Technically, an audit is unconstitutional – first of all:Oh that I could have done that to the IRS!
Actually, I was going to pay in pennies, wheelbarrows of them, but the thought of an audit every year for the rest of my life stopped me.
(My emphasis)
In other words, if someone does not earn an income and therefore does not pay income tax, do you think that they are still entitled to government services such as freedom provided by our military, access to public library and schools, etc. Or do you think they should still be taxed?I’m afraid I don’t understand your question.
If a person has no income how would they pay tax?
If someone can legally avoid paying all income tax, that is their business. Just as someone can put their money into municipal bonds and avoid paying income tax on the interest income. If Caesar says they owe nothing, there is nothing in church teaching that tells us that we must render to Caesar more than what belongs to Caesar.
But that argument assumes that whatever the law says is morally right.
So you are comfortable with people legally leaching off of everyone else just because it is legal.
I am not only comfortable with it I actually help one couple I know legally avoid paying income taxes. Now of course, there are certainly a lot of things I would change in the tax code, but there is no way I can say that anyone who arranges their economic affairs in order to avoid paying income taxes is doing anything illegal.
It is one reason that income tax flawed system. And one of the biggest causes of class warfare.If a person has no income how would they pay tax?
Nothing specific, just in general, though I can think of several specific examples. Lets say a family owns their home free and clear and has small stash put away. They produce all of their own food off of their land and therefore only need money for basic necessities now and then. This is actually a real situation. Do you think they should be taxed?
Nobody is saying that not paying taxes is illegal. Rather that the tax laws should be revised to ensure that everyone carries their fair portion in order to be sound system.
Whether he is required to pay taxes or not on capital gains is morally neutral. If he were required to and didn’t, then it would be immoral.
In other words, it is perfectly moral to arrange your affairs in order to avoid paying all income tax. I am glad we agree.
If they own their home free and clear and have a small stash then they must have been taxpayers to begin with. If they have no income presently, I don’t see how they could be taxed today on income. They are still responsible for property tax and sales tax though.
They are not “leaching”. Do the math. And read the basic Publication 17. The IRS tells you specifically to take advantage of everything in the tax code to reduce or even eliminate your tax liability. Are you suggesting that a certain individual shouldn’t get the same personal exemption and standard deduction simply because his income is lower than someone else’s?
I like your thinking.
No comparison. That is always immoral. Utilizing a legal tax code to eliminate tax liability is moral. Anyone at any income level should be encouraged to do so.
Sure hope you mean a flat percent. A flat amount would be regressive on lower incomes.If they own their home free and clear and have a small stash then they must have been taxpayers to begin with. If they have no income presently, I don’t see how they could be taxed today on income. They are still responsible for property tax and sales tax though.
If we tax on income, then it make sense income is needed.
A simple flat tax on income would work equally for all.
The point is, legal is one thing, moral is another.
Won’t get a disagreement here. There should be no minimum tax. It’s a disgrace. But if the government wants revenue and wants tobe fair across the board then eliminate all the credtis and deductions, scrap the whole existing tax code and implement a flat percent. You could virtually eliminate the need for the IRS and probably put alot of financial planners out of work, but hey we all have to bite the bullet. And with a flat percentage, everyone will know when the government is raising or lowering the taxes one everybody, not just the rich or the poor. It’s the fairest way.
The devil is n the details. First you need to define what “income” is.If they own their home free and clear and have a small stash then they must have been taxpayers to begin with. If they have no income presently, I don’t see how they could be taxed today on income. They are still responsible for property tax and sales tax though.
If we tax on income, then it make sense income is needed.
A simple flat tax on income would work equally for all.
I define income as monies received for goods or services offered.