[Mike-o-Matic]

>> My only recourse around this is to shelter a lot of
>> gross income in tax-deferred retirement accounts.

Grand, ain't it? But of course, "tax-deferred" ain't the same as "tax exempt" so you'll be paying it eventually anyway.

>>I’m a pass-through sole proprietor and I have to pay
>>both ends of social security. My effective tax rate is
>>substantially higher than most corporations.

Yep, as well as Mediscare. I agree with you 100%, it's inherently harmful and punitive to small business owners... the backbone of American commerce. But I guess small business doesn't have (or rather, can't afford) the right lobbyists.

[NohSpinZone]

I’d need to see what doubling the standard deduction would do to the bottom line but lowering the rate to 25% doesn’t do jack ultimately, especially if the state and local deduction goes away for the full-year (personal) filing. Not sure but it’s not the home run plan I was hoping for so far.