[jrochkind1]

But literally even JUST THE FEDERAL taxes is incredibly complex.

As far as income taxes, the state income taxes have always been pretty simple for me. City even simpler, and I've lived place with and without them. Most of the complexity is federal (although in part because state and city take the income from the federal as their starting point). But that's enough! And sure, adding more on top doesn't help.

The federal taxes keep adding complexity, even for people with relatively simple situations. It's true for low-wage earners who don't have many assets, federal taxes can be... relatively simple. Maybe as simple as European ones. I dunno, it's a mess.