Right now, the only way to motivate Congress to simplify and rationalize the tax code is to spend lots of money lobbying and on campaign contributions. I propose the following: use talk radio and other grass-roots organizations to get an initiative placed on as many state ballots as possible. The initiative would mandate that all elected representatives at the city, county, state and federal level in that state must prepare their own tax returns, without the assistance, whether paid or unpaid, of anyone else, professional or not. Any professional--enrolled agent, CPA, attorney, financial planner, i.e., anyone with a license of any kind--would lose his/her license for a year and be heavily fined if it were proven that he/she rendered assistance in any way to an elected official. Furthermore, the elected official would pay a penalty equal to his/her tax that year for seeking assistance.
The screams and howls of anquish would begin immediately. The ensuing publicity would then serve as the impetus for action at the national level
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I have a feeling an unintended consequence of these laws would be that only tax accountants would run for elected office. yikes!
Along the same lines, maybe Congress ought to eliminate withholdings. Imagine if every year in April everyone had to write a check for the full amount they owe the local, state, and federal levels of government instead of having it siphoned off month by month. Taxes would be lowered the tax system simplified.
Excellent!!
I agree with seymoudp's no-withholdings suggestion wholeheartedly. As for the main topic, it's clever and we all enjoy a little turnabout, but there must be more practical, less roundabout ways to go...
To Kevinb9n,
You didn't leave a way for me to contact you regarding your comment about my practical idea for engaging youth to become the Directors and CEO of progressive charities. Until you post your idea, there is no way for others to provide feedback to you.
Here is my response regarding your comment to my idea for "Altruistic Engagement" in the nonprofit charity area...
First, the definition of an advertisement: (n.) 1. The act of informing or notifying; advice, notification. 2. The public promotion of an idea or service. (I do this with accountability and with very insightful information.)
Second, read 26 CFR Sec. 31.3402(m)-1 Withholding Allowances.
You don't have to wait for Congress and the President to eliminate the withholding allowance provision. You can be accountable and responsible for your own money today (or at least on the next pay day) by updating and turning in your IRS Form W-4 and state withholding certificate.
You can change your federal and states withholding certificates with your employer at any time and use the retained income for estimated itemized deductions allowable. For instance, you may take into account: (6) The estimated direct charitable deduction under section 170(i). Up to 50% of your income is allowed to be donated to a charity.
The next logical step is to determine how to create a nonprofit public benefit charity. Hence, the rationale for my posting of the notice, "Altruistic Engagement."
Um, let me just comment on the on-topic portion of your comment, if that's okay.
Seymoudp's suggestion was not "make it so that if we want to we can eliminate our withholdings." Of course we can already do that. It was "eliminate withholdings." For everyone. Whether they like it or not. Forcing them to realize how much they're really spending. See the difference?