First off, if you know how to use something and plugged in the proper numbers (per your individual situation) you have used the calculator correctly.
By the way, I have said the Fair Tax is a good idea; however, anyone who can deduct a boatload of their gross income through tax deductions (in my case 48.5 cents per mile) is put at a disadvatage.
Originally in the early nineties, the idea was the Fair Tax was supposed to be around 13-15 percent—without the tabular rebating/adjustments, etc. Under my situation (caluculating with my figures again) my tax rate was 17.2 versus the (rebated) Fair Tax rate of 18.7 percent.
The idea of the Fair Tax is brilliant, but (the present 23 percent) the proposed execution isn’t. The rate is too high—that’s the only problem.
I do also realize (unlike most) that everything you buy is taxed from both sides—i.e. your utilities, doctors appointments, driver’s licenses, automobiles...everything. So I am well versed on the idea of the Fair Tax.
The only problem I have is that I was told of “my ignornce” when I know that I am absolutely correct, but opinions are like, well, yo get the idea. I have to give you credit for your last paragraph because (at least) it seems you are a somewhat willing to take this further—which is fine.
In conclusion, I am on the same side of this issue as your are, but it would be better if a few things were tweeked. This is because there are very few things that are perfect (and certainly not ME), especially with the preconditioning that has been taking place since 1933—the one-percent “income-tax.” Also, (and this might sound weird to you) I’m not sorry of the things I have said, but I am sorry I had to do it. The only thing I ask is that you think the Fair Tax is a perfect idea, because it’s not—it’s only a great idea. :)
You’ll never see me use that word with respect to ANY tax system. They are all flawed. It happens, though, that the FairTax is far less so that any other I have even investigated in depth.
And thank you for “quieting” your language down since if forced to I can cuss as well as my husband (in fact, better).
All I was trying to point out is that you possibly missed the fact that many of your “expenses” written off under the income tax were also written off under the FairTax since they amounted to business to business transactions and were not in the nature of retail consumption at all - which would greatly lower your effective FairTax rate. Those sorts of things are easy to miss since it’s quite a different concept than under the IT.
So, no, not perfect but surely massively better than what I have to do each year for three families each year (substantially different reporting for each due to the income nature) - and I’m damnably sick of it since I’m not paid to do so by the families OR the government. And, of course, there’s always the chance I’ll get embroiled in some sort of IRS related dispute putting my own finances and time at risk.