Do you support a Flat Tax?

[fezzyfestoon]

If it's a flat tax on wages or a capped flat tax, that would be true; however, if it's a non-capped flat tax on income, it isn't, or if it's a flat sales tax that uses a rebate or exemption system it's not regressive.

Sales taxes are inherently very regressive. I could see some sort of successful dampening of that through rebates or exemptions, but then if a VAT is the only way to implement a sales-based flat tax, there's no feasible way to sustain a tax base with the amount of exemptions and rebates you'd need to prevent an unfair burden of taxation falling on the poor. Besides, an even tax rate automatically becomes a higher tax rate for the poor because each purchase itself is a drastically more substantial purchase for a poor person than anyone else. You'd have to include some huge luxury taxes in the end and nobody would support that. If it is on income, then you'd essentially be raising taxes on the poor and middle classes and lowering them even more for the rich in its implementation over the current system. Unless there's a plan to gut the tax system as it relates to the structure of wealth protection in place, a flat tax would literally unravel the country's social structure. It's a horrible idea for so many reasons, most of which are rooted the fact that it's an intellectually shallow talking point policy rather than a serious proposal. It fits perfectly within the Republican strategy of fooling its base with words that make its policies sound as though they're helping the people when in reality their actions directly and solely benefit the super-wealthy and powerful.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Normally a flat tax has a standard deduction, and thus retains some progressivity. 

[Indy Texas]

No. People don't seem to understand that the tax code is "complicated" because of all the different deductions that exist. The number of brackets doesn't matter unless you think people are too stupid to look at the table that comes with the tax form instructions.

[CountryRoads]

Yes.

[nolesfan2011]

I support a layered flat tax.. so yes

Strongly Yes.

[Northeast Rep Snowball]

I support a layered flat tax.. so yes

Strongly Yes.

What is a layered flat tax?

[Torie]

No, and it will never happen anyway, so the issue is entirely theoretical and moot. It is sweet that so many around here want to give me a big tax cut though.  I promise if the impossible happens, to use the extra cash I get wisely.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No, and it will never happen anyway, so the issue is entirely theoretical and moot. It is sweet that so many around here want to give me a big tax cut though.  I promise if the impossible happens, to use the extra cash I get wisely.

Who said they want you to pay less.....most of what I see is they want a high flat rate on owners (riches) so you can't find all the deductions to reduce what you pay, and a low to no flat rate on poors and workers.

[Torie]

No, and it will never happen anyway, so the issue is entirely theoretical and moot. It is sweet that so many around here want to give me a big tax cut though.  I promise if the impossible happens, to use the extra cash I get wisely.

Who said they want you to pay less.....most of what I see is they want a high flat rate on owners (riches) so you can't find all the deductions to reduce what you pay, and a low to no flat rate on poors and workers.

I guess it is semantics then. To me, if you have more than one rate, it ain't a flat tax. You are suggesting at least two rates.  One popular alternative, is to have a zero tax up to a certain income, and then a flat tax on the balance (maybe that is what you had in mind). That of course means that I would be at the same marginal tax rate (albeit I would pay a higher average rate since a higher percentage of my income would be subject to tax) as some chap making 50K perhaps. That seems ludicrous to me - just ludicrous.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No, and it will never happen anyway, so the issue is entirely theoretical and moot. It is sweet that so many around here want to give me a big tax cut though.  I promise if the impossible happens, to use the extra cash I get wisely.

Who said they want you to pay less.....most of what I see is they want a high flat rate on owners (riches) so you can't find all the deductions to reduce what you pay, and a low to no flat rate on poors and workers.

I guess it is semantics then. To me, if you have more than one rate, it ain't a flat tax. You are suggesting at least two rates.  One popular alternative, is to have a zero tax up to a certain income, and then a flat tax on the balance (maybe that is what you had in mind). That of course means that I would be at the same marginal tax rate (albeit I would pay a higher average rate since a higher percentage of my income would be subject to tax) as some chap making 50K perhaps. That seems ludicrous to me - just ludicrous.

People are tired of a tax code which is longer and more complicated than the bible....ludicrous or not, especially one which the riches sometimes pay less than the workers.

[John Dibble]

I wouldn't support a completely flat tax. I'd only want income after a certain amount to be taxed, and for there to be further deductions after that which would apply to most people - things like deductions for dependents and whatnot, not things that would help the very rich in any noticeable way.

[Jackson]

lolno

[nolesfan2011]

Layered flat tax is where you get rid of all loopholes, deductions etc. and switch to 2 tax codes (one for corporate one for individual) and the rate is always flat, but layered by income level.

For example.. someone in a 75k-125k bracket might pay 15% of their income in Federal taxes, someone in the 500k+ bracket might pay 25% of their income.. but the rate they pay is always flat, and depends on the bracket they are in. (top tax rate 30% flat, lowest tax rate 5% flat).

Progressive flat tax could be another term for it, it doesn't matter how someone earns their income, they just pay the rate and move on.

I support a layered flat tax.. so yes

Strongly Yes.

What is a layered flat tax?

[DC Al Fine]

Layered flat tax is where you get rid of all loopholes, deductions etc. and switch to 2 tax codes (one for corporate one for individual) and the rate is always flat, but layered by income level.

For example.. someone in a 75k-125k bracket might pay 15% of their income in Federal taxes, someone in the 500k+ bracket might pay 25% of their income.. but the rate they pay is always flat, and depends on the bracket they are in. (top tax rate 30% flat, lowest tax rate 5% flat).

Progressive flat tax could be another term for it, it doesn't matter how someone earns their income, they just pay the rate and move on.

I support a layered flat tax.. so yes

Strongly Yes.

What is a layered flat tax?

Prepare to see a lot of people making $99 999.99

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Absolutely not.  It propagates (and relies upon for its justification) the myth that the playing field in the U.S. is level. 

[TeePee4Prez]

No, in fact more progressive.  See the inflation adjusted rates of the late 1930s capped at 48%.  IMO, they're perfect!

[Darth Maul]

Yes.