--- title: Hillary Clinton Proposes 4% Tax Increase on Super Wealthy description: Hillary Clinton proposed a 4% tax on individuals making more than $5 million a year canonical: https://time.com/4176273/hillary-clinton-tax-super-wealthy/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-01-11T23:30:11.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:47:56.256Z article:section: Politics og:title: Hillary Clinton Proposes 4% Tax on the Super Wealthy og:description: It would impact people making more than $5 million a year og:url: https://time.com/4176273/hillary-clinton-tax-super-wealthy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3c5e3b6ba3171132/698878a50a4a22e04f9c7d9f/hillary-clinton4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses supporters at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa January 11, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein - RTX21X9X og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hillary Clinton Proposes 4% Tax on the Super Wealthy twitter:description: It would impact people making more than $5 million a year twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3c5e3b6ba3171132/698878a50a4a22e04f9c7d9f/hillary-clinton4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Hillary Clinton Proposes 4% Tax on the Super Wealthy > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: TIME Raw: Clinton Addresses Bullying in Iowa Campaign Stop [Watch (HLS stream): TIME Raw: Clinton Addresses Bullying in Iowa Campaign Stop](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/VIbeQH6X.m3u8) (1:24)  _Published 2015-12-23_ by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Jan 11, 2016 11:30 PM UTC  Hillary Clinton addresses supporters at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa, on Jan. 11, 2016. Hillary Clinton addresses supporters at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa, on Jan. 11, 2016. Aaron Bernstein—Reuters by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Jan 11, 2016 11:30 PM UTC Hillary Clinton proposed a 4% tax on individuals making more than $5 million a year, following her campaign promise to tax the wealthy at higher rates to pay for federal spending. Dubbed the Fair Share Surcharge, Clinton’s plan, announced Monday, would raise approximately $150 billion over 10 years, an aide to the campaign said. The measure would affect .02% of taxpayers, according to her campaign. The 4% surcharge would be in addition to any other income tax and is intended to prevent high-income earners from avoiding taxes through other means. “It’s outrageous that multimillionaires and billionaires are allowed to play by a different set of rules than hard-working families, especially when it comes to paying their [fair share of taxes](http://time.com/4143070/hillary-clinton-tax-inversion/),” said Clinton at an organizing event in Waterloo, Iowa. **Read more:** [_Hillary Clinton’s Middle-Class Tax Pledge Divides Democrats_](http://time.com/4126685/hillary-clinton-middle-class-tax-pledge/) Clinton aims to follow the so-called Buffett Rule introduced by President Obama in 2011, which would apply a minimum tax rate of 30% on individuals making more than $1 million a year. The Buffett Rule is named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who has for years said the wealthy should pay higher taxes. Clinton has promised not to raise taxes on the middle class, which she defines as families making less than $250,000 per year. [Democrats have criticized the pledge](http://time.com/4156619/bernie-sanders-middle-class-tax-pledge/), saying it would limit the scope of a progressive agenda. Clinton counters that she can pay for expansive initiatives through tax hikes on the rich. **Read more:** [_Why Bernie Sanders’ Tax Pledge Matters_](http://time.com/4156619/bernie-sanders-middle-class-tax-pledge/) The Democratic front runner will roll out more plans this week that will raise taxes on the wealthy. ## Transcript I have asthma and occasionally I have heard people talking behind my back about not wanting to be near me because I have asthma. I mean, people, it's not contagious. [ APPLAUSE ] Has always been around, but it seems to have gotten somehow easier and more widespread because of social media and the internet. People can say something about somebody without having to look them in the eye or see them walk by And so I think we all need to be aware of the pain, and the real anguish that bullying can cause. I really do think we need more love and kindness in our country. I think we are not treating each other with the respect and the [ APPLAUSE ] And the care that we should show toward each other. And that's why it's important to stand up to bullies wherever they are, and why we shouldn't let anybody bully his way into presidency. 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