groups would be higher. The refundable portion is classified as a spending program by the Office of Management and Budget and therefore is not included by the IRS in these figures. The only tax analyzed here is the federal individual income tax, which is responsible for over 25 percent of the nation’s taxes paid (at all levels of government). Federal income taxes are much more progressive than federal payroll taxes, which are responsible for about 20 percent of all taxes paid (at all levels of government), and are more progressive than most state and local taxes. AGI is a fairly narrow income concept and does not include income items like government transfers (except for the portion of Social Security benefits that is taxed), the value of employer-provided health insurance, underreported or unreported income (most notably that of sole proprietors), income derived from municipal bond interest, net imputed rental income, and others. The unit of analysis here is that of the tax return. In the figures prior to 2001, some dependent returns are included. Under other units of analysis (like the U.S. Treasury Department’s Family Economic Unit), these returns would likely be paired with parents’ returns. These figures represent the legal incidence of the income tax. Most distributional tables (such as those from CBO, Tax Policy Center, Citizens for Tax Justice, the Treasury Department, and JCT) assume that the entire economic incidence of personal income taxes falls on the income earner.

Year Total Top 0.1% Top 1% Top

5% Between

5% & 10% Top 10% Between 10% & 25% Top 25% Between 25% & 50% Top 50% Bottom 50% Table 2. Number of Federal Individual Income Tax Returns Filed 1980–2015 (Thousands) Source: Internal Revenue Service. 1980 93,239 932 4,662 4,662 9,324 13,986 23,310 23,310 46,619 46,619 1981 94,587 946 4,729 4,729 9,459 14,188 23,647 23,647 47,293 47,293 1982 94,426 944 4,721 4,721 9,443 14,164 23,607 23,607 47,213 47,213 1983 95,331 953 4,767 4,767 9,533 14,300 23,833 23,833 47,665 47,665 1984 98,436 984 4,922 4,922 9,844 14,765 24,609 24,609 49,218 49,219 1985 100,625 1,006 5,031 5,031 10,063 15,094 25,156 25,156 50,313 50,313 1986 102,088 1,021 5,104 5,104 10,209 15,313 25,522 25,522 51,044 51,044 The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 106,155 1,062 5,308 5,308 10,615 15,923 26,539 26,539 53,077 53,077 1988 108,873 1,089 5,444 5,444 10,887 16,331 27,218 27,218 54,436 54,436 1989 111,313 1,113 5,566 5,566 11,131 16,697 27,828 27,828 55,656 55,656 1990 112,812 1,128 5,641 5,641 11,281 16,922 28,203 28,203 56,406 56,406 1991 113,804 1,138 5,690 5,690 11,380 17,071 28,451 28,451 56,902 56,902 1992 112,653 1,127 5,633 5,633 11,265 16,898 28,163 28,163 56,326 56,326 1993 113,681 1,137 5,684 5,684 11,368 17,052 28,420 28,420 56,841 56,841 1994 114,990 1,150 5,749 5,749 11,499 17,248 28,747 28,747 57,495 57,495 1995 117,274 1,173 5,864 5,864 11,727 17,591 29,319 29,319 58,637 58,637 1996 119,442 1,194 5,972 5,972 11,944 17,916 29,860 29,860 59,721 59,721 1997 121,503 1,215 6,075 6,075 12,150 18,225 30,376 30,376 60,752 60,752 1998 123,776 1,238 6,189 6,189 12,378 18,566 30,944 30,944 61,888 61,888 1999 126,009 1,260 6,300 6,300 12,601 18,901 31,502 31,502 63,004 63,004 2000 128,227 1,282 6,411 6,411 12,823 19,234 32,057 32,057 64,114 64,114 The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 119,371 119 1,194 5,969 5,969 11,937 17,906 29,843 29,843 59,685 59,685 2002 119,851 120 1,199 5,993 5,993 11,985 17,978 29,963 29,963 59,925 59,925 2003 120,759 121 1,208 6,038 6,038 12,076 18,114 30,190 30,190 60,379 60,379 2004 122,510 123 1,225 6,125 6,125 12,251 18,376 30,627 30,627 61,255 61,255 2005 124,673 125 1,247 6,234 6,234 12,467 18,701 31,168 31,168 62,337 62,337 2006 128,441 128 1,284 6,422 6,422 12,844 19,266 32,110 32,110 64,221 64,221 2007 132,655 133 1,327 6,633 6,633 13,265 19,898 33,164 33,164 66,327 66,327 2008 132,892 133 1,329 6,645 6,645 13,289 19,934 33,223 33,223 66,446 66,446 2009 132,620 133 1,326 6,631 6,631 13,262 19,893 33,155 33,155 66,310 66,310 2010 135,033 135 1,350 6,752 6,752 13,503 20,255 33,758 33,758 67,517 67,517 2011 136,586 137 1,366 6,829 6,829 13,659 20,488 34,146 34,146 68,293 68,293 2012 136,080 136 1,361 6,804 6,804 13,608 20,412 34,020 34,020 68,040 68,040 2013 138,313 138 1,383 6,916 6,916 13,831 20,747 34,578 34,578 69,157 69,157 2014 139,562 140 1,396 6,978 6,978 13,956 20,934 34,891 34,891 69,781 69,781 2015 141,205 141 1,412 7,060 7,060 14,120 21,181 35,301 35,301 70,602 70,602

Year Total Top 0.1% Top 1% Top 5% Between 5% & 10% Top 10% Between 10% & 25% Top 25% Between 25% & 50% Top 50% Bottom 50% Table 3. Adjusted Gross Income of Taxpayers in Various Income Brackets, 1980–2015 ($Billions) Source: Internal Revenue Service. 1980 $1,627 $138 $342 $181 $523 $400 $922 $417 $1,339 $288 1981 $1,791 $149 $372 $201 $573 $442 $1,015 $458 $1,473 $318 1982 $1,876 $167 $398 $207 $605 $460 $1,065 $478 $1,544 $332 1983 $1,970 $183 $428 $217 $646 $481 $1,127 $498 $1,625 $344 1984 $2,173 $210 $482 $240 $723 $528 $1,251 $543 $1,794 $379 1985 $2,344 $235 $531 $260 $791 $567 $1,359 $580 $1,939 $405 1986 $2,524 $285 $608 $278 $887 $604 $1,490 $613 $2,104 $421 The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 $2,814 $347 $722 $316 $1,038 $671 $1,709 $664 $2,374 $440 1988 $3,124 $474 $891 $342 $1,233 $718 $1,951 $707 $2,658 $466 1989 $3,299 $468 $918 $368 $1,287 $768 $2,054 $751 $2,805 $494 1990 $3,451 $483 $953 $385 $1,338 $806 $2,144 $788 $2,933 $519 1991 $3,516 $457 $943 $400 $1,343 $832 $2,175 $809 $2,984 $532 1992 $3,681 $524 $1,031 $413 $1,444 $856 $2,299 $832 $3,131 $549 1993 $3,776 $521 $1,048 $426 $1,474 $883 $2,358 $854 $3,212 $563 1994 $3,961 $547 $1,103 $449 $1,552 $929 $2,481 $890 $3,371 $590 1995 $4,245 $620 $1,223 $482 $1,705 $985 $2,690 $938 $3,628 $617 1996 $4,591 $737 $1,394 $515 $1,909 $1,043 $2,953 $992 $3,944 $646 1997 $5,023 $873 $1,597 $554 $2,151 $1,116 $3,268 $1,060 $4,328 $695 1998 $5,469 $1,010 $1,797 $597 $2,394 $1,196 $3,590 $1,132 $4,721 $748 1999 $5,909 $1,153 $2,012 $641 $2,653 $1,274 $3,927 $1,199 $5,126 $783 2000 $6,424 $1,337 $2,267 $688 $2,955 $1,358 $4,314 $1,276 $5,590 $834 The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 $6,116 $492 $1,065 $1,934 $666 $2,600 $1,334 $3,933 $1,302 $5,235 $881 2002 $5,982 $421 $960 $1,812 $660 $2,472 $1,339 $3,812 $1,303 $5,115 $867 2003 $6,157 $466 $1,030 $1,908 $679 $2,587 $1,375 $3,962 $1,325 $5,287 $870 2004 $6,735 $615 $1,279 $2,243 $725 $2,968 $1,455 $4,423 $1,403 $5,826 $908 2005 $7,366 $784 $1,561 $2,623 $778 $3,401 $1,540 $4,940 $1,473 $6,413 $953 2006 $7,970 $895 $1,761 $2,918 $841 $3,760 $1,652 $5,412 $1,568 $6,980 $990 2007 $8,622 $1,030 $1,971 $3,223 $905 $4,128 $1,770 $5,898 $1,673 $7,571 $1,051 2008 $8,206 $826 $1,657 $2,868 $905 $3,773 $1,782 $5,555 $1,673 $7,228 $978 2009 $7,579 $602 $1,305 $2,439 $878 $3,317 $1,740 $5,058 $1,620 $6,678 $900 2010 $8,040 $743 $1,517 $2,716 $915 $3,631 $1,800 $5,431 $1,665 $7,096 $944 2011 $8,317 $737 $1,556 $2,819 $956 $3,775 $1,866 $5,641 $1,716 $7,357 $961 2012 $9,042 $1,017 $1,977 $3,331 $997 $4,328 $1,934 $6,262 $1,776 $8,038 $1,004 2013 $9,034 $816 $1,720 $3,109 $1,034 $4,143 $2,008 $6,152 $1,844 $7,996 $1,038 2014 $9,709 $986 $1,998 $3,491 $1,093 $4,583 $2,107 $6,690 $1,924 $8,615 $1,094 2015 $10,143 $1,033 $2,095 $3,659 $1,145 $4,803 $2,194 $6,998 $2,000 $8,998 $1,145

Year Total Top 0.1% Top 1% Top 5% Between 5% & 10% Top 10% Between 10% & 25% Top 25% Between 25% & 50% Top 50% Bottom 50% Table 4. Total Income Tax after Credits, 1980–2015 ($Billions) Source: Internal Revenue Service. 1980 $249 $47 $92 $31 $123 $59 $182 $50 $232 $18 1981 $282 $50 $99 $36 $135 $69 $204 $57 $261 $21 1982 $276 $53 $100 $34 $134 $66 $200 $56 $256 $20 1983 $272 $55 $101 $34 $135 $64 $199 $54 $252 $19 1984 $297 $63 $113 $37 $150 $68 $219 $57 $276 $22 1985 $322 $70 $125 $41 $166 $73 $238 $60 $299 $23 1986 $367 $94 $156 $44 $201 $78 $279 $64 $343 $24 The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 $369 $92 $160 $46 $205 $79 $284 $63 $347 $22 1988 $413 $114 $188 $48 $236 $85 $321 $68 $389 $24 1989 $433 $109 $190 $51 $241 $93 $334 $73 $408 $25 1990 $447 $112 $195 $52 $248 $97 $344 $77 $421 $26 1991 $448 $111 $194 $56 $250 $96 $347 $77 $424 $25 1992 $476 $131 $218 $58 $276 $97 $374 $78 $452 $24 1993 $503 $146 $238 $60 $298 $101 $399 $80 $479 $24 1994 $535 $154 $254 $64 $318 $108 $425 $84 $509 $25 1995 $588 $178 $288 $70 $357 $115 $473 $88 $561 $27 1996 $658 $213 $335 $76 $411 $124 $535 $95 $630 $28 1997 $727 $241 $377 $82 $460 $134 $594 $102 $696 $31 1998 $788 $274 $425 $88 $513 $139 $652 $103 $755 $33 1999 $877 $317 $486 $97 $583 $150 $733 $109 $842 $35 2000 $981 $367 $554 $106 $660 $164 $824 $118 $942 $38 The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 $885 $139 $294 $462 $101 $564 $158 $722 $120 $842 $43 2002 $794 $120 $263 $420 $93 $513 $143 $657 $104 $761 $33 2003 $746 $115 $251 $399 $85 $484 $133 $617 $98 $715 $30 2004 $829 $142 $301 $467 $91 $558 $137 $695 $102 $797 $32 2005 $932 $176 $361 $549 $98 $647 $145 $793 $106 $898 $33 2006 $1,020 $196 $402 $607 $108 $715 $157 $872 $113 $986 $35 2007 $1,112 $221 $443 $666 $117 $783 $170 $953 $122 $1,075 $37 2008 $1,029 $187 $386 $597 $115 $712 $168 $880 $117 $997 $32 2009 $863 $146 $314 $502 $101 $604 $146 $749 $93 $842 $21 2010 $949 $170 $355 $561 $110 $670 $156 $827 $100 $927 $22 2011 $1,043 $168 $366 $589 $123 $712 $181 $893 $120 $1,012 $30 2012 $1,185 $220 $451 $699 $133 $831 $193 $1,024 $128 $1,152 $33 2013 $1,232 $228 $466 $721 $139 $860 $203 $1,063 $135 $1,198 $34 2014 $1,374 $273 $543 $824 $150 $974 $219 $1,193 $144 $1,337 $38 2015 $1,454 $284 $568 $866 $160 $1,027 $233 $1,260 $154 $1,413 $41

Year Total Top 0.1% Top 1% Top 5% Between 5% & 10% Top 10% Between 10% & 25% Top 25% Between 25% & 50% Top 50% Bottom 50% Table 5. Adjusted Gross Income Shares, 1980–2015 (percent of total AGI earned by each group) Source: Internal Revenue Service. 1980 100% 8.46% 21.01% 11.12% 32.13% 24.57% 56.70% 25.62% 82.32% 17.68% 1981 100% 8.30% 20.78% 11.20% 31.98% 24.69% 56.67% 25.59% 82.25% 17.75% 1982 100% 8.91% 21.23% 11.03% 32.26% 24.53% 56.79% 25.50% 82.29% 17.71% 1983 100% 9.29% 21.74% 11.04% 32.78% 24.44% 57.22% 25.30% 82.52% 17.48% 1984 100% 9.66% 22.19% 11.06% 33.25% 24.31% 57.56% 25.00% 82.56% 17.44% 1985 100% 10.03% 22.67% 11.10% 33.77% 24.21% 57.97% 24.77% 82.74% 17.26% 1986 100% 11.30% 24.11% 11.02% 35.12% 23.92% 59.04% 24.30% 83.34% 16.66% The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 100% 12.32% 25.67% 11.23% 36.90% 23.85% 60.75% 23.62% 84.37% 15.63% 1988 100% 15.16% 28.51% 10.94% 39.45% 22.99% 62.44% 22.63% 85.07% 14.93% 1989 100% 14.19% 27.84% 11.16% 39.00% 23.28% 62.28% 22.76% 85.04% 14.96% 1990 100% 14.00% 27.62% 11.15% 38.77% 23.36% 62.13% 22.84% 84.97% 15.03% 1991 100% 12.99% 26.83% 11.37% 38.20% 23.65% 61.85% 23.01% 84.87% 15.13% 1992 100% 14.23% 28.01% 11.21% 39.23% 23.25% 