Just did my taxes and I feel ashamed

[hfojvt]

20. again, though, I don't see how that is possible

and I cannot find 2013 instructions right now, but EIC stops for a single, childless person at $13,950 so I am a long way from that. On the other hand, if I had even one kid, instead of three dogs, not only would I get another exemption and a $1,000 tax credit, but I would get an EIC of about $700. With two children, I'd get another exemption and another $1,000 credit and my EIC would be $2,000 or so.

Sure, your tax rate goes down as your income goes up, IF you include property taxes in the calculation. Because they are not directly tied to income. Except in the sense that higher income people usually buy more expensive houses and/or vacation houses and thus pay more in property taxes.

Even I, myself, had an extra piece of land, with a trailer, until I sold that in 2009.

And state taxes are often flat. In Kansas, for example, a person hits the top marginal rate at AGI of about $25,000.

But federal taxes keep going up as income goes up. Over $85,000 your marginal rate goes from 25% to 28%, except, of course, on dividend income, long term capital gains, and IRA earnings.

You say $113,000 though, which makes me think you are talking about FICA taxes as well. Yeah, that last $87,000 isn't subject to the 5.2% tax that lower income people pay.