wjm@lcuxc.UUCP (B. Mitchell) (02/24/85)
Let's face it - the US Tax System has evolved to accomplish a number of purposes over the years, which is why the tax code is so complicated. Don't blame the IRS for this or for complicated forms, blame your 'friends' on Capitol Hill. Frankly, I think the IRS has done a fairly good job of keeping the tax forms as simple as they can be, given the tax laws. Yes, I do my own taxes and I use the LONG form (1040) with several attached schedules (I have to for a number of reasons). Is this fair? Frankly, I don't think so. I think the fairest tax system is a flat tax - you pay x% of your total income to the government, regardless of the amount of income, and x is constant. There should be a minimum number of exemptions and deductions - I think that if the American people, through their elected representatives, want to subsidize low income people, people who are up to their necks in debt, farmers, or whatever, these subsidies should be made into EXPLICIT payments where everyone knows what Congress has done - no more hiding in the tax code. With a flat tax, the 'marriage penalty' problem disappears - since y$ in income generates xy$ in taxes, regardless of how many people generated the x. While we're on the subject, I don't think it is in the national interest to allow interest on loans other than home mortgages to be deductable. This country should encourage investment and penalize over-use of consumer credit. Of course, these are my personal opinions and not necessarily those of my employer. Regards, Bill Mitchell (ihnp4!lcuxc!wjm) 50 tax computation days until 15 April ... and counting!