I propose a one line tax code:
All Income of individuals in excess of $200,000 shall be taxed at a rate of 40%. Income below the threshold is not taxed. There shall be no exemptions, deductions, loopholes, adjustments, or any other attempt to alter said tax. Congress shall adjust the threshold to keep pace with inflation every ten years.
Provide rational reasons to oppose this.
1. Each individual with a total income equal or greater than 1/4 the Federal minimum wage, ( $7.25 x 2085 / 4 ) should be required to file and pay Federal income tax.
2. Agreed, total gross income, regardless of source or form should be taxed with no allowed exemptions, deductions, loopholes, adjustments.
3. There should be 5 unchangeable progressive tax rates of 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 37%.
4. The 5 tax rates would be applied to income of up to 1, 2, 3, 4, and greater than 4 times the GNI per person, with tables adjusted each year as determined by the CBO.
5. Any projected deficit would be resolved, when possible, by a surtax multiplier applied to the tax owed, not to exceed a predetermined maximum.
6. Any revenue surplus would be left for Congress to decide if it should be used to reduce the debt, and/or be used by those with gross income in the lower 4 tax brackets as a surtax multiplier of less than 1.
7. FICA tax and associated Trust funds would be eliminated, and made part of the Public held debt allowing Social Security and Medicare to be administered and funded through the general revenue fund.
8. Social Security benefits would no longer be associated with FICA taxable income, but solely on age and citizenship.
9. There would be 11 annually inflation adjusted Social Security benefit amounts determined by the age one first begins receiving benefits. ( Haven't yet tried to determine what the amounts should be using a spreadsheet. )
10. Naturalized citizens, who were naturalized at age 45 or more would be ineligible for reduced benefits at an age less than 67.