Elon Musk’s Tax History
Elon Musk, one of the most influential tech entrepreneurs of our time, has been paying taxes since his entrepreneurial career began. Last year, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO reported a total taxable income of $157 million and he paid roughly $68 million in taxes—a modest sum for someone whose wealth is estimated to exceed upwards of $7 billion. However, much of this income was derived from capital gains tax—which is essentially a tax on profits made from the sale of assets or investments—and it’s a form of tax that many high-earning entrepreneurs make use of.
Unfortunately, with Musk’s success comes the reality that the US federal tax code favors the wealthiest people. That being said, while Musk’s federal tax burden was significant, it wasn’t nearly as large as it could have been. Due to a variety of credits and deductions—such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Saver’s Credit—as well as exemptions available to those in the highest tax brackets, Musk was able to save millions of dollars in federal income taxes.
It’s also worth noting that Musk’s 2017 federal tax, while still substantial, was comparatively lower than in the previous year. To elaborate, he reported a total taxable income of $27,558,124 and paid $1,587,784 in taxes in 2016. This stark comparison is primarily due to the fact that in 2016, he was paid a wage from SpaceX and Tesla, whereas in 2017 his income was derived from capital gains.
This isn’t to say that Musk has completely shirked his federal tax responsibilities; he has sought the advice of legal teams to calculate exactly how much federal tax he owes and is likely to receive the largest refundable tax credit—which is an amount of money given back by the government that exceeds the taxpayer’s tax liability—on the market: The $12,570 Child Tax Credit.
Critics of the billionaire have been swift to point out the glaring discrepancy between his tax contributions and those of the average American citizen—most of whom have far fewer resources than Musk and are thus unable to take advantage of the various credits and deductions he has benefited from. Therefore, while Musk is certain to have paid a significant sum in federal taxes last year, that doesn’t make him an outlier in terms of tax obligations, but rather, an example of how some wealthier citizens are able to benefit more than their poorer counterparts under the current system.
Tax Reforms Imposed On The Wealthy
Although it appears that Elon Musk benefited from the US federal income tax structure, that doesn’t mean that he didn’t pay his fair share of taxes. In fact, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) which was signed into law in 2018, included sweeping changes to US tax policy and the wealthy among us will not be spared from its effects. TCJA includes a number of reductions in personal income tax rates for those who are in the highest tax brackets, as well as a limit on several itemized deductions that are typically utilized by the wealthy.
For instance, the new tax law limits deductibility of state and local income taxes to $10,000, which will have a major impact on individuals living in high-income tax states such as California and New York. The limit on itemized deductions also means that individuals are now limited to a $10,000 deduction for charitable contributions and a $5,000 deduction for estate taxes. In the past, these deductions have been utilized by the wealthiest taxpayers and have allowed them to reduce the amount of taxable income they are required to report to the federal government. That same limit also applies to the mortgage interest deduction.
These changes to the US tax structure will undoubtedly affect the amount of taxes Musk will be expected to pay in the coming years and, although he may not notice an extreme change in his overall tax bill, it stands to reason that his tax burden will be slightly reduced. What’s more is that, due to the TCJA, high-earning individuals such as Musk will no longer be able to take advantage of the various credits and deductions that were previously available—meaning that his overall tax liability will be significantly greater.
For most individuals, tax reform is welcomed news, but not all changes are positive. As the wealthy pay less in taxes, so too do the social programs and institutions that rely on those tax dollars to fund services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure maintenance. Therefore, while tax reform has its advantages, it’s important to consider the consequences of these changes when it comes to the long-term solvency of the nation.
Raising Taxes On High-Income Earners
Even with the TCJA in place, many argue that the wealthy should pay more in taxes. Even though the rich may toil away day and night to increase their wealth, the current tax code favors the rich and allows them to pay lower tax rates than those who are in lower tax brackets. In fact, the lower marginal tax rate is a significant part of the reason why the wealthy are able to get away with paying less than their fair share in taxes.
Therefore, some economists have suggested that the US should impose a “wealth tax” on the wealthiest citizens such as Musk. Under this proposal, citizens with a net worth of more than $1 million would be required to pay an additional tax of up to 2.5% on their net worth. This is a much higher rate than the 0.1% tax rate that the wealthiest currently pay in the US.
