Sifter

Let’s see, we’re in a war, we’ve got no national health care system, our public schools are in trouble, our jobless rate is climbing and much of our national infrastructure is falling apart. The IRS is busily processing tax returns and cashing checks sent to it from working people all across the country. So we thought we’d take a look at how much of the tax burden corporations are shouldering.

% change in U.S. corporate tax receipts since 1970 -30%

% of total U.S. revenue from corporate taxes 1970 17%

% of total U.S. revenue from corporate taxes 2003 7%

% change in tax cheat convictions 1997-2003 -39%

Amount kept from states by corporate tax shelters in 2001 $12.4 billion

Amount kept from U.S. by corporate tax shelters in 2001 $70 billion

Amount kept from Calif. by corporate tax shelters in 2001 $1.3 billion

Average time IRS takes to audit a corporate return 38 months

Worst Calif. 2004 tax scofflaw Corona Aircraft Inc., owes $4,060,617