We need a flat tax with one low rate for everyone, and no deductions for anything.
Just one low rate, and one personal exemption equal to the federal poverty rate. (about $13,000)
The truly poor would pay nothing, and everyone else would pay the same low rate on everything over poverty level.
Young/old rich/poor married/single 10 kids/none at all, the same personal exemption and the same low rate.
The whole thing would fit on a postcard.
The poor Schlub making $18,000 a year wouldn’t get screwed, most of his income would be untaxed. He would only be taxed on $6,000.
Nobody would have to worry about being bumped into a higher tax bracket, there would only be one, and that personal exemption would never go away.
And being successful would not be punished.