Support the Fair Tax, and abolish the IRS

Upon reading about Trump’s payment of little or no taxes, and a retired tax preparer, I am compelled to share my views.

Taught avoiding tax as legal and evading tax as illegal, one can understand why the above is so. Congress passes laws on tax law; taxpayers, like the president are obligated to comply with that law. Businesses pay taxes on net profit which is markedly different than individual’s taxable income. Much is allowed to arrive at net income, including many deductions such as non-cash depreciation and cash startup costs. All of which is typically not available to workers.

To quote Bernard Condon’s article in 9/30 E-R, “Plenty of real estate investors report big losses under tax accounting rules because tax code allows them, such as depreciation.” Furthermore, provision for carry forward/backward gives additional benefit — all legal. One cannot compare this to a wage earners return. As complicated as the president’s returns must be, who among us could understand them, even if they were to be released? I couldn’t! Could you?

Much division is promoted so as to foment discord. A possible way out is to pass the bill for what Congress calls the Fair Tax. This tax would be on consumption, not income and would encourage workers to work more effectively. Such tax would eliminate the IRS, as well as the income and the payroll taxes. We would receive 100% for our labors and remit tax based on what we spend only.

— Joe Azzarito, Chico