Ted Cruz unintentionally explains why we need the IRS

[mota bhai 2,675]

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz knows how to deal with the Internal Revenue Service: Get rid of it!

We ought to abolish the IRS and instead move to a simple flat tax, where the average American can fill out our taxes on a postcard. Put down how much you earn. Put down a deduction for charitable contributions and home mortgage. And put down how much you owe.

That does sound simple! But what if some citizen somewhere declines to fill out the postcard? Well, I guess we need some bureaucrat that will send them a follow-up postcard making sure they got the first postcard. If they don’t fill out that postcard, we need someone who will give them a call to make sure they’re getting these postcards.

And Cruz’s flat tax is actually a bit more complicated than most. It includes deductions for mortgages and charitable contributions. What if everyone says they gave a million dollars to charity and own a huge home? Who’s going to check all that out? Well, some well-meaning flat-tax collection agents, I guess.

The people doing all this need to sit somewhere. The place they sit doesn’t need to be called “The Internal Revenue Service.” It can be called “The Agency of Tax Freedom.” But it is, in effect, the Internal Revenue Service.

Which is all to say that Cruz doesn’t really want to abolish the IRS. He wants to reform the tax code — and, given the sparse details he offered, his reforms will be hugely regressive. But even his tax code will need someone, somewhere, to enforce it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/03/ted-cruz-unintentionally-explains-why-we-need-the-irs/

Edited June 3, 2013 by amriki bhai

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, some well-meaning flat-tax collection agents, I guess.

“The Agency of Tax Freedom.”

[mota bhai 2,675]

The teahadists are also total teatards.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The teahadists are also total teatards.

Yup. If he weren't from Texas, Ted Cruz would have a limited shelf life in the Senate.

[mota bhai 2,675]

They must prefer their bulbs a little dim down in the Lone Star state.

[RGinWA 816]

He's got a constituency that doesn't understand how mentally challenged he really is...mainly because his dumb ideas seem so genius to them.

I'm not against a flat tax per se, but someone needs to count the beans regardless.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They must prefer their bulbs a little dim down in the Lone Star state.

You know it.

[duraaraa 203]

I'm of the opinion that taxes should be invisible. In Mongolia, the salary you are quoted is after-tax. The company pays the tax, and gives you the salary that they promised you. Prices written at places are exactly what you pay. You do nothing each year tax-wise. It makes life a lot easier.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

FAIR TAX would be better. Eliminating 90% of the IRS would eliminate the possibility of this happening. If congress is really shocked and appalled by this, then they need to change the system and eliminate the IRS except as bean counters.