Jeff Bezos called for eliminating federal income taxes for lower-income Americans, arguing in an interview that the burden on working households contributes little to government revenue while adding financial strain amid rising living costs.
Bezos told said CNBC that the bottom half of U.S. earners should pay “zero” federal income tax, noting that they currently contribute only a small share of total federal tax revenues compared with top-income households.
“I don’t think it should be 3%; I think it should be zero,” Bezos said, referring to estimates that the bottom half of taxpayers account for roughly 3% of federal income tax collections, while the top 1% contribute close to 40%.
Using the example of a healthcare worker earning about $75,000 annually, Bezos argued that Washington should reduce the financial burden on working Americans rather than collect taxes from them.
Jeff Bezos said the bottom half of Americans should pay zero federal income tax.
He cited a nurse in Queens making ~$75K and paying ~$12K in taxes saying “we shouldn’t be asking this nurse in Queens to send money to Washington.” pic.twitter.com/8KSgrO5TnE
— Shay Boloor (@StockSavvyShay) May 20, 2026
“We shouldn’t be asking this nurse in Queens to send money to Washington,” he said.
Bezos did not outline a specific legislative proposal but said he would support efforts to exempt lower-income households from federal income taxes.
His remarks come as lawmakers in Washington debate competing approaches to tax reform. Senator Cory Booker has proposed legislation that would exempt the first $75,000 of household income from federal taxation, while several Democratic-led states continue exploring higher taxes on wealthy residents and billionaires.
Tax analysts also note that many lower-income households already pay little or no federal income tax after credits are applied, although payroll taxes and inflation continue to weigh heavily on working Americans.
The comments also reflect growing concerns over what economists describe as a “K-shaped” economy, in which higher-income Americans continue to benefit from rising asset prices and wage growth while lower- and middle-income households face mounting affordability pressures.
“I think it’s a tale of two economies,” Bezos said. “Some people are doing very well, while many others are struggling., Je
Huma Nisar is Associate Editor at Views and News. She also writes opinion articles on health, society and diet.
