Triple A, cap gains are taxed at 20% for AMT:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/Taxshelters/P33512.asp
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/Taxshelters/P33512.asp
Quote from minmike:
I understand that the IRS won't see the money. He is playing by the rules that exist today. And saying that we should change the rules.
That the federal government is inefficeint was never the question.
Last and not least. He would NEVER have to pay taxes on that money. Whomever inherited it would. Teh whole tax liability is on the recieving end. All this other stuff you are writing has nothing to do with what I said.
Quote from neophyte321:
"change the rules" ... ie; raise taxes only after he is past is taxable years, and has avoided paying billions in estate taxes by donating the money to professional money handlers contributing to most-likely ideologically driven groups.
hey I applaud the man, I wouldn't want half my life's work squandered by bureaucrats either, but it is somewhat inconsistent and perhaps even disingenious for him to call for RAISING TAXES never-the-less.
Don't worry boys and girls, you think taxes are low now, just wait awhile, it's going to get really, really ugly soon.
Quote from FightTheFuture:
Now that I am so close to the end of my career and have made $52 Billion, it's only fair that you may now tax me at the same rate as my secretary.
I could have voluntarily helped pay off the "public" debt with my $52 Billion, but I'll leave that up to those families that are working hard to accumulate wealth with the intention of being self-sufficient and not having to rely on assistance.
I admit it will be even harder for the young folks to accumulate a bit of wealth with the higher taxes that I'm proposing, but screw them, I've got mine.
hey I applaud the man, I wouldn't want half my life's work squandered by bureaucrats either, but it is somewhat inconsistent and perhaps even disingenious for him to call for RAISING TAXES never-the-less.
it will be even harder for the young folks to accumulate a bit of wealth with the higher taxes that I'm proposing
Why not grow a wealthier nation?
The best way to eliminate poverty is for each generation to be able to accumulate wealth by lower taxes and include the previous generation's wealth to be built upon.
Quote from Capablanca:
I have to wonder if you understand what taxes are for. The raison d'etre of taxes is to raise the standard of living of everyone. It helps in the redistribution of wealth and thus power and allows for a more equitable playing field promoting social stability and social mobility.
Are you aware of the potential consequences of excessive concentrations of wealth in a society?
Quote from ratboy88:
spoken like a good little marxist. please source this for us. where is this stated in the constitution or the "dec of ind" that this is the reason for taxes?
personally i want to live in a land of the free. i know that sounds like a militia thought these days... in fact having a pocket constitution is considered al quaeda almost, police think you are some kind of "terrist."
Quote from ratboy88:
bloomberg is a legitimate candidate? Ron Paul is what?
im not saying buffet isnt smart and a good investor... but why is he silent as his good friend patrick byrne watches his company terrorized by the naked shorting mafia? do you have any clue what this is going to do to the american people and the stock market?
and no offense... anyone that supports hillary has to be the most politically un-savvy or a sell out scumbag.
go sell your new age tripe somewhere else. you and the fake Jesus "I AM" clown crack me up... go read the secret again.
Quote from Capablanca:
Astonishing how people can come up with arguments against Buffett's position that end up by maligning him. Truly remarkable.
Was he calling for the raising of taxes? He seemed to be pointing out the flawed logic of scrapping the estate tax. Are most of the people here members of the 12000 estates affected?
Young folks starting out are more likely to come from the 30 million poor families.
I have to wonder if you understand what taxes are for. The raison d'etre of taxes is to raise the standard of living of everyone. It helps in the redistribution of wealth and thus power and allows for a more equitable playing field promoting social stability and social mobility.
Are you aware of the potential consequences of excessive concentrations of wealth in a society?
There are places in the world where in essence there is in effect little to no tax. I don't think many of those places are places you'd actually want to have been born in to a poor family.
Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
Buffett is the financial world's equivalent of John Edwards, a transparent hypocrite lecturing others about their lack of morality even as he lives a life of privilege funded in part by taking advantage of every tax dodge available. If Buffett was calling only for people with his wealth to be taxed more, it would be different. Instead, he uses his own wealth as an example, knowing that the people who will end up paying the taxes he proposes will not be the super rich but those who aspire to the american dream. His liberal democrat pol's consider anyone making more than a schoolteacher's salary to be "rich" and deserving of higher taxes. If Buffett thinks his own tax status is such a disgrace, I would think the moral thing to do would be for him to pay what he thinks is appropriate to the government and forego all his tax avoidance schemes. I'm not holding my breath.
As for your conclusion that the purpose of the tax system is to redistribute wealth, I have to agree with ratboy. The purpose of taxes is to fund the essential functions of government. A rational tax system will do that in a way that imposes the least possible damage on the economy. Redistribution schemes do the opposite. They punish success and reward sloth, creating incentives for less of the former and more of the latter. For some reason, liberals never seem to learn that.