[classicman]

the fact (is) that according to the Committee on Joint Taxation,
51 percent -- that is, a majority of American households -- paid no income tax in 2009. Zero. Zip. Nada. …
Actually, to show how out of whack things have gotten,
30 percent of American households actually made money from the tax system
by way of refundable tax credits -- the Earned Income Tax Credit, among others.
So 51 percent of American households paid no income tax in 2009,
but 30 percent actually made money under the current system."

Cornyn took care to refer to households that pay no "income tax," rather than suggesting that they paid no taxes at all. Many Americans who pay no income tax pay other federal taxes, most notably the payroll tax, which funds Social Security and Medicare and is deducted from every working American’s paycheck.

Some families who pay no federal income tax may be liable for state income taxes (and local property taxes, sales taxes and the like).

In addition, the richest 10 percent, 5 percent and 1 percent of taxpayers each paid significantly higher effective tax rates than Americans lower on the income spectrum.

There are enough different ways to look at the tax burden to allow all sides to pick and choose tax statistics that favor their positions.

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