It's tax time again and no doubt plenty of Wisconsin citizens are gnashing their teeth, wishing that their state tax burden were lighter. Instead of fuming, though, people really ought to try this easy, little known trick for lowering their taxes.

Just be rich to begin with!! (See the graph from the Wisconsin Budget Project on the right.)

Another easy trick? Become a big, profitable corporation. Then, in addition to being able to spend unlimited amounts of money buying politicians and political favors, one could get really remarkably favorable tax treatment.

For example, the Wisconsin Budget Project has posted the Wisconsin state income tax burden over the past five years for these major corporations based in Wisconsin:

• Rockwell Automation, based in Milwaukee: -1.0%
• Harley-Davidson, based in Milwaukee: 1.4%
• Joy Global, based in Milwaukee: 2.2%
• Bemis, based in Sheboygan Falls: 3.0%
• Kohl’s, based in Menomonee Falls: 3.6%
• Fiserve, based in Brookfield: 4.3%