Should we do away with the federal income 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.
628826
I think obviously millions of people are,but if we dont pay this way then we would end up paying around 30% income tax.\nwhich would you prefer?
622191
The obvious fix is to stop excusing high income people from paying the FICA on earnings over $79K. IMPO, I think we should stop differentiating between income earned as wages or salary and income earned as stock dividends. I don't see why we ever started taxing these types of income differently in the first place, other than venal politicians pandering to powerful constiuents.
629694
Why?  To support goverment functions, and "social" programs.  This can include anything from the military to protect our country, to subsidies for child care, to research of why a flea jumps so far.\n\nWhen is it done?  Constantly, always, incessantly.. In payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, corporate taxes, fuel taxes, and on and on and on and on.....\n\nWhat is the rate of taxes at this moment?  If you can figure that out, you're doing great.  You'd have to find out all the underlying costs associated with all of those taxes, for you individually, combine them, divide them by your total income, and there you have it.
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.
579264
No, an income tax would reduce take-home pay, so the supply of labor would go down.  The supply function is in terms of how much the workers are actually making.\n\nWith a restaurant tax, the restaurant would probably lower wages or do something to compensate, so wages would go down and lower supply.
346263
It was just reported that last year he paid $187,000 in income tax on about $735,000 of income.\n\nI'm wondering if someone is going to try to make an issue of it one way or the other.\n\nI say, who cares.\n\nI think the bigger problem is that the entire tax structure needs to be redone.
1071060
I'm not sure about your question--which is better?\n\nWhen you have a mortgage, early on the bulk of the payments are interest, and you can deduct that amount on  your income tax.  A good deal.
580799
Ohhh, think I could give up paying taxes....  No problem.
1144771
NO WAY! The govt should tax it to help pay the country's debt.
89253
besides putting our wallets further into the red, I am not sure. It doesnt sound like its going to be something the "average joe" is going to be able to do... its going to be for the wealthy to find a way to take it off as a tax write off.
762987
You would be committing fraud and could be jailed by the federal court. Get your butt to work! I don't want my hard earned tax money going to your lazy butt.
612066
Like the other person said, who would give if it was just voluntary? I agree more money needs to be spent on programs to help the homeless,needy,etc. Perhaps we should rethink the flat tax scenario.\n  But, is it fair to ask a person earning $35,000 a year or less to pay the same amount as a person who earns $1 mil??Perhaps we should redo the tax code..I mean..erase everything and start over.
386409
Fair Tax would substitute a consumption tax (sales tax) in place of federal income tax.  Might work, but also might interfere with consumer spending, because taxes would rise with rising purchases.  Also some question as to whether there would be large exclusions, exemptions or deductions from the national sales tax.
112367
No.  Actually, war funding and the running of the government within the limits of the constitution are the only things that the federal government is supposed to use tax money for.  In addition, the constitution prohibits the federal government from direct taxation of the people.  They are supposed to get thier money from the states.  \n\nAll the rest of the money should go back to the people.  it's nice to help the poor and disabled and elderly, but no one should be compelled to do so.  It is not the government's place to collect taxes for these things. Individual members of congress can give all they want, but they need to keep thier hands out of the money pot for public service.  It's not thier money to give.
551971
the good ol FICA... Federal Income Tax.\ngimme dat.
706652
If in the U.S.--- Pay Taxes!\n\n-EA