During 2015, the Smiths and the Joneses both filed joint tax returns. For the tax year ended December 31, 2015, the Smiths' taxable income was S 130,000, and the Joneses had total taxable income of $65,000.

a. Using the federal tax rates given in Table 1.2 for married couples filing joint returns, calculate the taxes for both the Smiths and the Joneses.

b. Calculate and compare the ratio of the Smiths' to the Joneses' taxable income and the ratio of the Smiths' to the Joneses' taxes. What does this demonstrate about the federal income tax structure?

Single:

Taxable Income	Tax Rate
$0 to $9,075	10%
$9,076 to $36,900	$907.50 plus 15% of the amount over $9,075
$36,901 to $89,350	$5,081.25 plus 25% of the amount over $36,900
$89,351 to $186,350	$18,193.75 plus 28% of the amount over $89,350
$186,351 to $405,100	$45,353.75 plus 33% of the amount over $186,350
$405,101 to $406,750	$117,541.25 plus 35% of the amount over $405,100
$406,751 or more	$118,118.75 plus 39.6% of the amount over $406,750

Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widow(er):

Taxable Income	Tax Rate
$0 to $18,150	10%
$18,151 to $73,800	$1,815 plus 15% of the amount over $18,150
$73,801 to $148,850	$10,162.50 plus 25% of the amount over $73,800
$148,851 to $226,850	$28,925 plus 28% of the amount over $148,850
$226,851 to $405,100	$50,765 plus 33% of the amount over $226,850
$405,101 to $457,600	$109,587.50 plus 35% of the amount over $405,100
$457,601 or more	$127,962.50 plus 39.6% of the amount over $457,600