Obama's best-sellers boost family's income to $2.6m income

Barack and Michelle Obama took home a combined income of more than $2.6million last year.

The American first couple's tax returns showed they made $2,656,902 (£1,773,362) - with the majority coming from the sale of the president's best-selling books. They had to pay $855,323 in income tax, and distributed $172,050 among 37 charities.

The Obamas' income and tax figures were declared as anti-tax protesters held "tea party" demonstrations across the US, in which they hurled tea into rivers and harbours.

The demonstrations were intended to echo the 1773 Boston Tea Party, when colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbour in protest at British taxes

Organisers of the events, stoked by right-wing commentators who are criticising Mr Obama's economic recovery efforts, are angry at his perceived tax-and-spend policies.

The protests coincided with the last day for Americans to file their tax return forms.

The Obamas' income is made up largely from proceeds from the president's Dreams From My Father and The Audacity of Hope. The couple's overall take-home pay has slumped from 2007, when their combined income was $4.2million.

Vice-president Joe Biden and his wife Jill reported a pre-tax income of $269,256.