US Tax Rates (approximate) for year 2001

Single person, 15% of first $27,050; plus 27.5% of income between $27,050 and 65,550; plus 30.5% of income between $65,550 and 136,750; plus 35.5% of income between $136,750 and $297,350; plus 39.1% of anything more than $297,350.

Married filing joint return: 15% up to $45,200; plus 27.5% of amt $45,200 to $109,250; plus 30.5% of amt from $109,250 to $166,500; plus 35.5% of amt from $166,500 to $297,350; plus 39.2% of anything over $297,350.

You're allowed to deduct a personal exemption of $2,900 per person, and to deduct a few "expenses" like mortgage interest, some taxes, large medical expense, etc. before coming up with the "taxable income" on which you pay.

An average $60K "upper-middle-class" tech worker filing joint with no kids could expect to actually pay tax on something like $35K, with a total tax in the $6K to $12K range.

Then most places, there's the State income tax, and in some places a City income tax. Plus the real estate tax, vehicle tax, personal property tax, sales tax(es), etc.

The same $60K person probably pays about 41% of gross in direct taxes - but most of them don't know it.

John