Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» Instead of the obscenely wealthy paying millions of dollars to TAX ACCOUNTANTS to avoid paying taxes why don't they just pay their taxes?
What, and part with some of their precious money? Perish the thought! Money is addicting. The more one has the more they want - and they'll do anything to protect. It becomes, as Gollum put it, "my precious".
I never did understand those insatiable folks. They never have enough. The more they have the more they want and the more they NEED and if that means taking all of yours to add to theirs they will do that in a heartbeat. It is very peculiar to me. I know when I have enough and I"m happy when I do and I don't get why people lust after more when they will never use it? Thank you for your reply Shuhak! :)
Because hiring accountants is cheaper and there's no law saying you have to pay more than you're required to. Why would anyone pay more than they need to? When was the last time you volunteered to pay the cable company double? Offered to pay extra for your groceries?
This is very odd. You do realize you are attacking me for asking a simple question don't you? I think everyone should pay his/her fair share. You do realize that some huge organizations and billionaires PAY NO TAXES because of tax loopholes don't you? DO YOU THINK THAT IS FAIR? Sure it's legal but is it moral ethical honorable? You have yout view JA. You are a justifier. I am surprised at you though. And a bit disappointed. Thank you for your reply and Happy Friday.
But the point is - and this I asked you in a recent answer - who decides what is one's "fair share"? As long as when we file our taxes we are obeying the laws then by the laws we owe so much and we pay it then we are obeying the laws. So the laws do not expect us to pay more than we legally would owe on our taxes.
Now I don't know of any corporation not paying taxes. Certainly we pay plenty here because I publish the records. Have always been "loopholes" both for large and small taxpayers but , as you know, President Trump ended some of those which were left because he doesn't believe the wealthy should have as many of those "loopholes". So no longer having those many of us are now paying more than we did under the Obama administration. Though we are still paying according to a graduated tax which assesses those of us who have some resources much more than those who have less in terms of percentages. How many people actually pay taxes now? I think you will find that a much greater percentage of people - maybe half of U.S. citizens - pay NOTHING in taxes at all. Whereas previously lots ore people had to pay taxes. And most of the people not having to pay are not rich people at all but people of modest or few means
No attack was intended there at all. I asked questions that I thought would result in critical thinking and demonstrate a point about the topic, which were in no way related to you or your character. The fact is, I wouldn't pay more for my groceries. I wouldn't pay more on my taxes than I'm required to. I don't think those things reflect poorly on me and, if they apply to you, they wouldn't reflect poorly on you either. Ergo, no attack.
I wholeheartedly believe each entity should pay his/ her/ its "fair share." I'm well aware of how some companies and individuals structure their finances to avoid having to pay more. I'm not angry with the US companies that moved to Ireland and other low-tax/ no-tax jurisdictions to skip out on US tax. I'm not angry with the people who structure their assets in such a way that it minimizes taxes or that prevents double taxation. I am frustrated with the US tax laws.
We operate a capitalistic economy. It's based wholly on competitiveness. Yet, our corporate tax rates are twice that of other well-developed nations. Of course they're going to take their business elsewhere. It's smart business. As long as we are a capitalistic society, we have to incentivize corporations to stay here. We're not doing that. One could even argue that it's not fair to them to have to pay more for the privilege of operating in the US.
I think the more we focus on creating tax policies that are friendly to businesses and individuals, the more money we'll keep here.
One thing I have never seen, and if this exists, I sincerely hope someone will show me, is statistics/ modeling related to taxes paid/ percentages/ hard amounts, based upon tax policies. I genuinely believe that we'd raise more money in taxes overall by lowering the tax rates, ditching graduated schemes, and eliminating double taxation situations.
At its core, my view on taxation is no different than my views on tons of stuff. I think we need to take a step back and eliminate the incentives for certain behaviors, not continue to try to punish people. Punishment is not an effective deterrent. It doesn't address why people do what they do.
Yes but I think the way some people see it is if we have more we should pay more than what we are expected to - or should be forced to legally. Which of course with a graduated rather than a flat income tax we already do. So they see it as - if we have more than we need to live on then that - what they see is "extra" should not belong to us. Or certainly part of it.
Shuhak 