Did the Obamas over pay their taxes?

May 19, 2010

Barack and Michelle Obama's first tax return as the First Family was too generous to the IRS.

That's the assessment of Dorothy A. Brown, law professor at Emory Law in Atlanta. Brown notes in an article for Tax Analysts:

The first couple earned more than $5 million and paid 32 percent in federal income taxes. When compared with their peers, they paid too much. According to the most recent IRS statistics, most households with adjusted gross incomes of at least $5 million paid only 23 percent in federal income taxes. Were the Obamas trying to single-handedly reduce the deficit by paying extra taxes they did not owe? No. Their taxes were high because of how they earned their money.

The rest of Brown's analysis is available at TaxProf Blog via an arrangement between the University of Cincinnati College of Law professor and blogger and the tax publication.

Related posts:

Want to tell your friends about this blog post?
Click the Tweet
This or Digg This
buttons
below or use the Share This icon
to
spread the word via e-mail, Facebook and other popular
applications. Thanks!

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic.

Tax Season 2026 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.

But enough about Uncle Sam’s tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y’all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.

The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.

And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions

Disasters

Family

Filing and Paying Taxes

Politics/Laws

Refunds

State Taxes

Tax Brackets/Inflation

Tax Tips

Comments