Assume you own your house -- fully paid for, no mortgage, no obligations apart from property taxes. Now assume that a comparable house in a comparable neighborhood could be rented for X dollars/month. Because you're enjoying the benefit of such a property but aren't paying rent, according to the "imputed income" fairytale you owe taxes on the X dollars/month you're not paying.
Clever, isn't it??
Yep. I want everyone who has ever resided in a rent-controlled apartment, or who ever used a coupon to buy something, to pay taxes on ALL imputed income retroactively.
Well, not exactly, if I understand your example. There are plenty of people who own their houses who do not pay "imputed income".
RE does not own the house. And I have never heard of a person being burdened with imputed income on a house that he bought and paid for as a personal residence.
Assume you own your house — fully paid for, no mortgage, no obligations apart from property taxes. Now assume that a comparable house in a comparable neighborhood could be rented for X dollars/month. Because you’re enjoying the benefit of such a property but aren’t paying rent, according to the “imputed income” fairytale you owe taxes on the X dollars/month you’re not paying.
I don’t drive my car everyday because I work at home a lot. I guess Cal could charge me the gas tax for the days, I’m not driving to work and using gas, because, lord knows, I should be.