
Originally Posted by
foxtrot
Answer:
SS, Medicare yes, not refundable and deducted at flat percentages. Everything else: generally they don't pay (deducted sometimes, but refunded and then some). With things like Earned Income Credit +refunds the government gives them substantially more than they ever paid in. Thus, only about 50% of the country pays any taxes at all although a higher percentage had taxes originally deducted.