62.47% 22.61% 85.08% 14.92% 1993 100% 13.79% 27.76% 11.29% 39.05% 23.40% 62.45% 22.63% 85.08% 14.92% 1994 100% 13.80% 27.85% 11.34% 39.19% 23.45% 62.64% 22.48% 85.11% 14.89% 1995 100% 14.60% 28.81% 11.35% 40.16% 23.21% 63.37% 22.09% 85.46% 14.54% 1996 100% 16.04% 30.36% 11.23% 41.59% 22.73% 64.32% 21.60% 85.92% 14.08% 1997 100% 17.38% 31.79% 11.03% 42.83% 22.22% 65.05% 21.11% 86.16% 13.84% 1998 100% 18.47% 32.85% 10.92% 43.77% 21.87% 65.63% 20.69% 86.33% 13.67% 1999 100% 19.51% 34.04% 10.85% 44.89% 21.57% 66.46% 20.29% 86.75% 13.25% 2000 100% 20.81% 35.30% 10.71% 46.01% 21.15% 67.15% 19.86% 87.01% 12.99% The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 100% 8.05% 17.41% 31.61% 10.89% 42.50% 21.80% 64.31% 21.29% 85.60% 14.40% 2002 100% 7.04% 16.05% 30.29% 11.04% 41.33% 22.39% 63.71% 21.79% 85.50% 14.50% 2003 100% 7.56% 16.73% 30.99% 11.03% 42.01% 22.33% 64.34% 21.52% 85.87% 14.13% 2004 100% 9.14% 18.99% 33.31% 10.77% 44.07% 21.60% 65.68% 20.83% 86.51% 13.49% 2005 100% 10.64% 21.19% 35.61% 10.56% 46.17% 20.90% 67.07% 19.99% 87.06% 12.94% 2006 100% 11.23% 22.10% 36.62% 10.56% 47.17% 20.73% 67.91% 19.68% 87.58% 12.42% 2007 100% 11.95% 22.86% 37.39% 10.49% 47.88% 20.53% 68.41% 19.40% 87.81% 12.19% 2008 100% 10.06% 20.19% 34.95% 11.03% 45.98% 21.71% 67.69% 20.39% 88.08% 11.92% 2009 100% 7.94% 17.21% 32.18% 11.59% 43.77% 22.96% 66.74% 21.38% 88.12% 11.88% 2010 100% 9.24% 18.87% 33.78% 11.38% 45.17% 22.38% 67.55% 20.71% 88.26% 11.74% 2011 100% 8.86% 18.70% 33.89% 11.50% 45.39% 22.43% 67.82% 20.63% 88.45% 11.55% 2012 100% 11.25% 21.86% 36.84% 11.03% 47.87% 21.39% 69.25% 19.64% 88.90% 11.10% 2013 100% 9.03% 19.04% 34.42% 11.45% 45.87% 22.23% 68.10% 20.41% 88.51% 11.49% 2014 100% 10.16% 20.58% 35.96% 11.25% 47.21% 21.70% 68.91% 19.82% 88.73% 11.27% 2015 100% 10.19% 20.65% 36.07% 11.29% 47.36% 21.64% 68.99% 19.72% 88.72% 11.28%

Year Total Top 0.1% Top 1% Top 5% Between 5% & 10% Top 10% Between 10% & 25% Top 25% Between 25% & 50% Top 50% Bottom 50% Table 6. Total Income Tax Shares, 1980–2015 (percent of federal income tax paid by each group) Source: Internal Revenue Service. 1980 100% 19.05% 36.84% 12.44% 49.28% 23.74% 73.02% 19.93% 92.95% 7.05% 1981 100% 17.58% 35.06% 12.90% 47.96% 24.33% 72.29% 20.26% 92.55% 7.45% 1982 100% 19.03% 36.13% 12.45% 48.59% 23.91% 72.50% 20.15% 92.65% 7.35% 1983 100% 20.32% 37.26% 12.44% 49.71% 23.39% 73.10% 19.73% 92.83% 7.17% 1984 100% 21.12% 37.98% 12.58% 50.56% 22.92% 73.49% 19.16% 92.65% 7.35% 1985 100% 21.81% 38.78% 12.67% 51.46% 22.60% 74.06% 18.77% 92.83% 7.17% 1986 100% 25.75% 42.57% 12.12% 54.69% 21.33% 76.02% 17.52% 93.54% 6.46% The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 100% 24.81% 43.26% 12.35% 55.61% 21.31% 76.92% 17.02% 