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Buffett says wealthy Americans are 'definitely undertaxed'

Published 02/25/2019, 08:42 AM
Updated 02/25/2019, 08:42 AM
© Reuters. Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, gestures while playing bridge as part of the company annual meeting weekend in Omaha

(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said on Monday that the wealthy, including himself, are not paying enough taxes.

"The wealthy are definitely undertaxed relative to the general population," Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKa) Inc, told CNBC television on Monday.

"As we get more specialized, the rich will get richer," he continued. "The question is: 'How do you take care of a guy who is a wonderful citizen whose father died in Normandy and just doesn't have market skills?' I think the income tax credit is the best way to address that."

"That probably means more taxes for guys like me, and I'm fine with it," he said.

Buffett, 88, spoke after Charlie Munger, his 95-year-old business partner and Berkshire vice chairman, told CNBC earlier this month that states like California and Connecticut have been "stupid" for driving rich people away.

After regaining control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections, some Democratic lawmakers have been calling for higher taxes on the wealthy.

They include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York City, who has proposed a 70 percent marginal tax on incomes over $10 million to bridge the growing wealth gap between the rich and poor.

Latest comments

what would this mean for the american economy if the tax rates reversed? dont you think the economy would have a sudden drop before a steady rise. Because obviously the rich are gonna sell the USD due to tax increase. The reverse is good for the country, which is shown by a steady economic rise and balance. this rise could infact be exponetial compared to the previous economic rise power because the poor and exponetially more than the rich.Rich people paying tax mean greater exponential better opportunities for the poor or middle class because the reacher person's tax is now exponentially greater than the poorer persons'. also not forgetting the fact that everybody pays tax. This would be a definite win for americas' economy.
Well according to Larry Kudlow: Top 1% earners pay 37% of Federal tax take.Top 5% pay 60%.Top 10% pay 70%.Top 25% pay 87% of Federal tax take.Why should they pay more when it is obvious they are bearing most of the tax burden anyway. Obviously money is being wasted elsewhere such as, big government and processing illegal aliens. Build the wall. MAGA.
So says the guy who made billions backing his companies for stock buybacks rather than investing in higher wages and productivity and accepts the wage/compensation gap between CEOs and executive suites versus rank and file workers.
I would be ok with this as long as the money does not get used on useless research such as how an cellphone app affect people's feelings. As we all know more tax does not mean better changes for the future.
Trump has been costing the US taxpayer $30 million for security detail and trips to his golfing retreat.
He personally can write a check and give more money to the US Treasury.
No amount of tax will ever pay off the enormous debt. Govt us bankrupt. Why give them more money.
Instead of taxing them and give the money to the Govt, have them get credit for investing in infrastructure. Govt does not need more money to play with. They are horrible with financing.
Agreed.
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