Fair not flat : how to make the tax system better and simpler / Edward J. McCaffery.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McCaffery, Edward J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Income tax--United States.

Income tax.

Spendings tax--United States.

Spendings tax.

Taxation--United States.

Taxation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 178 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Everyone knows that the current tax system is unfair. Some of the richest people in America pay no tax, while a huge share of the tax burden falls on the rest of us. A mere glance at the tax code confirms that it is far too complex, with volumes of rules that no ordinary person could possibly comprehend. What is to be done? Some conservatives have called for a so-called flat tax. But a flat tax is not necessarily a simple tax, and "flat" means "more" for most taxpayers: a rise in middle-class taxes to finance tax cuts for the rich. Is there another choice? In clear, easy-to-understand language, Edward J. McCaffery proposes a straightforward and fair alternative. A "fair not flat" tax that is consistent and progressive would tax spending, not income and savings. And if it were collected at its lower levels through a national sales tax, most people would not have to file a return. A supplemental tax on spending for the wealthiest individuals would make the national sales tax progressive. Under McCaffery's system, a family of four would pay no tax on their first 0,000 in spending, and 15 percent on the next

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

TABLES AND FIGURES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION. Time for a Change

ONE. Tax Basics

TWO. The Trouble with the Income Tax

THREE. The Case for a Spending Tax

FOUR. Death to Death Taxes

FIVE. Progressivity Can Live

SIX. The Fair Not Flat Tax

CONCLUSION. Toward Class Teamwork, Not Class Conflict

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON THE FAIR NOT FLAT TAX

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS

FURTHER READING

INDEX

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-170) and index.

Description based upon print version of record.

ISBN:

9786611966010

9781281966018

1281966010

9780226555669

0226555666

OCLC:

436148126