[logfromblammo]

No matter how simple you make the calculation of tax owed, you cannot simplify the complexity of relying on individuals and businesses to report accurate information to feed into the formulas.

You eventually have to define your terms, and those definitions will have the loopholes embedded in them.

That's not to say that simplification is useless. It would still cut a lot of waste out of the costs of collection, enforcement, and compliance.