Tax Policy Center

Fiscal Facts

February 11, 2019
Federal Tax Liability of Top 1% of Households
Fact: 
The share of federal taxes borne by the top 1% of households by income has nearly doubled from 14% in 1979 to 26% in 2015. This increase mostly reflects a growth in their share of total before-tax income, which has increased from 9% in 1979 to almost 17% in 2015.