Why can't we pay a flat 10% tax on our total gross income, instead of being bled dry ?

Answer 1

Because the tax code is a tool of power and under-the-table-deals for those in Congress. It's the ONLY explanation for the code which reduces productivity and WASTES tremendous time and resources each year. Furthermore, those employed by the IRS give the WRONG advice at least 25% of the time, yet they want to pretend a normal person, not fluent in gibberish, is supposed to make sense of that THING they drop on us each year.

I like the Steve Forbes flat tax of all the proposals I've seen. 17% is higher than it needs to be (we should NOT keep funding at current levels--we need to get this government back to Constitutional size, would also probably eliminate the income tax if we did). However, I'd sooner go with Forbes than keep this garbage. BTW, with HIS plan he says that just as Hong Kong does, we should allow people to file flat tax OR under the byzantine guessing game that's currently inflicted on us.

Answer 2

1. Because 10% is nowhere near enough, it would need to be around 27% to raise the same revenue as the current graduated tax.

2. If you're like the typical taxpayer, your taxes would be MUCH higher with a 27% levy unless you are VERY wealthy.

3. If you think you're being "bled dry" move to Europe. You'll pay about 50% more in taxes overall there. Income taxes are around 10% to 30% higher. The tax alone on a gallon of gas averages more than $3.00, driving pump prices to around $7 per gallon. Sales taxes (VAT) average 20%. The truth is, Americans have the lowest tax burden of all modern industrialized nations. QuitYerBitchin!

Answer 3

Taxation is a complicated subject and it is very hard to come up with a system that is fair, simple to administer, and provides enough revenue for the government. For some people, paying 10 percent of their gross income would mean not being able to buy groceries. For others 10 percent would be similar to your paying a dime. they would not feel it. So the law has to be written to exempt those that simply cannot afford to pay any tax, and to tax more those who can. A flat tax can work, but it is not as simple as it seems. Our tax laws are complicated because congress has for years been making attempts to make it fair and at the same time get the revenue that they like to waste on pork barrel projects. The trouble is, as the laws get more complicated, wealthy individuals find more ways to avoid them. In the final analysis, most of the tax the government needs has to be paid by the middle class.

Answer 4

Well, for one thing, 10% would not come anywhere close to providing the amounts currently being spent.

Answer 5

Because it wouldn't be 10%, it would be 30% for them to come up with the same amount to spend.

Answer 6

Have a look at www.freedomandprosperity.org