[jos3000]

The big problem with this is that, under a simple tax system, if a government wants to increase it's tax revenue it is extremely easy for voters to understand what is happening. Governments prefer to make complicated tax laws because they are easier to spin.

[vtlynch]

Ah yes governments always trying to make things too complicated!! Argh! Why cant we replace the govt with the private sector! They never do anything that would obscure or needlessly complicate things.

[wereHamster]

Not only govt, but private companies as well. Remember when the company behind the most widespread US tax software (can't remember its name) lobbied against simpler tax code? Why? It's simple, because it would cut into their sales!

Everybody who has something to lose will vote against a simpler system, doesn't matter whether its a private company or government.

[mike_hearn]

Governments make complicated tax laws because of constant attempts to make the tax system 'fair', where fairness is a pretty vague concept and can be interpreted many ways by different people and parties.

There are lots of economic arguments for very simple tax systems that prioritise revenue collection over other things. But a lot of people would see them as "unfair" and therefore unjust.

[yuliyp]

Oh come on. The taxes that 90% of people pay are perfectly clear. The exceptions only affect a very small minority of people (namely those with enough income to make it worth their while to care about exploiting the exceptions).

[rootlocus]

Security through obscurity? xD