I've never even met Vinny and under the NRST I may actually have to prove that by keeping all those sales receipts to prove I paid the tax.
Tell, me how would you have to prove it, since as a customer you are not required to keep records or receipts, only sellers are. As a customer you are not required to file a sales tax return, only the seller is. Only the seller is liable to audits to assure his compliance.
The point being the only way a customer can be drawn into an investigation is by negotiating with ole Vinny there to evade the NRST, and Vinny snitching on your dealings with him for leniant treatment or maybe he jess wants company. Any ole Vinny in variably provides law enforcement the sufficient cause for a warrant to go looking for the contraband goods, so I suggest stay clear of him and his nefarious schemes.
I appreciate the fact that you and many others sincerely believe that the NRST will be an improvement on our current tax system. I also believe that it will not be the 'taxutopia' you all think it will be.
Actually I don't see it as a "taxutopia" at all.
Quite the contrary, I expect people to complain to high heaven about the high tax rates and start pounding on Congress Critters to stiffle the growth of government.
The problem with the current system and most proposals I have seen, the tax systems tend to hide the cost of government from large swaths of the electorate, allowing the same ole rob Peter pay Paul mentality that continues to plauge politics and or form of government.
For example, I'm well aware that the IRS would be disbanded under NRST but that is not the equivalent of eliminating those jobs.
They can always send to do boarder patrol duty I would suppose, that would be right up an IRS agents alley especially seeing that the NRST is collected on goods brought into the U.S. for consumption as well. Just the incentive to get the illegal problem under control as well ;O)
The government never fires any one.
Looking back at numerous reductions in force in past years, and the results of the Air Controller's strikes during the Reagan Administration, there are many who would disagree with that canard.
The employees of the IRS will be given different jobs and the obvious one will be as inspectors ensuring that the NRST is followed.
I suppose the State retail sales tax agencies would be a good place for some IRS agents to look for jobs, at least those not sent out on boarder patrol with customs & INS. You are aware that retail businesses are required to collect, report and remit NRST and yes the states would be the primary folks to administer and enforce those requirments.
And, if you think that burden will fall only on businesses, then let me remind you that the original income tax was not to exeed 2%, fall only upon the richest two percent, was to be a short-lived response to an emergency, etc., etc.
I expect the full burden of the NRST to fall on the customer, you know me and whoever else buys goodies and services. Why would you think it would be otherwise?
The point being we as individuals pay the whole federal tax bill today one way or another through direct incom/payroll taxes taken from us, and indirectly through higher prices, lower wages and less return on our retirement and investment accounts.
Much better to have the cost fully in the open in view of every voters perceptions than to continue the shell game that government gets away with today with half the voting population not participating in the tax system or even when the do perrceiving a net gain from income tax system in the form of EITC and similar scams.
Time to remove the blinders my friend and change the paradigm altogether, or figure on going the way of Europe and its socialist systems. That to me is where he bottomline lays.
To remove perception of the tax burdens of the individual, is to remove the goad which assures accountability of government to the electorate. Federal tax rates are high and government grows ever larger because a majority of the electorate do not perceive proportionately the burden their demand for largesse imposes on the minority of citizens.
Liberty and freedom have a price, responsibility. If the perception of burden laid by government is interfered with or avoided there are no brakes on the growth of government, the ultimate result is the end of freedom through creeping socialism.
"Tell, me how would you have to prove it, since as a customer you are not required to keep records or receipts, only sellers are."
For starters, but remember how the income tax would never exceed 2%, only hit the richest two percent, and would be ended just as soon as 'The War to End all Wars' was over?
"The point being the only way a customer can be drawn into an investigation is by negotiating with ole Vinny there to evade the NRST..."
Actually, just the possession of property or goods could be sufficient. Think tax stamps like those found on cigarettes and liquor. The pressure to avoid the NRST will be directly proportional to the NRST rates. One way to ensure compliance would be the inspection of your property. I know you don't think it could happen, but one should always be on the look-out for unforeseen consequences.
"The problem with the current system and most proposals I have seen, the tax systems tend to hide the cost of government from large swaths of the electorate, allowing the same ole rob Peter pay Paul mentality that continues to plauge politics and or form of government."
Oh, I fully agree but I do not see the NRST as the best way to achieve this objective. I think it would be quicker and simpler to just do away with the concept of payroll witholding. Require every American to sit down once a month and figure their witholding and write a check to the treasury.
Far too many people do not think they pay taxes since they get a refund at tax time. This is despite the fact that for many, their refund is a small fraction of what they actually paid. Or, just ask your typical American what they make and they'll tell you their net income, not their gross.
This system would demonstrate to Average American that they do pay taxes and just exactly how much they do pay. I would hope that such a system would immediately lead to demands for decreased spending, particularly on income transfer programs, and it might even lead to a total income tax reform, maybe even your NRST.
"Much better to have the cost fully in the open in view of every voters perceptions than to continue the shell game that government gets away with today with half the voting population not participating in the tax system or even when the do perrceiving a net gain from income tax system in the form of EITC and similar scams."
I couldn't agree more, that's why I like doing away with payroll witholding. It gets us there without the risks of totally transforming the tax system with all the 'unintended consequences'.
You see, we share much of the same objectives.