Since I love facts (I eat em up) I want to get right to that and given the subject I think the facts (only the facts) is what's called for. 

There's been a lot of brouhaha when it comes to the definition of the rich.  When most people think rich they think those that make maybe $500,000 a year.  Some may think a bit less some a bit more but most think of the rich living in million dollar homes, having vacation homes and driving big fancy cars. 

That's not factual when it comes to the IRS.  They have a different definition.  Yesterday the IRS issued a Winter 2009 Bulletin (my hubby brought it home for me) and here's a sampling of what they wrote coming out of Washington:

"The Internal Revenue Service today released the winter 2009 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin, which features information on 138.4 million individual income tax returns filed for tax year 2006.  Of those returns about 93 million, or 67 percent, were taxable, which means that the taxpayer reported total income tax greater than zero.  The total number of taxable returns in tax year 2006 was up 2.4 percent from 2005.

Adusted gross income on these 93 million returns totaled more than $7.4 trillion, which was up 8.5 percent from 2005.  Total income tax on these returns totaled approximately $1 trillion, up 9.5 percent from 2005. (adjusted gross income is total income, as definied by the tax code, less statutory adjustments-primarily business, investment or certain other deductions.)

The average tax rate for taxable returns was 13.8 percent, an increase of approximately 0.2 percentage points from 2005.

Taxpayers in the top 1 percent of adjusted gross income reported adjusted gross income of at least $388,806 in tax year 2006.  This group accounted for 22.1 percent of all adjusted gross income for 2006, up 0.9 percentage points from the prior year.  This group also accounted for 39.9 percent of the total income tax reported, an increase from 39.4 percent in 2005.

Taxpayers in the top 5 percent of adjusted gross income reported adjusted gross income of at least $153,542.  This group accounted for 36.7 percent of adjusted gross income and 60.1 percent of total income tax.  "

Did you see that?  I underlined for emphasis.  First of all only 67% pay taxes.  I know many people who have incomes and pay nothing.  Granted they make under $50,000 but they pay nothing.  So it's not about not having income. 

Second of all did you see the definition of the rich?  I see those in the top 5% (and paying 60.1% of all taxes) have only to have a gross income of $153K.   That's considered rich? 

So for those out there who say the rich aren't paying their fair share.  Come on.  They are paying over 60% of ALL the taxes.  And that's just the top 5% of everyone in the country.