are regressive taxes legal 
yes tax structures where higher earners pay less proportional taxes is legal there is often fierce debate around the responsibility of the wealthy regarding how much tax they should pay however the subject is a matter of opinion as there is no legislation limiting or preventing a regressive tax system for certain types of taxes the bottom lineregressive taxes represent a tax structure where a higher burden is placed on low income individuals this is because a larger proportion of their income must go towards paying the tax a regressive tax system is opposite of a progressive tax system where the wealthier are tax more though the middle ground tax system is called a proportional tax system common forms of a regressive tax system are sales taxes or excise taxes on certain goods 