For that top 1% of taxpayers, however, the maximum rate on ordinary income has increased from 35% to 39.6%, while the top rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends has increased from 15% to 20%.

FORBES: Want To Save On Taxes? Get A Divorce.

From 2001 to 2011, the report shows that the income of the poorest 20% of Brazilians increased at a rate seven times higher than that of the richest, growing by an average of 5.1% per year above inflation, compared to 0.7%.

FORBES: Getting Better To Be Poor In Brazil

Under a law passed in 1932, Franklin Roosevelt became the first president subject to the income tax, but he refused to pay an increased rate that he helped enact in 1934.

WSJ: Jay Starkman: Many Unhappy Returns��Millions of Them

Above these levels, the tax rate on ordinary income has increased from 35% in 2012 to 39.6% in 2013, making each new dollar of itemized deduction worth 39.6 cents to the donor as compared to 35 cents in years past.

FORBES: If The New Limitation On Itemized Deductions Has You Planning To Reduce Your Charitable Contributions, You're Making A Mistake

Today, even though Native Americans are still the poorest of the poor, a recent study shows that we have increased our population rate and our per-capita income more than any other ethnic group in the country during the past decade.

NPR: Native American Symbols: Eagle, Bison Reclaimed

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said it was "a Budget of missed opportunities" and abolishing the 10p starting tax rate meant income tax would be increased for many people.

BBC: NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Brown cuts basic tax rate by 2p

In fact, a study which examined smoking patterns in New York found no decline in the rate of low income smokers even as taxes increased.

FORBES: Australia Hopes To Tax Smokers Into Quitting: Would It Work Here?

Amazingly, given the fiscal pressure on governments, only one country increased its corporate income-tax rate: Lithuania, from 15% to 20%.

ECONOMIST: A World Bank report makes surprisingly cheerful reading