Trump Tax Calculator
Compare your federal tax payment to Trump's reported taxes and see what the difference could buy
Compare Your Tax Payment
Default is $9,302 (average American federal tax in 2018)
Trump paid $750 in 2019
Tax Comparison Results
Tax Difference: $8,552
Context: Based on publicly reported tax information from news sources
Note: Trump paid $0 in federal income tax in 10 out of 15 recent years
Tax Inequality Analysis
Quick Tax Scenarios
🏪 What Your Tax Difference Could Buy
💡 These calculations show what luxury items could be purchased with the difference between your tax payment and Trump's reported taxes.
🏛️ Public Services Your Tax Difference Could Fund
🎯 These calculations show what public services could be funded if everyone paid their fair share of taxes.
📚 Understanding Tax Inequality
📊 Tax System Basics
Federal income tax is progressive, meaning higher earners should pay higher rates. However, various deductions, credits, and legal strategies can significantly reduce actual tax liability.
🏢 Business vs. Personal Taxes
Business losses can offset personal income, and real estate depreciation provides large deductions even when properties increase in value. This is legal but creates inequality.
⚖️ Policy Implications
When wealthy individuals pay minimal taxes, it shifts the burden to middle-class taxpayers and can reduce funding for public services that benefit everyone.
📰 Tax Context
Reported Facts
According to The New York Times investigation, Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017.
Average American
The average American paid $9,302 in federal income taxes in 2018, according to IRS data.
Zero Tax Years
Trump reportedly paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the 15 years preceding his presidency.
How the Wealthy Minimize Taxes
Business Losses
Offset income with reported business losses
Depreciation
Claim large depreciation deductions on assets
Complex Structures
Use sophisticated business and legal entities
Professional Help
Employ teams of tax specialists and lawyers
If you paid as little as Trump, you could splurge on...
If Trump paid the same taxes as you, the US could fund additional...
Understanding Trump's Low Tax Bill
How Can a Billionaire Pay So Little?
Wealthy individuals can minimize their tax burden through various legal strategies that aren't available to average taxpayers. These include complex business structures, strategic loss reporting, and extensive deductions.
Common Tax Strategies:
- Offsetting business losses against income
- Claiming large depreciation deductions
- Using business expenses as tax write-offs
- Complex corporate structures
- Carrying losses forward from previous years
The Tax System Reality
Trump's Reported Taxes
$750 federal income tax in 2016 & 2017
Paid $0 in 10 of 15 recent years
Average American
$9,302 federal income tax in 2018
Limited deduction options
Tax Code Complexity
75,000+ pages of tax code
Benefits high-income earners
Creative Accounting
- • Professional tax strategists
- • Complex business entities
- • International tax planning
- • Timing of income and deductions
Legal vs. Ethical
- • Most strategies are legal
- • IRS audits wealthy less frequently
- • System favors capital gains
- • Loopholes benefit the wealthy
Policy Implications
- • Calls for tax reform
- • Minimum tax proposals
- • Wealth tax discussions
- • Closing loopholes
⚖️ Important Note
This calculator is based on publicly reported tax information and is intended for educational purposes. The actual tax calculations involve complex factors not captured in this simplified comparison. Tax avoidance (legal) is different from tax evasion (illegal).
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Trump pay so little in taxes?
Trump utilized business losses, depreciation deductions, and other legal tax strategies available to wealthy individuals. His businesses reported significant losses that offset taxable income, and he claimed various business expense deductions.
Is paying minimal taxes illegal?
No, using legal deductions and strategies to minimize taxes is called tax avoidance and is perfectly legal. Tax evasion (deliberately hiding income or providing false information) is illegal, but there's no evidence Trump engaged in tax evasion in these reported cases.
Why can't regular people use these strategies?
Many advanced tax strategies require significant wealth, complex business structures, and expensive professional advisors. Regular taxpayers typically rely on standard deductions and common tax breaks like mortgage interest and charitable donations.
What about other types of taxes?
This calculator focuses on federal income tax. Wealthy individuals may pay other taxes like property taxes, state taxes, and employment taxes. However, they often have lower effective tax rates overall due to preferential treatment of capital gains and investment income.