Wealthy Californians Keep Paying More in Taxes

The tax numbers are in for the state of California and all signs point to the wealthy paying more than their fair share. With tax day now behind us it’s a key time to take a closer look into the real numbers in the Golden state, especially since income taxes account for more than 65 percent of the state’s revenue in the current budget year.
According to the latest number from the Franchise Tax Board, almost 90 percent of that tax revenue comes from just 20 percent of the taxpayers; those who make $91,000 or more. Taxpayers in that income range are the only taxpayers who have seen an average income increase during the past two years.
Meantime, the top 1 percent of taxpayers, those with an adjusted gross income of at least $501,000 paid close to half – 45 percent – of all state income tax revenue. Taxpayers in this bracket reported an average AGI of $1.6 million in 2013, which is nearly double the amount of the average AGI in 1994. Meanwhile, all other income brackets have seen a decline in their average AGI.
So what does all this mean for the state budget? The governor’s spending plan now expects that income tax revenue will be higher than what lawmakers originally expected when they passed the budget last year. However, that is not due to overall income growth, but rather because they expect higher-income taxpayers to see their income increase even more, which means they will pay higher marginal tax rates.
Don’t Let These Common Misunderstood Tax Facts Hurt You
Don’t let these common misunderstood tax facts hurt you. So how much do you know about taxes? Or more importantly, how much do you think you know? There are a lot of tax facts out there, and just as many tax misconceptions. Unless you’re a tax professional, chances are there are a lot…
Traveling Abroad? Try These Top Global Breakfasts
Traveling Abroad? Try These Top Global Breakfasts Anyone hungry for breakfast yet? As a high net worth individual you most likely spend a lot of time traveling, for both business and pleasure. One thing that many people love about traveling to foreign countries is all the new types of cultural experiences they get to have,…
It’s Time to Start Preparing for Your 2017 Taxes
The tax season is officially over for most people, and by now many taxpayers have already put their refund to good use. However, while almost everyone would rather not think about taxes for the next 10 months, or so, the fact is, this is a good time to start looking at next year’s taxes.…
These Situations Could Lead to a Higher Tax Bill This Year
Unless you’ve filed for an extension then the tax deadline is officially upon us. That means you need to get your taxes in pronto, if you still haven’t. While most people hate doing their taxes, they do enjoy the typical reward after the hard work is all done: a nice refund check. However, there…