(I had initially asked this on Money.SE, but was advised this would be a better question for Politics.SE.)

I'm having a hard time understanding why corporate income taxes form such a small part of total U.S. government tax revenue. Given that corporations seem to generate most of the wealth in the United States, shouldn't they account for a larger portion of the tax base in the United States?

In 2014, individual income taxes accounted for 46%, and payroll taxes 34%, for a combined total of 80% of the tax revenue.

Corporate income tax? 11%.

From this image: , which is sourced from: President Obama Proposes 2014 Budget

(I had initially asked this on Money.SE, but was advised this would be a better question for Politics.SE.)

I'm having a hard time understanding why corporate income taxes form such a small part of total U.S. government tax revenue. Given that corporations seem to generate most of the wealth in the United States, shouldn't they account for a larger portion of the tax base in the United States?

In 2014, individual income taxes accounted for 46%, and payroll taxes 34%, for a combined total of 80% of the tax revenue.

Corporate income tax? 11%.

From this image: , which is sourced from: President Obama Proposes 2014 Budget

(I had initially asked this on Money.SE, but was advised this would be a better question for Politics.SE.)

I'm having a hard time understanding why corporate income taxes form such a small part of total U.S. government tax revenue. Given that corporations seem to generate most of the wealth in the United States, shouldn't they account for a larger portion of the tax base in the United States?

In 2014, individual income taxes accounted for 46%, and payroll taxes 34%, for a combined total of 80% of the tax revenue.

Corporate income tax? 11%.

From this image:  

(I had initially asked this on Money.SE, but was advised this would be a better question for Politics.SE.)

I'm having a hard time understanding why corporate income taxes form such a small part of total U.S. government tax revenue. Given that corporations seem to generate most of the wealth in the United States, shouldn't they account for a larger portion of the tax base in the United States?

In 2014, individual income taxes accounted for 46%, and payroll taxes 34%, for a combined total of 80% of the tax revenue.

Corporate income tax? 11%.

From this image:  , which is sourced from: President Obama Proposes 2014 Budget