The claim that the rich pay little or no tax is a lie based on fake figures. In fact, 50% of earners in the United States, those earning $46,500 or less per year, pay only 2.3% of total income tax in the U.S. In contrast, the top 1%, who earn $682,500 or more, pay 45.8% of total U.S. income tax. The proportion of total income tax paid by the richest has risen massively over the past two decades. In 2001, the top 1% of earners in the United States paid a third of income tax — 20 years later they are paying almost half.

The situation is similar in Germany, where 50% of income taxpayers pay only 6.1% of income tax. In contrast, the top 1% of income earners pay 22.8% of income tax.