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A Short History on Taxation in America

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Submitted By hekmud
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In 1913, the Progressive Income Tax was passed. For those making up to $20,000 annually, only 1% was given to the government, whereas those making up to $500,000 owed 7%. Exemptions: $3000 if not married, $4000 if married, $500/kid.

Five years later, the income tax spirals out of control.

In those five years, the bottom-rate income tax rate was hiked to 4% while the top-rate was raised to 73%. As a result, the rich invested elsewhere: foreign countries, tax-exempt municipal bonds, and art, for example.

When Andrew Mellon became the 49th Treasury Secretary under President Harding in 1921, he cut the bottom and top income tax rates to 0.5% and 24%, respectively, and raised exemptions. In doing so, only 2% of Americans paid any income tax.

What happened? Tax revenue went up! (After all 73% of nothing is nothing, whereas 24% of something is something.) In 1921, tax revenue was $719 million, and by 1929, it grew to $1002 million. In fact, the national debt went down, from $24 billion to $16 billion (the surplus grew at an average of $20 per second!). The annual growth rate was 5.2%, and the lowest misery index in American history was during President Coolidge's tenure (Mellon was still Treasury Secretary and remained so until 1932): 4.3% (3.3% unemploynent plus 1% inflation).

As a result, America witnessed a boom in invention and technology. It was during this time that air conditioning, the radio, scotch tape, and the zipper were invented — things we cannot live without today. The number of people using vacuums increased, even.

What caused the Great Depression? The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the largest tax increase; an increase in the interest rate, taxes on foreign item, and retaliatory export tariffs. By impeding the free market, the economy took a drastic tumble.

When FDR came into power, he increased the income tax for those making more than

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