What would you think about a 23% sales tax on all goods?

This would mean we all pay the same tax, whether it's an industry or individual. Also, the capital gains tax and all other taxes would be eliminated, and the size of the IRS could be decreased or eliminated altogether. So, say your city and state tax is 7%, then the remainder left over would go to the fed. I'd like to hear your arguments both for and against this idea.

If you add up all the taxes you currently pay, I think you'll find you already pay well over 23%. I'm talking about all taxes, sales, Social Security, Income, Capital Gains, Excize, the price of goods raised by taxes, Medicaid, all of them add up to more than 23%.

I would welcome it...

NO more Tax Loopholes for "Special Interest" Groups is what it would mean!
There would be No such thing as "working under the table" and even illegal aliens and Drug Dealers would be paying their fair share of the tax burden!
No More Free Rides for the corporations or those engaged in illegal enterprises!

let me tell you something: The "Ultra Wealthy" run America.
The reason the tax code is the way it is now is because the Ultra Wealthy DO NOT PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES!
Most of them pay nothing by the time all of their tax amendments are filed 3 years after the tax year in question. Oh yea it looks like they pay a lot on their annual tax returns, but look at the same tax returns 3 years down the road after all of the amendments are filed... They often pay nothing!

Lousy idea. Great tax break for the wealthy but would clobber the poor and middle class. Report It

Too many problems and the benefits you refer to are not achievable.

1.) Transition plan?

2.) IRS wouldn't go away. They would just audit sales tax returns (ask Europe about their VAT auditors).

Better solution is the spending side of the equation. Reduce gov't spending and then they wouldn't need to raise revenue and could reduce tax rates.

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older workers and retired will be at a disadvantage because the have already paid income tax ,They may have to pay tax twice.

this would not work.

people would just stop buying things to aviod the tax. this would hurt both the economy and the government's coffers. We would have more pot holes and less services.

It is actually very good. It would cut down on federal taxes and force rich people to pay more. In return, it can stimulate our economy in a couple of years

23%???? I would torch something!!

GREAT!!!!!

I would say a tax of this type would be unfair to the majority of Americans who would be burdened with paying a much higher percentage of their overall income than those who earn significantly more money. Those who make 10k a year and must spend it all to make ends meet would be taxed on all their earnings while those making 500k a year and only spend 300k in expenses will be pocketing 200k a year tax-free.



I am in favor of a flat-rate tax for all taxpayers.

It is estimated that a flat rate tax of somewhere between 7% and 8% (with less deductions) would actually bring in more tax revenues than the current system as well as reduce the size of the IRS considerably, save billions a year in tax preparation forms and many millions of hours spent filing our taxes.
If the corporate tax rate were to be lowered significantly with less deductions, that revenue would also increase as well as putting the United States more in line with the rest of the industrialized nations who are currently gaining jobs lost here because of the tax rate and cost of doing business in the US.

The proponents of this so-called "fair tax" say that a tax of 23% would be enough to fund the government. Opponents don't agree, and feel the % would be much higher. And even by the proponents鈥?calculations, the 23% is the % of the total price of something that would be paid, which calculates to an add-on of 30%.

Each family would get a "prebate" each month to cover the tax on an amount equal to the poverty level.

This is a real good deal for the rich, since as a group they'd pay a lot less tax than they do currently. For the poor, with the prebate they might come close to breaking even - unless they are currently getting EIC or other benefits that wouldn't exist any more under this plan. The middle class would pretty much get the shaft, especially those with kids who now get child tax credits and maybe EIC.

Fair? Well, that's a matter of opinion.

Increasing sales tax is one of the worst things you can do. This is because it places a tax burden on the growing amount of people who have a hard time buying everyday necessities like food. To have a flat tax rate for everyone would be unfair because there is a ever growing gap between the rich and poor in this country. Taking money away from people who can not afford it will only hurt our economy further. We actually have low tax rates compared to some European countries, however they provide a lot more for there citizens like free healthcare. Our tax system is definitley in need of reform but raising the sales tax is one of the worst solutions.