Do income tax cuts proposed in the Wisconsin state budget benefit richer people the most?
The 2023-25 Wisconsin state budget would reduce income tax rates in all brackets and taxpayers with the largest incomes would get the largest share of the $3.5 billion reduction.
The budget, approved by the Legislature, is awaiting action by Gov. Tony Evers.
The largest reduction, from 7.65% to 6.5%, is for the highest-income bracket — individuals earning over $304,170 annually.
The middle-income brackets, 5.3% and 4.65%, would both be reduced to 4.4%.
The smallest reduction, from 3.54% to 3.5%, would go to the lowest bracket: income below $13,810.
The average savings for tax year 2023 for those earning less than $100,000 a year would be $155. Those earning $1 million or more would save an average of $30,286.
Wisconsin’s rate for the top-income bracket is nation's 10th highest; its bottom-income bracket is the 14th highest rate, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy.