What is the problem with having a flat tax system?
359977
It sounds nice and simple, but it is not.  A flat tax would benefit the rich more than the poor.  A flat tax would wipe out mortgage interest deduction that would limit the regular folk the ability to buy a house.
189454
Yep, but it will never happen until people stop getting a check because of their own poor life choices. Unfortunately all of societies parasites can vote, and since they don't have jobs, they have all the time they need  to make it to the voting booths. So, until society starts making welfare recipients feel like the failures they are again, expect higher taxes.
661186
Well, if my only two options are flat tax or national sales tax, I would go for national sales tax.\n\nA flat tax is not fair to low income families.  Although 5% of one's salary sounds equal, its not when 5% of my salary leaves me living in poverty while 5% of someone else's salary still leaves them a millionare.\n\nMy logic behind supporting a national sales tax is that people spend money based on their income.  Obviously a person making only $20K per year will make significatly fewer purchases than someone making $100K per year.  \n\nSo therefore I am only taxed on how much money I spend, as opposed to simply having a portion of my salary taken from me.
654763
cuz the govt cant tax it
1025092
Congress is very special interest driven. If we had a flat tax, no special interest would bother to talk to them, let alone buy them lunch, vacations, campaign donations, etc. Most of the tax code is about how some don't have to pay. Biggest problem is that too many people just go along with it. They vote against gay marriage and abortion, but they aren't aware enough to protect their financial interests.\n\n"Baaaaaaa!" - the call of the average tax payer\n\nIf you don't like the idea of gay marriage or abortion, don't marry a gay or get an abortion. Do keep a hand on you wallet. Try to see through political smoke screens. See the movie "Wag the Dog" as just one example.\n\ndisclaimer: I'm not "for" gay marriage or abortion. I just use those as examples of how stuff that's not in our interest gets voted for. I do not endorse either party.
441024
The economy generally doesn't include tax revenue. The reason it's bad is that it takes the tax burden off of the 5% who control 95% of the money, and puts it squarely on the middle class.
473431
pro - simplify the tax process\n\ncon - poor and middle class would pay higher taxes\n\nfor the people who think a flat tax would not hurt poor people, \nif aprox. 17% of income is collected as tax revenue and rich people pay over 30% of their income to irs where would the shortfall come from?
250761
I think Flat tax is best. First of all people that make lots of money have smart bankers and accountants they probably pay less taxes then most. When people ask me how much money I make my answer is as little as humanly possible. The corpration tax entity unleveled the playing field for the smart and self employed. Corps pay there taxes last and only after they've spent and hid all they can. Employees or sheep pay first and pay up the butt. bottom line learn the system becoming a sub contractor and incorporate in Belize.
840374
The easiest income tax system would be to throw it out and implement a national sales tax.  Tax everything but food at a rate somewhere between 1 and 5 percent and people wouldn't even have to do taxes.  The only people doing taxes would be business owners and they are already doing state sales taxes, at least in the states that have sales tax.
81873
No, it is not in their personal best interest.  A simple flat tax would fix all, but they won't do it, as the population would understand each time taxes were increased, and it would prevent them from using tax laws to reward cronies, businesses and supporters.
659699
I would give a big no to this question. As long as our politicians dont create equal oppourtinities for the wide group of population, a tax payer will be forced to share the tax with a big number of non contributing citizens of this country. This means, what he is going to get is only going to be 1 by 100th of what he pays.
1026805
I do not mind paying taxes it is the back bone of our nation. what I do not like is those who cheat or find ways not to pay plus those who get a free ride on our taxes as welfare,food stamps and other free gives. I think everyone should be made to work to receive these free rides. I know some are not able to work but even a person in a wheelchair could do something.
577969
A flat tax is more democratic.  There would be no deductions for the wealthy, no tax loop holes.  A flat tax would have to be higher then 5 percent, probably closer to 10 percent.  You could also use a VAT, value added tax.  That is a sales tax that goes to the federal government.  A VAT could be higher on non essential goods like a BMW and lower or zero on things like milk.  You could have a 5 percent flat tax in combination with a VAT.  FYI: Germany does not have a flat tax.
596311
The original income tax system established by the New Deal was necessary to provide federal support to thousands of Americans during the Great Depression.  At the time of its institution, it greatly assisted in spurring the American economy out of the desperate times.\nThe prior 126 years of American history details a financial different picture than today's America.  For one, the country was a lot smaller with few people.  The great immigration boom did not occur into the earlier part of the 20th century.  Governmental obligations were not as substantial as today's responsibility, and this is not just social programs.  We could not raise enough money through tariffs, excise taxes, and property taxes, to overcome our current debt obligations.  Furthermore, if this was the only form of tax, it would place a substantial burden on the middle class and imports.  Considering our current export/import ratio, foreign importeres would simply have to cease distribution to stall the American economy.\nI do however feel the system created by the New Deal has been bastardized into the current system, which is excessively in equal towards corporations and wealth Americans vs. middle/low income Americans.  I believe the system could be streamlined at both the federal, state and local levels.  Currently, although we do not pay high income tax (countries in Europe fair a lot worse) we pay additional taxes and government surcharges every day.  Ex. total taxes and fees on your personal cellphone bill average approximately 24% - 28% over your usage charge.\nNow, as to find ways to cut spending....yes, there are definitely areas in our budget to cut spending? will this get done?...only by the perservenence of the American people and the general understanding of what are taxes are paying for.  The "pet projects" or massive government failures (thing Boston Big Dig) continually drain our economic resource, and when our governmental debt is so strangulating that we have to keep increasing our cap, we will never be able to recede our government spending to levels able to sustain our American People.\nSome of the solutions presented: flat tax, purchase tax, etc, all sound equitable but each do have their own loop hole.\nPersonally, I would like to have a flat tax.  I would like to at the beginning of each year write a check for a fixed amount of money to the government for a percentage of my forecasted earnings for the upcoming year and not have anything come out of my check for the rest of the year.  But with this money that comes out, I would like programs which make sense - good education, good healthcare, good social security.  Our children should not have to suffer, our elder should not want for anything and every American should be able to get quality healthcare/preventative maintenance to sustain life.
203971
Pros, everyone pays the same amount of tax.\nCons, everyone pays the same amount of tax.  (Its all relative, for low income individuals, paying 17% of their income in taxes would be a very large amount, but for a high income individual 17% is more money, but not as much of an issue.)  Just a basic answer.
1024052
Wow...netjr....you haven't even read the FairTax Book, have you?  If you did....you'd know that your little business would be hell of a lot easier to run because you wouldn't need to worry about payroll taxes, withholding, etc. You must be in love with the IRS who continues to abuse the people and businesses alike.  And the tax is only taxed at the RETAIL level...that's one time only.  On top of that, the Government gives you a kickback for turning in tax money.  The only people upset about this idea are the ones who haven't taken the time to keep a level head and just simply investigate it thoroughly before making a decision.  You can't possibly be in support of the IRS, can you?
626890
i answered a similar Q to this before\nfor me, i dont mind paying taxes\nit is sometimes annoying \nbut i believe without taxes, there will no free parks, free public events, public buildings, free health care and social care for the less fortunate, and unemployment will rise too\nso i dont mind paying taxes =)