93.93% 6.07% 1988 100% 27.58% 45.62% 11.66% 57.28% 20.57% 77.84% 16.44% 94.28% 5.72% 1989 100% 25.24% 43.94% 11.85% 55.78% 21.44% 77.22% 16.94% 94.17% 5.83% 1990 100% 25.13% 43.64% 11.73% 55.36% 21.66% 77.02% 17.16% 94.19% 5.81% 1991 100% 24.82% 43.38% 12.45% 55.82% 21.46% 77.29% 17.23% 94.52% 5.48% 1992 100% 27.54% 45.88% 12.12% 58.01% 20.47% 78.48% 16.46% 94.94% 5.06% 1993 100% 29.01% 47.36% 11.88% 59.24% 20.03% 79.27% 15.92% 95.19% 4.81% 1994 100% 28.86% 47.52% 11.93% 59.45% 20.10% 79.55% 15.68% 95.23% 4.77% 1995 100% 30.26% 48.91% 11.84% 60.75% 19.62% 80.36% 15.03% 95.39% 4.61% 1996 100% 32.31% 50.97% 11.54% 62.51% 18.80% 81.32% 14.36% 95.68% 4.32% 1997 100% 33.17% 51.87% 11.33% 63.20% 18.47% 81.67% 14.05% 95.72% 4.28% 1998 100% 34.75% 53.84% 11.20% 65.04% 17.65% 82.69% 13.10% 95.79% 4.21% 1999 100% 36.18% 55.45% 11.00% 66.45% 17.09% 83.54% 12.46% 96.00% 4.00% 2000 100% 37.42% 56.47% 10.86% 67.33% 16.68% 84.01% 12.08% 96.09% 3.91% The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 100% 15.68% 33.22% 52.24% 11.44% 63.68% 17.88% 81.56% 13.54% 95.10% 4.90% 2002 100% 15.09% 33.09% 52.86% 11.77% 64.63% 18.04% 82.67% 13.12% 95.79% 4.21% 2003 100% 15.37% 33.69% 53.54% 11.35% 64.89% 17.87% 82.76% 13.17% 95.93% 4.07% 2004 100% 17.12% 36.28% 56.35% 10.96% 67.30% 16.52% 83.82% 12.31% 96.13% 3.87% 2005 100% 18.91% 38.78% 58.93% 10.52% 69.46% 15.61% 85.07% 11.35% 96.41% 3.59% 2006 100% 19.24% 39.36% 59.49% 10.59% 70.08% 15.41% 85.49% 11.10% 96.59% 3.41% 2007 100% 19.84% 39.81% 59.90% 10.51% 70.41% 15.30% 85.71% 10.93% 96.64% 3.36% 2008 100% 18.20% 37.51% 58.06% 11.14% 69.20% 16.37% 85.57% 11.33% 96.90% 3.10% 2009 100% 16.91% 36.34% 58.17% 11.72% 69.89% 16.85% 86.74% 10.80% 97.54% 2.46% 2010 100% 17.88% 37.38% 59.07% 11.55% 70.62% 16.49% 87.11% 10.53% 97.64% 2.36% 2011 100% 16.14% 35.06% 56.49% 11.77% 68.26% 17.36% 85.62% 11.50% 97.11% 2.89% 2012 100% 18.60% 38.09% 58.95% 11.22% 70.17% 16.25% 86.42% 10.80% 97.22% 2.78% 2013 100% 18.48% 37.80% 58.55% 11.25% 69.80% 16.47% 86.27% 10.94% 97.22% 2.78% 2014 100% 19.85% 39.48% 59.97% 10.91% 70.88% 15.90% 86.78% 10.47% 97.25% 2.75% 2015 100% 19.50% 39.04% 59.58% 11.01% 70.59% 16.03% 86.62% 10.55% 97.17% 2.83%

Year Total Top 1% Top 5% Top 10% Top 25% Top 50% Table 7. Dollar Cut-Off, 1980–2015 (Minimum AGI for Tax Returns to Fall into Various Percentiles; Thresholds Not Adjusted for Inflation) 1980 $80,580 $43,792 $35,070 $23,606 $12,936 1981 $85,428 $47,845 $38,283 $25,655 $14,000 1982 $89,388 $49,284 $39,676 $27,027 $14,539 1983 $93,512 $51,553 $41,222 $27,827 $15,044 1984 $100,889 $55,423 $43,956 $29,360 $15,998 1985 $108,134 $58,883 $46,322 $30,928 $16,688 1986 $118,818 $62,377 $48,656 $32,242 $17,302 The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 $139,289 $68,414 $52,921 $33,983 $17,768 1988 $157,136 $72,735 $55,437 $35,398 $18,367 1989 $163,869 $76,933 $58,263 $36,839 $18,993 1990 $167,421 $79,064 $60,287 $38,080 $19,767 1991 $170,139 $81,720 $61,944 $38,929 $20,097 1992 $181,904 $85,103 $64,457 $40,378 $20,803 1993 $185,715 $87,386 $66,077 $41,210 $21,179 1994 $195,726 $91,226 $68,753 $42,742 $21,802 1995 $209,406 $96,221 $72,094 $44,207 $22,344 1996 $227,546 $101,141 $74,986 $45,757 $23,174 1997 $250,736 $108,048 $79,212 $48,173 $24,393 1998 $269,496 $114,729 $83,220 $50,607 $25,491 1999 $293,415 $120,846 $87,682 $52,965 $26,415 2000 $313,469 $128,336 $92,144 $55,225 $27,682 The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 $1,393,718 $306,635 $132,082 $96,151 $59,026 $31,418 2002 $1,245,352 $296,194 $130,750 $95,699 $59,066 $31,299 2003 $1,317,088 $305,939 $133,741 $97,470 $59,896 $31,447 2004 $1,617,918 $339,993 $140,758 $101,838 $62,794 $32,622 2005 $1,938,175 $379,261 $149,216 $106,864 $64,821 $33,484 2006 $2,124,625 $402,603 $157,390 $112,016 $67,291 $34,417 2007 $2,251,017 $426,439 $164,883 $116,396 $69,559 $35,541 2008 $1,867,652 $392,513 $163,512 $116,813 $69,813 $35,340 2009 $1,469,393 $351,968 $157,342 $114,181 $68,216 $34,156 2010 $1,634,386 $369,691 $161,579 $116,623 $69,126 $34,338 2011 $1,717,675 $388,905 $167,728 $120,136 $70,492 $34,823 2012 $2,161,175 $434,682 $175,817 $125,195 $73,354 $36,055 2013 $1,860,848 $428,713 $179,760 $127,695 $74,955 $36,841 2014 $2,136,762 $465,626 $188,996 $133,445 $77,714 $38,173 2015 $2,220,264 $480,930 $195,778 $138,031 $79,655 $39,275 Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Year Total Top 0.1% Top 1% Top 5% Between 5% & 10% Top 10% Between 10% & 25% Top 25% Between 25% & 50% Top 50% Bottom 50% Table 8. Average Tax Rate, 1980–2015 (Percent of AGI Paid in Income Taxes) Source: Internal Revenue Service. 1980 15.31% 34.47% 26.85% 17.13% 23.49% 14.80% 19.72% 11.91% 17.29% 6.10% 1981 15.76% 33.37% 26.59% 18.16% 23.64% 15.53% 20.11% 12.48% 17.73% 6.62% 1982 14.72% 31.43% 25.05% 16.61% 22.17% 14.35% 18.79% 11.63% 16.57% 6.10% 1983 13.79% 30.18% 23.64% 15.54% 20.91% 13.20% 17.62% 10.76% 15.52% 5.66% 1984 13.68% 29.92% 23.42% 15.57% 20.81% 12.90% 17.47% 10.48% 15.35% 5.77% 1985 13.73% 29.86% 23.50% 15.69% 20.93% 12.83% 17.55% 10.41% 15.41% 5.70% 1986 14.54% 33.13% 25.68% 15.99% 22.64% 12.97% 18.72% 10.48% 16.32% 5.63% The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 1987 13.12% 26.41% 22.10% 14.43% 19.77% 11.71% 16.61% 9.45% 14.60% 5.09% 1988 13.21% 24.04% 21.14% 14.07% 19.18% 11.82% 16.47% 9.60% 14.64% 5.06% 1989 13.12% 23.34% 20.71% 13.93% 18.77% 12.08% 16.27% 9.77% 14.53% 5.11% 1990 12.95% 23.25% 20.46% 13.63% 18.50% 12.01% 16.06% 