The idea behind the proposal is to ensure that the wealthy are paying their fair share in taxes and are not able to take full advantage of all the credits and deductions that otherwise allow them to pay lower taxes. Of course, the proposal has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some arguing that it is unfair to target the wealthy and others arguing that wealthy citizens should be doing more to support the social institutions that benefit everyone.
Normalizing Tax Rates For The Wealthy
To ensure that the wealthy are paying their fair share, one must look beyond the current tax code and examine the issue on an individual level. For example, while Musk has benefited from the current tax structure, it is also true that he has donated large amounts of money to various charitable causes and has expressed an interest in using his resources to benefit the public. For instance, Musk has pledged to donate $1 billion of his wealth to help fight climate change.
Therefore, although the US tax code does favor the wealthy, that does not mean that everyone in the highest income brackets is not doing their fair share. In fact, when it comes to taxation, everyone should be doing whatever they can to support the social institutions that their taxes fund. This could include making donations to charities that support areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure maintenance, which are all investments in the future of our nation.
In addition to supporting the social institutions, wealthy individuals can also use their resources to spur economic growth, which could potentially create jobs and increase wages for those in the lower and middle income brackets. Ultimately, it is up to every individual to decide how much they are willing to contribute to the public coffers and, for those within the highest income brackets, that number should be significant.
Tax Avoidance Strategies Of The Wealthy
Despite the fact that wealthy individuals such as Elon Musk often pay more in taxes than their peers, some members of the wealthy class do still find ways to reduce their tax burden. For instance, many wealthy individuals use trusts, offshore accounts, and other methods to minimize their taxable income. In some cases, these strategies are legal and can be used to reduce taxes without breaking any laws. However, some of these strategies may also be illegal and can land wealthy individuals in hot water with the IRS if they are discovered.
For instance, in 2017, the IRS uncovered a $13 billion offshore tax avoidance scheme which involved wealthy individuals hiding their assets in offshore accounts. This is just one of many schemes that have been uncovered in recent years and these types of schemes demonstrate just how much wealthier individuals are willing to go to reduce their tax burden. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for the IRS to uncover these types of schemes and ensure that wealthy individuals are paying their fair share in taxes.
The unfortunate reality is that tax avoidance strategies are becoming increasingly common among the wealthy, which is why it is so important to keep an eye on the wealthy to make sure that they are paying their fair share in taxes. It is also essential to understand that, in order to successfully close the income gap, everyone— regardless of income level—needs to be doing their part in terms of paying their taxes.
The Limiting Effects Of Tax Relief
It is also important to recognize that while tax relief is beneficial for those who are in the higher income brackets, it can have a limiting effect on the social programs and institutions that rely on tax dollars to fund their operations. In other words, when wealthy individuals are able to reduce their tax burden, they are also reducing the amount of money available to fund programs such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure maintenance. This can create a ripple effect, as fewer tax dollars are available for these social services, leading to fewer resources for those who need them.
Tax relief could also be used to encourage economic growth by incentivizing businesses owners to invest. This would allow businesses to invest in areas such as research and development, which can lead to job creation and growing revenues. Ultimately, while tax relief is beneficial for those in the highest income brackets, it is not without some drawbacks and must be considered when assessing the overall impacts of tax policy.
The Influence Of Politics On Taxation
Last but not least, it is important to note that the current US tax code is highly influenced by political actors. This means that politicians have significant control over the types of tax policies implemented and the amount of taxes that businesses and individuals are expected to pay. As such, wealthy individuals such as Elon Musk may be able to take advantage of the system in order to reduce their tax liabilities—but this may not always be the case, as political forces may shift and tax laws can change.
For instance, when President Barack Obama took office in 2008, he implemented tax breaks for lower and middle-income households in order to redistribute the wealth in the US. This meant that the wealthy were expected to pay more in taxes than they were in the past and many were not pleased with the new changes. Ultimately, it is highly dependent on the political climate in the US and the type of taxes that are expected of those in the highest income brackets.
At the end of the day, taxation is a complex issue and there is no easy answer. Wealthy individuals such as Elon Musk have the resources to take advantage of tax credits and deductions and to minimize their tax liabilities, but this does not make them exempt from their federal tax obligations. Ultimately, everyone—no matter their income level—is expected to do their part in contributing to the public coffers.
