Tax Returns - The Taxes of the McCains and the Obamas under the Bush Tax Cuts and their Own Tax Plans - Summary

Sep 19, 2026

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Analysis compares the McCain and Obama couples’ reported 2006 tax returns with projected outcomes under Bush-era tax cuts and each candidate’s stated tax plan. Using summarized figures for how much taxes were saved, it estimates the impact of full phase-in, the value of making cuts permanent, and the difference in tax liabilities under competing proposals. It also contextualizes the cuts’ distribution among income groups and explains why case examples are valuable beyond aggregate statistics.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Tax Cuts Since 2000 (as of 2006)

Phase-In and Candidate-Specific Plans

Introduction

Policy Context and Income Distribution

Why Use Real Tax Returns

The McCain and Obama Tax Returns The Taxes of the McCains and the Obamas under the Bush Tax Cuts and their Own Tax Plans By Michael Ettlinger June 19, 2008 Summary With new calls to make them permanent before they expire in 2010, the Bush tax cuts are once again a topic in Congress. As with most well-off people since 2000 John and Cindy McCain and Barack and Michelle Obama have seen substantial tax cuts. With the availability of these couples’ 2006 tax returns, we can calculate how much they have saved and how much they would save under their own tax plans. The numbers below are based on their 2006 tax returns; if they earn more or less in the future, their benefit would of course change. The Mccains The ObaMas | 1.Tax Cuts Since 2000 (as of 2006) | $313,413 | $38,169 | | --- | --- | --- | | 2. Tax Cuts Fully Effective | $361,830 | $47,082 | | 3. Tax Cuts Under President McCain | $373,429 | $49,392 | | 4. Tax Cuts Under President Obama | $5,641 | $6,124 | | 5. Additional Cuts Under McCain over Obama | $367,788 | $43,268 | Line 1: This is how much the candidates saved on their 2006 tax returns because of the Bush tax cuts. His tax cuts were not fully phased in at this point (the removal of limitations on the deductions and exemptions for high-income taxpayers had not been fully implemented) . So, in 2006, the McCains made $313,413 because of the Bush tax cuts. The Obamas made $38,169 . Line 2: This is how much the candidates save with the Bush tax cuts fully phased-in—scheduled in law for 2010. The McCains would pay $361,830 less in tax, the Obamas $47,082 . Line 3: This is how much the candidates would save from the McCain plan as compared to tax law in 2000. In other words, this is the value of allowing the Bush tax cuts to become fully effective and become permanent, and also providing the added tax relief that McCain seeks (like repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax) . The McCains would save $373,429 under his plan and the Obamas would save $49,392 . Line 4: This is how much the candidates would save from the Obama plan as compared to tax law in 2000. It appears that by preserving provisions that primarily benefit those making less than $250,000, he preserves tax breaks for both himself and his wife, and McCain and his wife, to the extent those provisions also apply to higher-income taxpayers. [w w w . a m e r i c a n p r o g r e s s a c t i o n . o r g](w w w . a m e r i c a n p r o g r e s s a c t i o n . o r g) J U N E 2 0 0 8 Line 5: This is the difference between the candidates’ tax liabilities under their two plans. McCain’s plan would give him $367,788 more in tax breaks than Obama’s plan. The Obamas would save more under McCain’s plan as well—$43,268 . Introduction The temporary tax cuts passed early in President Bush’s presidency are again a hot topic as members of Congress—most prominently Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the presumptive Republican nominee for president—call for them to be made permanent (they are currently set to expire in 2010) . The fact that these tax cuts have been a boon to the wealthy is, of course, no secret. When fully phased in, over half of the tax breaks go to the richest 1 percent of taxpayers and over 70 percent go to the best-off 20 percent. Only 15 percent of the tax cuts go to the bottom 60 percent of taxpayers.1 These statistics are informative, but it’s also good to have examples of the impact of the Bush tax cuts on real taxpayers, and the consequences of making them permanent—in particular, examples of real live wealthy people whose tax returns can be dissected to discern how the various provisions of the Bush tax legislation affected their tax liability. Generally speaking, well-off taxpayers aren’t, however, inclined to let anyone see their tax returns, which is why we’re often left with just the bare statistics. Fortunately, however, two prominent married couples have recently revealed a great deal of information from their tax returns: John and Ci

FAQs

What purpose does the summary serve in this analysis?

It links the candidates’ 2006 tax return figures to projected savings under the Bush tax cuts and under McCain’s and Obama’s own tax plans.

How does the document estimate savings under the Bush tax cuts when fully phased in?

It uses the reported 2006 returns and compares the amount taxes would be reduced to a fully effective phase-in scenario, including scheduled implementation by 2010.

Why are the McCain and Obama couples’ tax returns considered useful examples?

The document argues that wealthy taxpayers generally do not let others see their returns, so the disclosed returns provide concrete evidence for tracing how specific provisions affected tax liability.

Sep 19, 2026

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