Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
I don't know much about this idea. Someone tell me more.
Discuss.
From Wiki:
Quote:
A flat tax (short for flat rate tax) is a tax system with a constant tax rate. Usually the term flat tax refers to household income (and sometimes corporate profits) being taxed at one marginal rate, in contrast with progressive taxes that vary according to parameters such as income or usage levels. Flat taxes offer simplicity in the tax code, which has been reported to increase compliance and decrease administration costs.
Flat taxes that allow a tax exemption for household income below a cutoff level are not true proportional taxes, because, for household incomes below the cutoff level, taxable income is less than total income.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:51 am Posts: 17078 Location: TX
This isn't worded perfectly, and I'm too lazy to mess with it right now, but this should be the biggest problem with the flat tax in the eyes of small government conservatives and the biggest reason in favor of it for liberals.
Buffalohed wrote:
I'm actually ok with a flat tax. When the government spends, it spends disproportionately on the lower class. Keep adding government revenue and government spending can go more and more to the middle class, too. Before you know it you've got free college for all, housing credits, energy credits, vehicle credits. I'm ok with a flat tax... but only if it's a very high one. Flat taxes actually come to resemble socialism the higher they go. The more money the government takes and gives to everyone, the more economically equal everyone is.
By the way, it's actually not a flat tax, it's a FAIR tax!
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:37 am Posts: 3610 Location: London, UK Gender: Female
a flat tax puts most of the tax burden on the poorest... yeah that's fair
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Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Skitch Patterson wrote:
Pegasus wrote:
a flat tax puts most of the tax burden on the poorest... yeah that's fair
And taking in excess of 50% of what some people earn IS fair?
You're arguing against a point that he didn't make. Isn't that a straw man argument?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Skitch Patterson wrote:
B wrote:
Skitch Patterson wrote:
Pegasus wrote:
a flat tax puts most of the tax burden on the poorest... yeah that's fair
And taking in excess of 50% of what some people earn IS fair?
You're arguing against a point that he didn't make. Isn't that a straw man argument?
ad hominem.
e pluribus unim
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Green Habit wrote:
I like proportional taxes.
If given the two choices of flat tax or proportional tax, I'd pick proportional tax. Why isn't the world that simple?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:43 pm Posts: 7633 Location: Philly Del Fia Gender: Female
What was it called when we eliminate all wage taxes and only tax on purchases? Taxing only on the money SPENT seems fair to the poor. Keep the structure like in PA - no tax on food/clothing, and only take non-necessities.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
NaiveAndTrue wrote:
What was it called when we eliminate all wage taxes and only tax on purchases? Taxing only on the money SPENT seems fair to the poor. Keep the structure like in PA - no tax on food/clothing, and only take non-necessities.
Can we tax the purchase of stocks?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:43 pm Posts: 7633 Location: Philly Del Fia Gender: Female
B wrote:
NaiveAndTrue wrote:
What was it called when we eliminate all wage taxes and only tax on purchases? Taxing only on the money SPENT seems fair to the poor. Keep the structure like in PA - no tax on food/clothing, and only take non-necessities.
a flat tax puts most of the tax burden on the poorest... yeah that's fair
Every flat tax idea I've seen has a portion of income that is not deductable. Example, for everyone the first $50K is completely tax free and then everything over $50K gets taxed at 20%.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:43 pm Posts: 7633 Location: Philly Del Fia Gender: Female
tyler wrote:
Pegasus wrote:
a flat tax puts most of the tax burden on the poorest... yeah that's fair
Every flat tax idea I've seen has a portion of income that is not deductable. Example, for everyone the first $50K is completely tax free and then everything over $50K gets taxed at 20%.
Hmmm. I only make around $30k a year if I'm lucky, so I'll get behind this. No more taxes! Whoot!
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:43 pm Posts: 14 Location: Boston
NaiveAndTrue wrote:
tyler wrote:
Pegasus wrote:
a flat tax puts most of the tax burden on the poorest... yeah that's fair
Every flat tax idea I've seen has a portion of income that is not deductable. Example, for everyone the first $50K is completely tax free and then everything over $50K gets taxed at 20%.
Hmmm. I only make around $30k a year if I'm lucky, so I'll get behind this. No more taxes! Whoot!
This seems unlikely. . . .
Not unlikely at all as 47% of the US doesn't pay federal taxes today.
The vast majority of people who escape federal income taxes do pay other taxes, including federal payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, and excise taxes on gasoline, aviation, alcohol and cigarettes. Many also pay state or local sales, income and property taxes.
The vast majority of people who escape federal income taxes do pay other taxes, including federal payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, and excise taxes on gasoline, aviation, alcohol and cigarettes. Many also pay state or local sales, income and property taxes.
I squeaked by this year only because of the $700 continuing education credit. Until then, I was $100 in the hole. Next year, I'll probably go back to owing again.
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