Unless you made a shitload of money I highly doubt your effective rate was 40%. The rate on the last x% of your money might have been taxed at 40% but most places have a progressive tax structure. Deductions should lower the effective rate further.
Yeah, my combined marginal federal and state rates are like 33%, my effective rate after mortgage interest and charitable deductions was like 8-9%. I'm going to try to be more like Google though.... ;)
I'm speaking for the US, by the way.