Subject: Alternative Minimum Tax Comment: I have no tax preference items and and a reasonable real estate and income tax deduction yet I was caught in the alternative minimum tax in 2004 and will be in 2005 and beyond without change. My tax return is in every sense very ordinary. My wife and I work hard to put our children through college and take care of our elderly parents. My tax situation is not the reason that the AMT was originally enacted. I discussed this matter with many of my colleagues who have also been ensnared in the trap. The AMT makes the Bush tax cuts a complete failure. The benefit to the economy by reducing taxes is then taken away by the workings of the AMT. The anger of the common citizen is growing as people realize they will soon be caught in this trap for the unwary. This is simply bad policy and must be abolished. Bob Anderson |