[kevkrom]

Raising the sales tax from 5% to 30% (it's not 23% the way sales taxes are calculated today) is the surest way to recreate a black market

No worse than the underground labor market right now due to income taxation. There will always be some folks who will try to cheat or game the system, regardless of what method of taxation is used.

As for retail sales, about 80% of the retail goods come from large chain stores like Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart folks aren't going to risk jail time to help you avoid paying taxes...

[HostileTerritory]

No worse than the underground labor market right now due to income taxation.

On the contrary, I would think it would be a lot worse. Which is easier to hide these days, a purchase or an income? Remember, very few Americans are paid in cash, but it is remarkably easy to convert one's paycheck or investment proceeds into cash.

The IRS exists for a reason; it enforces the income tax system. It doesn't work as well as it could, and it works at the expense of our freedom, but if you believe that the income tax laws should be observed and the money should keep flowing, the IRS does a good job.

Once the NRST goes into effect, everyone's going to be a tax dodger. You'd feel like a chump not to avoid a 30% tax when there will be opportunities left and right to buy what you need.

[HostileTerritory]

Wal-Mart will lose business to the black marketers.