Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100407/ap_on_bi_ge/us_no_taxes
STEPHEN OHLEMACHER better watch out. His bosses at AP are not going to be very happy with this story.
The bottom 40 percent, on average, make a profit from the federal income tax, meaning they get more money in tax credits than they would otherwise owe in taxes. For those people, the government sends them a payment.
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But income tax rates were lowered at every income level. The changes made it relatively easy for families of four making $50,000 to eliminate their income tax liability.
Here's how they did it, according to Deloitte Tax:
The family was entitled to a standard deduction of $11,400 and four personal exemptions of $3,650 apiece, leaving a taxable income of $24,000. The federal income tax on $24,000 is $2,769.
With two children younger than 17, the family qualified for two $1,000 child tax credits. Its Making Work Pay credit was $800 because the parents were married filing jointly.
The $2,800 in credits exceeds the $2,769 in taxes, so the family makes a $31 profit from the federal income tax. That ought to take the sting out of April 15.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100407/ap_on_bi_ge/us_no_taxes
STEPHEN OHLEMACHER better watch out. His bosses at AP are not going to be very happy with this story.