What do you consider a fair personal income tax rate?

Wow, what a topic. Get your popcorn ready.

I believe the progressive tax system we have is adequate, though perhaps it could be tweaked a bit. Current tax levels don't bother me. What bothers me is how the government spends the money. A lot of it is wasted and a lot of potential is never realized. I also wouldn't mind a shift to more state taxation and less federal, but with the balance remaining about the same.

I'm sure someone will bring up the flat tax idea, which I consider ludicrous.

Sorry if that's more than you were asking for.

well taxes in the US are anything but fair or simple. I would personally be ok with a 15% flat tax for personal income without shelters. Not the variable, portioned mess we have today. I mean people will still find ways to get around it but at least the average person would know what they're contribution was expected to be and it's be simple.

(October 8, 2021 at 12:13 pm)tackattack Wrote: well taxes in the US are anything but fair or simple. I would personally be ok with a 15% flat tax for personal income without shelters. Not the variable, portioned mess we have today. I mean people will still find ways to get around it but at least the average person would know what they're contribution was expected to be and it's be simple.

Why?!  Why do you think a flat tax is in any way more fair or better?

(October 8, 2021 at 11:40 am)onlinebiker Wrote: What do you consider a fair personal income tax rate?

For who? Wealthier people should pay disproportionately more income tax.

Boru

I agree that tax law could (and maybe should?) be simplified.

But no way on a flat tax. Progressive taxation is way better. And more fair when you think about it.

(October 8, 2021 at 12:32 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: I agree that tax law could (and maybe should?) be simplified.

But no way on a flat tax. Progressive taxation is way better. And more fair when you think about it.

Agreed. Top tax rate here is 39% ($180 000 and up). Should be more.

Boru

@Spongebob I wouldn't say it's more fair, just better because it's simpler. I believe rich people should pay their fair share, just like us. With the parejto distribution the way it is, they just have more money to throw into loopholes and shelters to avert paying their fair share. If the law were followed in principle, rather than letter, to the effect of "Everyone should personally pay their fair share as citizens to your state and local gov't and we consider that to be 15% of your wealth". that would be simple and clear. But that's more of a wealth tax question rather than an income question. Personally I don't think we should have income taxes. I think it'd be better served using a wealth tax... but the logistics of that would be just as much a nightmare as the current income system probably.

Well you know they could fix what we have. Redefine taxable vs. nontaxable, remove caps and loopholes, etc. as a start

IMHO there is no such thing a fair tax and not every problem, like how do we fund governance, can be framed as a moral issue.

Ideally, a system of progressive taxation where the rich are taxed more than they are now (they can afford to part with more than just 37%), but preferably less than the 95% mentioned in "Taxman."