Do Republicans who claim to know "economics" think the working poor don't pay taxes?

Question

I'm sorry, I just came across a supposed ConRepub Expert in economics and he claims the "poor are not required to pay taxes",

I just want to know, since most of the country is catagorized as being at lower middle class and below (most are considered poor by American standards).

Why They would think that the majority working poor and working class don't pay taxes?

Answer 1

I'm guessing that the assertion was meant to refer to those below the poverty line, or whose incomes are so low that they end up paying almost no taxes based on exemptions.

Answer 2

Well, anyone fortunate enough to live in this country should pay, and most of the poor do pay taxes on electricity, phones, heating, etc. Class warfare is dividing this country, and Obama would love to put more on welfare, so those people would become dependent on the government. I am not even certain that all those who do not pay taxes are the poor. Look at GE for instance. Republicans are fighting that. We do not need a leader like caesar Chavez or Fidel Castro. We want freedom, and that is why I am a working Republican and not a Democrat with my hand out for a welfare check. What we need is to cut regulations on small businesses to hire those who need a job. Walmart is not a job for anyone raising a family. Getting an education and the desire for independence is the motivation necessary for people to succeed and gain that independence and not be under the thumb of big government. MR

Answer 3

I agree with you. There is no 0% tax bracket in America. The lowest tax bracket is 10%. So the poor (making $10,000 or less) pay a 10% income tax. Its in the tax tables, just read them.
Even Unemployment Insurance payments are taxed! Believe me I have been poor and know this to be a fact from experience.

Answer 4

There are many deductions for lower income workers that reduce the exposure to taxes. Between family deductions and possible low earning allowances many people end up getting money for nothing from the government. I know of single parents that are getting entitlement programs along with a nice refund every year. They lack the tools to earn enough to get where they need to pay taxes and also lack the initiative to better themselves. Blaming republicans for understanding reality is typical of libs that like to pretend to care about the poor. What they are really concerned about is having political appointment positions for their friends that are unable to make it in the real world.

Answer 5

The statement was not clear. It is not that they don't pay any taxes...We all pay gas taxes, sales taxes etc.... Most lower income folks do not pay income taxes or very little income tax due to their exemptions and deductions. Someone married and making 20K gets a 10, 300 standard deduction and their 3,400 for each exemption. There is not a lot of taxable income left.

Answer 6

Just about...This is correct Republican belief. For some reason they feel the upper levels of the economic layer cake pay all the taxes hen in truth it's not but try to get that through to them. Corporate America pays very little taxes compared with what middle class America's burden is.
Andrew Jackson warned against the dangers of too much corporate power saying that it raised the question of, "whether the people of the United States are to govern through representatives chosen by their unbiased suffrages, or whether the money and power of a great corporation are to be secretly exerted to influence their judgment and control their decision".

Answer 7

The poor do not live a tax free existence. They may earn too little to pay income tax, but they pay social security taxes, sales taxes, property tax, gas tax, cigarette tax (if they are foolish enough to smoke), tax on alcohol and any tax based on consumption. The neocon who made that statement is only promoting class warfare

Answer 8

my ex-wife with a income I would consider to put her above the working poor and having our 2 children as dependents and my paying her monthly child support has not paid income tax in 10 years. she does of course pay sales tax as we have no state income tax in Texas. she owns a house and a car and is certainly not considered poor. her tax returns are legitimate.

Answer 9

Poor is defined as being "below the poverty line." Working poor pay FICA involuntarily. They pay no Federal, State or local income tax, by definition.
All other taxes, such as sales tax, "sin" tax, property tax, etc... are considered avoidable.

So, yes, the working poor do pay FICA, against their will, with no means of avoiding it short of quitting work.
Even a conservative like me finds that distasteful -- if payroll tax is robbery, how much more so is it when our poorest workers are robbed?
DOWN WITH TAXES!

Answer 10

not the majority.

the poor pay taxes but sometimes some people get more than what they put in the system.

now we have those who are stuck in the middle who don't make enough to get any tax cuts and are not qualified for any tax return. those are the ones hit the hardest.

Answer 11

OMGoodness the poor pay sales tax and get everything else for "free" just like the Illegal Aliens. The Middle Class as always foots the bill.