It’s Tax Season—Five Charts on Who Pays and What’s at Risk

Adam N. Michel and Joshua Loucks

As Americans file their taxes and square up with the IRS, it’s worth taking a closer look at where the federal government’s $4.9 trillion in revenue came from last year—and what it actually pays for.

Despite persistent political narratives, IRS data show that the federal tax system is not only highly progressive but has become more so over time. High-income Americans pay a disproportionately large share of federal income taxes and face the highest average rates across the entire tax code.