Do poor people who actually work for a living get royally screwed when it comes to paying taxes?

I've done numerous tax returns for everyone from the very poor to the very, very rich and I can say unequivocally that the poor definitely do NOT get screwed when it comes to paying for federal income taxes. Most poor people....especially those with children....in fact get more back from the IRS than they give. In essence, they not only owe no tax, but the IRS pays THEM money. I've seen this for people that have earnings above $30,000 as well, so I'm not just talking about dirt poor people. Most tax benefits (deductions, exemptions, credits) fade away as your income grows. You know that $3,300 you get to subtract per person you support...it fades away to nothing as ones income goes up. Schedule A deductions, those fade away too, but not completely. Child tax credit...gone. Education credits/deductions...sayonara. The rich clearly support the poor in this country as in most countries. Our entire tax system is a modified form of Robin Hood. The real question that should be asked is, are the rich over supporting the poor...under supporting the poor...or are supporting the poor in a reasonable way. If you see poor people sitting around with no incentive to work or make a living, then they are getting too much support. If you see poor people starving in the streets, they aren't getting enough support...IMO.

(and to respond to Sherry below and all of those people who don't understand federal tax law, we have a graduated tax system in this country. The higher your income, the higher your tax PERCENTAGE. The rich certainly don't pay 10%. The top tax rate is 35%. Someone making $10,000,000 ends up paying over $3,000,000 in taxes. That pays for a lot of child tax credit.)

Additional...after rereading your question, it looks as if you want the government to pay for your expenses. Why? What is stopping you from going out and earning a living for yourself. Hundreds of millions of Americans do just that every day. In fact, poor illegals crossing the border can earn a living picking fruit. Stop looking for handouts and go out there and make a fortune. What if Bill Gates spent all his time asking for governmental handouts instead of creating a corporate giant that make him and tons of other people rich while providing the very software you are using to read these words?

I'm not rich, but I bet you aren't really poor either. Look around you right now. I bet you are sitting in a sheltered area...probably a place you rent. I bet it is between 60 and 80 degrees in your place. I bet you have running water, electricity, a computer for goodness sake, and probably a refridgerator with food. You have internet connection to top it off. Wow, are you poor. Try visiting a truely poor area of the country and you will appriciate the things you do have.

Sorry to hear that the government system isn't providing you with any benefits. Sorry to hear that they are not keeping you safe from maurading countries, providing a stable form of currency, providing you with safeguards against food poisoning, providing you with streets and street lighting. I'm sorry the government doesn't provide you with law enforcement personal at your beck and call by simply dialing 911. I'm sorry you are not entitled to social security when you reach retirement age.

Oh, wait. You do get all these things. And for how much in federal taxes? Less than $10,000 per year? What a bargain.

No, why is it my issue that you don't have deductions that many of us can take advantage of. What, just because I own a house, have investments, etc. I don't actually work for a living? I ACTAULLY work for a living and have built "wealth" by working, saving, investing wisely. Don't be such a whiner.

You can deduct your education expenses. You can get grants and/or scholoarships too to offset your education expenses.

You CAN have investmtens. Take a little bit of money out of your check and sock it away. It doesn't matter how small-- it all adds up.

there are alot of deductions and credits for "working people". Many of those are not available to those who make more money.

your not misguided. it's the fact that the system is royally screwed up. it's like this the laws says we pay i think 10% on taxes right. so any way lets say there is this big oil tycoon who should be paying 10 million from his profit as 10% but ends up only paying 1 million not fair because a person who is struggling on everything pays that full 10% 100 dollars but the government says that that's fair because 10 million is alot but its the 10% but that would be due to the fact the guy wouldn't pay it all and you know what they all steal from each other out of the poor hard working class people who have to struggle in life to get a good home etc............... fair or not fair?. my father told me this.

You have the pell grant and loans for education. that is a start once you get the education everything else follows.