You are correct that many already pay estimated taxes without withholding but that doesn't cover the tens of millions of workers who don't nor does it touch the underground economy. The IRS police would be out in force finding and threatening those who don't comply and those who change addresses often. Threat and intimidation are the primary instruments of the government and that would by nature increase. The number of enforcers would increase dramatically by necessity and we would have more government union members whose money goes to the Democrats. I think eliminating withholding will be impossible.
There are many more reasons for changing the method of collecting taxes than revealing the amount of taxes paid. There are still many hidden taxes embedded in the system other than the income tax.
I am amazed at the furor shown by some, not you necessarily, about changing to the fair tax. At worst, granting all the misinformation and lies spread here to be true, it is still far better than the present system or any other so far proposed.
Why don't you get behind it? Be forewarned that my standard reply will be it is still far superior to what we have.
Not today, but if you eliminated withholding (or made it voluntary) it would.
...nor does it touch the underground economy...
And neither does the FairTax.
As for "policing" pay your taxes or go to jail. If one is going to engage in illegal behavior, they deserve to be punished.
While I would agree that eliminating withholding would be politically difficult, if done gradually, it's far from impossible.
...it is still far better than the present system or any other so far proposed...
Well, you are entitled to your opinion, and I to mine. I happen to disagree with your assessment. I believe, for many reasons hashed over and over again in this forum, that the FairTax will be an economic disaster (academic simulation notwithstanding.) I believe the advertised rate is artificially low, that the incentive and opportunity for evasion are far greater than advertised, that the predicted long term economic benefits will not be achieved (largely because of the short term problems the the simulations ignore) and that the worst thing we could do for entitlement reform is bury the funding in a general tax. There are more, but you get the idea.
There are still many hidden taxes embedded in the system other than the income tax.
And most of them are not eliminated by the FairTax. Only income, profit and payroll are SHIFTED to the FairTax. The rest stay hidden and are more likely to expand.
While the FairTax may make you feel good, it doesn't get at the heart of the beast: spending/entitlement reform.