[tptacek]

I don't see how you can get a fair flat tax, once you take into account transfer payments and entitlements that benefit lower-income people. I think you can make government's intake look fair with a flat tax, but that the inevitable outcome of that will be a system that lowers the burden on the wealthy by doing fewer things for the poor.

I don't think the complexity of the tax system is really that much of a problem. And for the past few years, I've been getting a face-full of the system in all its complex and frankly idiotic glory. I think it's fine that the system kind of screws people like me, and also benefits accountants and a tax preparation industry. We can afford it.

[protomyth]

"I don't think the complexity of the tax system is really that much of a problem."

The fact that TurboTax exists means the complexity of the system is a problem. For the average citizen to need a program to attempt to follow the law and still not get all the deductions owed points to a problem. The fact that the programmers at TurboTax have screwed up in recent years and cost people money and made them not comply with the law says the system is too complex.