Federal Taxes Paid by Wealthy

* Regarding “Paying Taxes” (July 24), I can only say that I am totally confused. Are you sure you have your statistics right?

For the past six years politicians have told us that the “rich” are not paying their fair share, but according to your figures they are not only paying more than their fair share but are actually being victimized, penalized and punished for working and striving to succeed. If the top 25% income level starts at only $42,742 (filthy rich?), why should they have to pay almost 80% of all income taxes? And if the top 50% income level starts at only $21,000 (just very rich?), why should they have to pay 95% of all income tax?

Taxes have become a punishment for working and a penalty for investing savings. No wonder more and more Americans have realized that it doesn’t pay to work and it doesn’t pay to save.

J.S. BONORRIS

Los Angeles

* Your article is extremely misleading. You are comparing the adjusted gross income of the various income groups rather than the actual income.

Of course wealthy people pay significant taxes on their adjusted income. But adjusted gross income does not include municipal bond interest and income earned in all the various tax shelters used by wealthy people for the sole purpose of minimizing their taxes.

It is interesting to note that on the same day, in Bill Boyarsky’s always interesting column, he tells us that the explanation given for the very convoluted arena deal is “tax reasons.” I’m sure it’s not for the purpose of paying more taxes.

JOSEPH GRODSKY

Los Angeles