Tax Reform Isn't A Panacea But It Will Help!

Wait a minute... So you think those who don't pay any income taxes do so because they refuse and so they are "self-serving"? And poverty is an "excuse"? And you're a "reasonable person"?

BTW, nearly every U.S. state taxes the poor more than the rich, according to a 2009 report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Overall, the poorest 20% of households paid an average 10.9% of their incomes in state and local taxes in 2007. In 2011 it was 12.3%. Meanwhile the top 1% on average paid just 5.2% of their incomes in state and local taxes.

http://ctj.org/images/taxday2012table.jpg

 

In my opinion, the Federal government should NOT have ever been allowed to tax individuals directly, but only allowed to tax the States relative to their proportion of the total population. The root of nearly all our problems begins with Wilson in the year 1913, exacerbated by Roosevelt, Johnson, and most recently Obama.

12.3% of $0 = $0
12.3% of $10K = $1,230
12.3% of $50K = $6,150

5.2% of $1M = $52,000
5.2% of $10M = $520,000

How about a compromise? A flat 10% tax rate on everyone, which would be a 2.3% deduction on the poorest and a 4.8% increase on the top 1%.
10% of
$0 = $0
$10K = $1,000
$50K = $5,000
$1M = $100,000
$10M = $1,000,000

 

First, it's news to me that businesses cannot write off the interest expense of loans as JimfromPennsylvania said.

Secondly, about personal income tax law, this 5-minute video is pretty interesting -

 

Come on OMOF. From my first paragraph in post 51:
"Wait a minute... So you think those who don't pay any income taxes do so because they refuse and so they are "self-serving"? And poverty is an "excuse"?

It is the ready and eager willingness to take liberties with words like that which gets arguments going, because such words are wrong and inappropriate. Paying or not paying income and other taxes is not up for personal choice. It's not up to the individual. And so condemning them as "self-serving" is worse than a lie, -it's unjustifiably contemptuous.

 

In 2011, roughly 54 million federal income tax filers had no income tax liability after deductions and credits. This amounts to 37 percent of the roughly 145 million tax returns filed that year.

 

We are all well aware that Democrats hate the poor and constantly push horrid, regressive taxes. However, ANYONE who tells you that the sales tax is regressive is a liar.

Sales taxes do not apply to labor, rents, utilities, food, insurance payments, car loans, etc. Poor people who are "barely" scraping by can only meet their basic needs, or so liberals tell me. And since their biggest expenses-rent, food, and the bulk of transportation-are non taxable(for sales tax), it's impact on them is absolutely minuscule.

Poor people don't pay taxes, but consume vastly larger services, than rich people. My wife and I paid damn near $90,000 in taxes last year(Federal, state, local) and you think I've got a library card?

 

If I get free health, vision and dental just by quitting my job, you can bet your ass I'll do it.

I'll just keep buying shitty homes in nice neighborhoods for way under market value, taking out HELOCs on them and buying more

 

Both parties are bad but the GOP is much worse for the poor since they want to end as many supports as possible. And sales tax? A progressive tax is one which, by definition, progressively taxes higher and higher incomes more and more. A regressive tax OTOH is one that does not do that. A flat tax qualifies by its nature. A sales tax is flat by nature so a sales tax regressive. Catch up.

A good percentage is spent on non-food items at the grocery store. But what about the middle class? A larger percentage of the income of a household earning $60,000 a year is paid in sales tax than one with income of $500,000/year. THAT is regressive.

You must be able to afford it. Stop being a tightwad.

 

So why do liberals constantly push sin and flat taxes to punish the poor?

 

You'll have to ask them. But I don't know that they do.

 

Gov Jerry Brown(CA) has pushed multiple sales tax increases, Democrats across the country constantly push for additional taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks, and don't forget about FICA which Democrats are trying to increase by 50% with a new 4% flat income tax.

Republicans on the other hand support eliminating the tax burden for the working poor, to the point that Bush eliminated the Federal income tax for minimum wage earners.

My mother earns $24,000 a year from Social Security and the survivor portion of my father's pension. Democrats have been promising to increase her property taxes by 800% and force her out of her home

 

I suggest you read the notes in your link above...to find that not only the employee FICA withholding is included but also the employer FICA share as well as other corporate amounts but are not included in the 'income'. FICA IS NOT a tax...it's a payroll withholding that directly benefits the employee! Try to find some data that is accurate.

Yes in aggregate they absolutely refuse...voters seldom approve tax hikes! This makes them self-serving since it's okay to make demands on government but not fund that government.

I never mentioned anything about 'poverty' so why go there?

I actually am a most reasonable person no matter what you think.

It's BS to say certain people are taxed more or less! Each so-called American is responsible for about $12,500 in federal income tax each year...please provide the data that shows how many 'poor' people are paying this amount versus how many wealthier people?

BTW; state and local taxes are primarily sales and excise taxes...this means all people no matter their wealth or income pay the identical tax rates. Property taxes are paid by all who own or rent/lease.

Like I said in my post...at the end of the day it's all excuses...

 

Think what you wish...voters rule this nation...voters decide who is in office which decides the tax policy...

 

You are dreaming.

 

Elections are little different from going shopping. Voters, like ordinary consumers usually shop for the best bargains, and few persons are likely to refuse something which is offered for free.
The thread claims to be about 'tax reform'. What is it we would like to accomplish through tax reform?

 

Please share with us who you see at the polls on election day other than VOTERS?

 

You really believe politicians are doing the public will?

 

Pay down the debt.
Pay for national healthcare.
Reduce inequality.
Reduce money in government.
Fund infrastructure projects.
Fund FEMA adequately.

 

shrink govt as Constitution says so people can be free

 

You could have just posted "Increased redistribution of earned income".

 

What do you think a tax is? duh

 

Wages rise when there is a demand for workers. Wages remain stagnant when there is a glut of workers. How much money the company brings in is not what determines wages.

But I am in favor of low corporate taxes because I want to encourage companies to stay here, come back here, or move to here. I want them to want to produce their products and services here in the U.S. The more of them that do that, the greater the demand for workers. The greater the demand for workers, the higher the wages.

My

Seth

 

Most simply put, a tax is a fee charged when money is spent or earned, and in some cases a fee assessed on property owned all of which are the means by which governments acquire their source of revenue to spend.
Our government(s), Federal, State, and local each have a spending problem. Tax reform, IMO should result in lower taxes, less government revenue to spend, and a drastic reduction of government spending at each and every level.

 

Please share with us who you see at the polls on election day other than VOTERS?

Absolutely and logically our representatives are doing their public will...this could not be more fundamental. Unequivocally VOTERS select their representatives and those representatives make all the decisions to manage the nation. Just because government does not do everything you like does not mean voters and elected officials are not in charge...

 

Riiiiiiight. Like healthcare, Citizens United, gerrymandering, Flint water, fracking, militarization of police, tax cuts for the rich, etc, etc.

Voters get left behind once the politician is in office in most cases. See above.