Distribution of Income by Source in 2009

Investment income (mostly dividends and capital gains taxed at a rate of 15% , and interest), is 60% of the income of the wealthiest taxpayers, according to IRS data for 2009. Business income is about 20%. Salaries and wages are about 20%. Other sources of income are insignificant for the wealthiest as a group.

Salaries and wages, taxed at rates up to 33%, are over half the income of people with incomes less than $500,000 per year. Other important sources for these taxpayers are Social Security, pensions and annuities, and business income.

Source: http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/indtaxstats/article/0,,id=134951,00.html

Favorable Taxation for the Wealthy in 2009

The United States Internal Revenue Service has released 2009 tax statistics for individuals. Persons with incomes greater than $10 million pay income tax at a lower rate (22%) than those earning between $500,000 and $10 million (24% to 26%). Also, those with incomes less than $5,000 pay a higher rate (5%) than those with incomes between $5,000 and $25,000. Patterns of taxation in 2009 were similar to 2008.