Wealthy Escape Tax, U.S. Says

WASHINGTON — Almost 30,000 couples and individuals with incomes above $250,000 paid little or no federal income tax in 1983, the Treasury Department said today. The number included 3,170 who earned more than $1 million apiece. Of the 260,275 people whose incomes exceeded $250,000, less than half--121,850--paid a tax rate of more than 20%.

The report was released by Rep. J. J. Pickle (D-Tex.), chairman of the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee. “If anybody had any doubt about the unfairness of our present tax code, these figures should convince them,” Pickle said.