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SALT LAKE CITY -- A Salt Lake City woman says despite the political rhetoric from both sides of the aisle, she and her husband are willing to pay more in taxes, even calling it her patriotic duty.
Rochelle Kaplan is in the top one percent tax bracket that would be affected by President Obama's plan to reduce the deficit.
"When this country is suffering as it is, it seems only fair that the wealthiest among us should pay their fair share. I think many people who are wealthy have no problems with that," Kaplan said.
She says it's a question of basic fairness.
"In a time of need, it makes sense that you have deficit reduction. But you have to have revenue streams," she said.
According to the Internal Revenue Service's 2008 data, the top one percent earners paid 38 percent of all income tax that year. Meanwhile, the top five percent paid 21 percent. The bottom 50 percent of all earners paid three percent of all income tax in 2008.
According to the Internal Revenue Service's 2008 data, the top one percent earners paid 38 percent of all income tax that year. Meanwhile, the top five percent paid 21 percent. The bottom 50 percent of all earners paid three percent of all income tax in 2008.
Ryan Pace, program director of the Master of Taxation Program at Weber State University, says that only half of Americans pay income tax.
"They have income low enough that they are not required to pay taxes," Pace said. But at the same time, he points out that the exemptions, exclusions and deductions allowed in the U.S. tax code can substantially lower a high earner's income.
"From a percentage of income standpoint, people who make less money may pay a higher percentage of their income," Pace said.
Kaplan argues Congress should get rid of many of those exemptions, so that the percentage is progressive and the rich pay more. And she believes she has public opinion behind her.
"Actually, most Americans feel that the rich should pay more and should pay at the rates that they have for decades, even under Reagan," Kaplan said.
During Ronald Reagan's presidency, the top one percent earners paid 50 percent of their income in taxes, according to the IRS. Today, the highest income earners pay 35 percent with the lowest earners paying 10 percent.
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