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Elon Musk talks during the ' Elon Musk in Conversation with Todd Howard' Showcase panel

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He believes there shouldnt be any tax incentives and also raised questions about howincome taxesbecame the model.

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An Xpostfrom Musk indicates that DOGE has saved $51.8 billion in taxpayer dollars.

Heres how we went from 2% of households paying income taxes to most middle-class families.

Also here are top tax breaks middle-class families should take advantage of.

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This tax was enforced from 1861 to 1872.

That year, the legislative branch ratified the 16th amendment, which allowed Congress to levy income taxes.

Income taxes came as a part of The Revenue Act of 1913, which also reduced tariffs.

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Initially, only 2% of households filed income taxes.

Thestarting tax ratewas 1% on income above $3,000 in 1913 money.

After the war, the United States adjusted tax rates in 1925 to ensure that fewer people paid taxes.

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In most of the 30s, fewer than 20% of households paid income taxes.

The stakes were high and America was focused on taking down the Axis powers.

That included the tax exemption dropping to only $500 in 1942 ($9,860 in todays money).

This was the beginning of anoppressive tax system.

Theoriginal income taxwas more generous.

However, the history of the United States paints a different picture.

An emphasis on tariffs instead of an income tax can also bring the country back tolower income tax rates.

A consumption tax hits everyone equally instead of a few people having to pay more than others.

While the current tax code looks like it taxes the rich the hardest, thats hardly the case.

He was worth $18 billion at the time.

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