9.73% 14.36% 5.01% 1991 12.75% 24.37% 20.62% 13.96% 18.63% 11.57% 15.93% 9.55% 14.20% 4.62% 1992 12.94% 25.05% 21.19% 13.99% 19.13% 11.39% 16.25% 9.42% 14.44% 4.39% 1993 13.32% 28.01% 22.71% 14.01% 20.20% 11.40% 16.90% 9.37% 14.90% 4.29% 1994 13.50% 28.23% 23.04% 14.20% 20.48% 11.57% 17.15% 9.42% 15.11% 4.32% 1995 13.86% 28.73% 23.53% 14.46% 20.97% 11.71% 17.58% 9.43% 15.47% 4.39% 1996 14.34% 28.87% 24.07% 14.74% 21.55% 11.86% 18.12% 9.53% 15.96% 4.40% 1997 14.48% 27.64% 23.62% 14.87% 21.36% 12.04% 18.18% 9.63% 16.09% 4.48% 1998 14.42% 27.12% 23.63% 14.79% 21.42% 11.63% 18.16% 9.12% 16.00% 4.44% 1999 14.85% 27.53% 24.18% 15.06% 21.98% 11.76% 18.66% 9.12% 16.43% 4.48% 2000 15.26% 27.45% 24.42% 15.48% 22.34% 12.04% 19.09% 9.28% 16.86% 4.60% The IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable 2001 14.47% 28.17% 27.60% 23.91% 15.20% 21.68% 11.87% 18.35% 9.20% 16.08% 4.92% 2002 13.28% 28.48% 27.37% 23.17% 14.15% 20.76% 10.70% 17.23% 8.00% 14.87% 3.86% 2003 12.11% 24.60% 24.38% 20.92% 12.46% 18.70% 9.69% 15.57% 7.41% 13.53% 3.49% 2004 12.31% 23.06% 23.52% 20.83% 12.53% 18.80% 9.41% 15.71% 7.27% 13.68% 3.53% 2005 12.65% 22.48% 23.15% 20.93% 12.61% 19.03% 9.45% 16.04% 7.18% 14.01% 3.51% 2006 12.80% 21.94% 22.80% 20.80% 12.84% 19.02% 9.52% 16.12% 7.22% 14.12% 3.51% 2007 12.90% 21.42% 22.46% 20.66% 12.92% 18.96% 9.61% 16.16% 7.27% 14.19% 3.56% 2008 12.54% 22.67% 23.29% 20.83% 12.66% 18.87% 9.45% 15.85% 6.97% 13.79% 3.26% 2009 11.39% 24.28% 24.05% 20.59% 11.53% 18.19% 8.36% 14.81% 5.76% 12.61% 2.35% 2010 11.81% 22.84% 23.39% 20.64% 11.98% 18.46% 8.70% 15.22% 6.01% 13.06% 2.37% 2011 12.54% 22.82% 23.50% 20.89% 12.83% 18.85% 9.70% 15.82% 6.98% 13.76% 3.13% 2012 13.11% 21.67% 22.83% 20.97% 13.33% 19.21% 9.96% 16.35% 7.21% 14.33% 3.28% 2013 13.64% 27.91% 27.08% 23.20% 13.40% 20.75% 10.11% 17.28% 7.31% 14.98% 3.30% 2014 14.16% 27.67% 27.16% 23.61% 13.73% 21.25% 10.37% 17.83% 7.48% 15.52% 3.45% 2015 14.34% 27.44% 27.10% 23.68% 13.99% 21.37% 10.62% 18.00% 7.67% 15.71% 3.59%

[1] Internal Revenue Service, “SOI Tax Stats – Individual Income Tax Rates and Tax Shares,” http://www.irs.gov/uac/SOI-Tax-Stats-Individual-Income-Tax-Rates-and-Tax-Shares.

[2] See Congressional Budget Office, The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2017 to 2027, January 2017, https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/reports/52370-outlook.pdf.

[3] See Internal Revenue Service, “SOI Tax Stats, Table 1.4: All Returns: Sources of Income, Adjustments, and Tax Items,” https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-individual-income-tax-returns-publication-1304-complete-report.

[4] “Average income tax rate” is defined here as income taxes paid divided by adjusted gross income.