Paying high taxes and loving it

Oak Lawn (IL) Reporter ^ | 4/15/04 | Michael M. Bates

[Mike Bates]

It's that time again. . .

[Xenalyte]

Oh, man, you're gonna get me started. I haven't done my taxes yet - I have an appointment with Jackson Hewitt this afternoon. I figure if they can get me to owing less than $500, it's a deal.

April 15 makes me wish I were allowed to carry a pitchfork all year, but something tells me my employer wouldn't countenance it.

Now I'm in a mood.

[ErnBatavia]

Michael M. Bates scores again...Goooooooal!

[2banana]

How to take care of this problem:

1. Elections must be held two days before taxes are due
2. No automatic withdraws for taxes - they must be paid in full as a lump sum
3. That lump sum needs to be cash and the taxpayer must pay the tax collector in person

[MrB]

Excellent. My plan is similar.

No withholding, make people write one check on tax day,
and tax day is on Halloween.

[Blood of Tyrants]

You want to change it? Just eliminate paycheck withholding and move election day to April 16th.

[MrB]

It's sad that you say it that way.

Election day is designated in the Constitution.
Tax day is not.

It's sad that tax day has become so ingrained in our culture that someone would suggest moving election day around it instead of the other way around.

[kevkrom]

Tax reform ping!

[Blood of Tyrants]

I said it that way because almost everyone realizes that April 16th is the day after the tax deadline. I should have said "Eliminate payroll with holding and move tax day to the day before general elections."

I fully realize that election day is mandated by the Constitution. As far as that goes, why is it on a Tuesday? Productive people have to work on Tuesdays.

[steve8714]

Elections two days after taxes are due!

[Skooz]

Do away with withholding and make "tax day" the first Monday of November.

That would do it.

[Mike Bates]

Now I'm in a mood.

Sorry. I wish I only owed those guys $500 this year.

[Mike Bates]

Too kind, Barry.

[Mike Bates]

I've been recommending a plan very similar to yours for most of the 19 years I've written a column. Gosh darn, there doesn't seem to be much support for it. What really drives me crazy (ier) is when someone who gets a refund says that he "didn't pay any taxes this year." Aargh!

[Xenalyte]

Don't ruin Halloween for me! Easter was bad enough this year, with THIS coming right after.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The average American family pays more in taxes than it spends for food, shelter and clothing combined.

Difficult to believe. I could accept it for any single one alone, but not all three combined.

[Xenalyte]

That's not what I owe, necessarily - it's just as much as I can afford to pay. I'm paying them off five or six large from two years ago.

[ancient_geezer]

A Taxreform bump for you all.

If you would like to be added to this ping list let me know.

John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a pure consumption tax:

H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Refer: http://www.fairtax.org & http://www.salestax.org

[Old Professer]

I know a thoroughbred rancher who's looking for a swamper, want me to put in a good word for you?

[Xenalyte]

If it's within Houston commute distance, I am THERE.