Posted on 02/01/2004 6:12:04 AM PST by sarcasm
FLAT TAX, FLAT TAX, FLAT TAX.
The whole tax code sucks.
Flat round or square, doesn't change a thing. If its an income tax, the taxable income portion has to be separated from non taxable returns of capital and Congress controls those rules called deductions and allowences. The tax rate schedule is just a lookup, a flat rate on what is taxable does not make the calculations, accounting and reporting any less arduous nor less complex.
I suggest you read this before deciding the so called "Flat Tax" is such a great deal:
Flat Tax as Seen by a Tax Preparer
by Vern Hoven
If you want to really end the game, repeal all income and payroll taxes and go to pure consumption tax.
- It is fairer to tax people on what they extract from the economy, as roughly measured by their consumption, than to tax them on what they produce for the economy, as roughly measured by their income.
Such a tax does not require anything more than to pay a flat rate on a retail purchase. No individual accounting for income or expenditures or income tax returns. No IRS breathing over the backs of every family in the nation.
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
SPONSOR: Rep Linder, John (introduced 01/7/2003)
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.S.1493
Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 7/30/2003)
Title: 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 sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.Refer: http://www.fairtax.org to see what the bill's authors have to say.
I suggest you look into them.
The average taxpayer does not need to know what's in 87,000 pages of the tax code.
Hmmmm! And just how does the average taxpayer determine that with out first investigating it, and watching what comes out of Congress and treasury regulations each year that change the rules of the game?
Afterall, it one cannot properly apply any deductions applicable to them, unless they find them in the first place, or know about them when the rules change. Heck you can't even be sure last years deduction is available in this year's return unless you go back and make sure it hasn't been repealed, or the code reference changed.
How about $16,000 in medical bills that my insurance didn't cover when I hemorraghed in my 32nd week and my premature, dying daughter was rushed to a hospital that was "out of network"?
Or donations to charities and the church, which need to be thoroughly documented in the event of an audit?
Or the money we pay for my son's Bible School, which is counted as "daycare" while I'm at work?
Or the expenses my husband lays out for his job (hundreds of dollars in custom tools, steel tipped boots, etc.) that his employer will not reimburse him for - even though they are required and help him do his job more efficiently?
Or the expenses to haul everything we owned halfway across the country, to the Great State of Texas, when the cost of living in New York was too darn oppressive for middle class folks?
I know a girl who is a struggling, single mother. If she decides to go back to college, I, as a taxpayer, will foot part of her bill for full paid tuition, full daycare while she's in school, full rent, full utilities, food stamps, a transportation allowance, and medical care for her family. Her cost? $300.00 for books for the semester.
Given that I had to hit up the Bank of Mom and Dad, earned three academic scholarships, grants, and needed student loans for my last year of college, I have little sympathy when she whines about "The Government" not giving her the $300.00 for books. Or the fact that while I PAY PAY PAY every year, taxes every time I turn around of some kind, she gets MORE BACK from the system than she puts in because of tax credits, to the tune of $3,000 a year.
If you run a home-based business, watch out! You are in some serious trouble with massive paperwork!
Give me the flat tax. I may pay more, but at least I know everyone else is paying their portion, too!
Sorry I went off on a rant, TBV. It wasn't directed at you, but at the ridiculously unfair process in general.
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