Subject: Federal Tax Reform Comment: There is something terribly wrong with tax law that necessitates the vast majority of citizens having to hire specialists to keep from running afoul of that law. Anyone who has done their own taxes while trying to operate a very small business or bought and fixed up rental property to try to supplement their salary or done anything that takes one beyond the 1040A knows how outrageous the tax code is. If any members of the President's Advisory Panel have, they will understand where support for the organization Americans For Fair Taxation ( www.fairtax.org ) originates. I have spent 40 + years trying to understand and comply. With authority I can say the code has unnecessary complexity, wastes untold resources in its administration and is grossly unfair for those who are the least bit energetic and entrepreneurial but can not afford clever tax lawyers. Having to calculate AMT ( abominable mean tax ) on top of everything else is outrageous. I go through the pain every year while only once having had to pay it. The introduction of a national sales tax targeted to eliminate all but corporate and super rich individuals from income tax is a reasonable path to correcting the very flawed present system. John H. Gelston 9811 Marine View Drive Mukilteo, WA 98275 |