Introduction
Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, is no stranger to controversy. He has been a topic of discussion in the media, and is seen by some as an unhinged eccentric, while others admire him. Despite his reputation as a business leader, one thing that has more recently raised eyebrows is his taxes. The question that has been posed is whether, or to what extent, Elon Musk paid his taxes for the 2020 financial year.
Background Information
In May 2021, news broke of a company owned by Elon Musk, called “Space Exploration Technologies Corporation” (SpaceX), reportedly stating on their public financial statements that they made a $678 million tax credit. The tax benefit was reported as an “accounting procedure”, as opposed to a payment made to the government. This news sparked further speculation as to whether or not Elon Musk was being selective when it comes to paying taxes.
Data
An analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in June 2021 found that the total amount of taxes paid by Elon Musk was very low compared to other wealthy Americans. They estimated that Elon Musk paid an effective federal tax rate of 4.3 basis points (0.043%) on his income for 2020. This puts his effective tax rate as one of the lowest among Forbes 400 earners.
The analysis further found that Elon Musk paid a grand total of $14 million in taxes for 2020. This was significantly less than the average taxpayer, who paid about $13,700. Furthermore, the analysis estimated that Elon Musk had saved nearly $1.1 billion in taxes since 2013.
Expert Perspectives
Several experts have weighed in on the issue of Elon Musk’s taxes. Economists like Bart Hobijn, an eminent professor of economics at Arizona State University, point to the fact that the tax system in the United States allows individuals to pay low rates on their income. They argue that this system is partially responsible for the disparity in tax burdens between wealthy individuals like Elon Musk and average taxpayers.
Tax policy experts like Alexander Rees of the Tax Policy Center also point to certain provisions in the tax code such as business tax incentives and the preferential treatment of certain types of income that allow wealthy taxpayers to pay lower tax rates.
Analysis
It is clear that Elon Musk benefited from a tax system that allows wealthy individuals to pay lower rates on their income compared to average taxpayers. The analysis conducted by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy further confirms this. Furthermore, the preferential treatment of certain types of income also allows wealthy taxpayers to pay lower tax rates than average taxpayers.
In light of this analysis, it is clear that Elon Musk has paid less taxes than average taxpayers, but he is by no means the only person who has benefited from the current tax system. Nonetheless, it is difficult to ignore the fact that the wealthy are paying less tax than the average taxpayer, which leads to questions about fairness and equity.
Effective Use of Tax Credits
Tax credits allow individuals to reduce the taxable income they are liable for, leading to lower tax liability. Elon Musk has effectively used the various business tax credits to reduce his tax liability. He has successfully taken advantage of the tax credits available, such as the Research and Development tax credit, the Alternative Minimum Tax credit, and the Capital Expenditure tax credit. These credits are not available to the average taxpayer, leading to further disparity between the wealthy taxpayers and average taxpayers.
Impact on Society
The disparity in taxation between wealthy individuals and average taxpayers has an impact on society. With lower taxes, wealthy individuals are able to retain more wealth, while average taxpayers struggle to make ends meet. This disparity can lead to increased inequality, where certain individuals have more power and influence due to their wealth, while those with lower incomes struggle to get by.
In addition, lower taxation of the wealthy leads to decreased revenue for the government, which can have a negative impact on public services. Lower revenue means that there is less money available to spend on things like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, making it difficult for these services to be provided at a high quality.
Large Companies Enjoy Tax Benefits
Large companies are able to take advantage of various tax benefits, such as deducting the cost of capital expenditures from income. This allows companies to reduce their taxable income, leading to lower tax liability. In addition, companies are often able to shelter their income in low-tax jurisdictions, further reducing their taxes. These benefits are not available to average taxpayers, once again contributing to the disparity between the wealthy and average taxpayers.
Changes to US Tax System
There have been recent calls for changes to the US tax system, in order to make it more equitable and ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. These changes could include the introduction of a wealth tax, higher taxes on dividend and capital gains, and closing of loopholes that allow wealthy individuals and corporations to pay lower taxes. These changes could help reduce the level of inequality in the US and ensure that the wealthy are paying their fair share of taxes.
Increasing Tax on Investors
One of the ways that the US government could tackle the wealth disparity and increase taxation on wealthy individuals is by increasing the tax rate on investments. By increasing the tax rate on capital gains and dividends, the government could ensure that wealthy investors are paying their fair share of taxes. This could help to reduce the wealth disparity and ensure that the wealthy are contributing their share to the economy.
Argument for Higher Taxation
The argument for higher taxation of the wealthy is based on the idea of fairness and equity. The current system is seen by some as unfair and in need of reform. There is a feeling that wealthy individuals and corporations are not paying their fair share, while average taxpayers are shouldering the burden. By increasing taxation on the wealthy, it could be argued that the burden of taxation is more evenly shared, and that everyone pays their fair share. This could help to reduce the level of inequality in the US and ensure that the wealthy are contributing their share to the economy.
