THE TAXPAYERS WHO PAY MOST

Every time tax breaks are discussed in Washington, critics immediately claim that only the rich -- who already have ways of avoiding taxes -- will benefit. But figures from the Internal Revenue Service indicate otherwise. For example:

-- Taxpayers who make over $185,790 a year are among the top 1 percent of tax filers, but they pay 29 percent of all federal income taxes, even though they earn only 14 percent of the income.

-- The top 10 percent pay 59 percent of the taxes but earn only 39 percent of the income.

-- The top 25 percent pay 79 percent of the taxes but earn only 62 percent of the income.

-- And the top half of taxpayers pay 95 percent of the taxes but earn only 85 percent of the income.