County Residents Rank High When It Comes to Paying State, U. S. Taxes : TAXES

According to figures just released by the state Franchise Tax Board, Orange County residents paid their fair share of state personal income taxes for 1986.

The statistical breakdown shows that although county residents accounted for 8% of the state’s population in 1986, they filed 9% of all California personal income tax returns and paid 10% of the $11.9 billion in state personal income taxes collected for the year.

The county’s share of taxes paid was higher than its share of the state’s population because the median income in the county is among the highest in California, and the tax bracket system exacts more payment for those top dollars.

By comparison, San Bernardino County, with 4% of the 1986 population, accounted for 3% of all returns and only 2% of taxes collected. And Los Angeles County, with 31% of the population, was the source of 30% of all returns but 32% of taxes paid.

The ratios should stay about the same for the 1987 tax year, officials at the franchise board said.

The state is anticipating about 13 million state tax returns for 1987, up 16% from 11.2 million returns for 1986, with a total of $15 billion in taxes paid, up 26% from 1986.

The numbers are higher because of population increases, stepped-up enforcement and collection efforts, and changes in state tax laws that will require more people to file returns, a board spokesman said.

For 1986, taxpayers in Orange County filed 951,916 state returns and paid $1.18 billion in state income taxes, placing second behind Los Angeles County in both categories.

Of the state’s 58 counties, Orange County ranked fifth in median income reported by people filing joint returns--$38,864--and seventh in median income of all taxpayers--$21,565.

First on the list for joint return median income was Marin County, at $47,680, while Contra Costa County was tops for median income of all taxpayers at $25,482.

Los Angeles County ranked 15th in median income on joint returns, at $32,382, and 24th in median income shown by all taxpayers, at $17,776.

Imperial County was at the bottom of both lists, with median income on joint filings of $17,035 and a median for all taxpayers of $12,937.

INCOME IN STATE

For Tax Year 1986

County Median Income Joint Returns 1. Marin $47,680 2. Contra Costa $43,810 3. San Mateo $43,385 4. Santa Clara $43,378 5. Orange $38,864 6. Alameda $38,039 7. Ventura $37,791 8. Solano $36,148 9. Sonoma $34,400 10. Santa Barbara $34,185

County Median Income All Taxpayers 1. Contra Costa $25,482 2. San Mateo $24,660 3. Marin $24,657 4. Santa Cruz $24,337 5. Solano $22,484 6. Ventura $21,932 7. Orange $21,565 8. Alameda $21,140 9. Placer $20,644 10. Napa $20,476

Source: State Franchise Tax Board