Washington, DC—As last minute filers are preparing their taxes before tomorrow’s deadline, the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) today released a brief overview of how the nation’s income tax share is distributed. Complying with the overly complex tax code costs all the nation’s taxpayers a great deal of time, frustration, and, of course, money. Today’s report describes the progressivity inherent in America’s tax system and breaks down the income tax burden borne at each income level.

According to new data from the Congressional Budget Office, the more a household earns, the more it pays in income taxes as a percentage of income. Those whose earnings are in the top 20 percent of households actually earn 46 percent of the nation's income, but pay 83 percent of the total income tax burden. Those included in the 40 percent of lower-earning households pay little or no income tax, on average, and often receive money through the income tax system in the
form of refundable credits.