Bezos Proposes Zero Income Tax for Low Earners

"The bottom half of taxpayers currently contribute 3% of all tax revenue. It should be zero."
— Jeff Bezos, CNBC Interview

The Proposal

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has proposed that low-earning individuals in the United States should pay zero income tax. In a CNBC interview, Bezos argued that the bottom half of taxpayers currently contribute just 3% of all tax revenue, and suggested eliminating that contribution entirely.

The Examples

Bezos highlighted specific cases to illustrate his point:

• A nurse in Queens earning $75,000 annually pays over $1,000 per month in taxes—money, he argued, that could instead go toward rent or groceries.
• An Amazon worker in New York earning roughly $50,000 faces taxation that Bezos called "absurd."

"Taxation on such income is absurd."
— Jeff Bezos

Economic Context

Bezos described the US economy in 2026 as "a tale of two economies," referencing a K-shaped recovery where wealthy individuals benefit while others struggle with inflation and rising costs.

Bezos' Own Tax History

• Net worth: Approximately $279 billion, primarily from an 8% stake in Amazon
• Notable tax record: ProPublica reported in 2021 that Bezos paid no federal income tax in 2007 and 2011
• On his own taxes: Bezos stated that even doubling his taxes would not significantly help lower-income individuals

Background and Context

Bezos' comments arrive amid debate over a proposed California billionaire tax, aimed at offsetting federal health service cuts.

Median annual wage for registered nurses in the New York area: ~$120,000
Median annual wage for vocational nurses in the New York area: ~$75,000
— Bureau of Labor Statistics