God, what a dumb idea this is!

Day - um!

“Withholding” was one of the greatest scams ever perpetrated on the American people. It converted the tax burden into a “bonus” as every year millions of Americans celebrated their returns as “money from the government,” not realizing that it was instead the repayment of a tax-free loan to that very same government. They were rejoicing in getting their own money back, after being deprived of its use for most of a year.

Now John Edwards wants to make it even less work. Thanks, but no thanks. This sheep is already being shorn too much already.

J.

As an employee who works on 100% commission and who has two businesses on the side and gives a good part of my “excess” to non-profits, the government, the amending process would be just as much (if not more) as them sending me a Form 1.

Thank goodness for Quickbooks and Turbotax (and an accountant friend who helps me plan ahead.)

If you are careless enough to let the IRS figure your taxes for you, why even bother filing a “return” at all? Why not just let the IRS keep all your withholdings and dispense with the waste of time and money created by generating “returns”?

Of course such a system would be incumbent upon the fact that taxpayers accurately filled out their W-4 withholding forms. In that case, perhaps Edwards’ plan should include a stipulation that accepting such an arrangement would entitle the IRS to make unannounced visits to the address listed on the employee’s W-4 form in order to verify that the information regarding marital status and dependents is correct.

Bold words from someone who doesn’t pay taxes.

I want to hear the NTEU weigh in…

And they are way liberal.

Flat Tax Or No Tax!

But let’s at least credit Mr. Edwards recognition that running for President is a chance to have a national discussion of ideas like this. At last, Edwards is no longer running on a platform that consisted of nothing other than “Not Bush”.

Celebrate the small steps where you can…

The turmoil and bureaucratic fumbling that such an idea might engender beggars the imagination.

Aide from what it would do to the organizational structure of the IRS, there are atleast 10,000 IRS employees who could give a dozen reasons, each, why that is a spectacularly stupid and unworkable idea.

Apparently, when Edwards was a Senator, his staff never handled any IRS complaints.

Incidentally, the IRS has the power to prepare certain payroll tax returns, under IRC section 6020(a) and IRC 6020(b)