A common refrain during tax season is that the whole system of credits and sliding rate scales is just too complex. One of the ideas that has cropped up in recent years is to replace the system with a simple flat tax, but it turns out to be a whole lot more complicated and controversial than it might seem at first glance.

On the plus side, imagine filling out a return that consists of a single sheet of paper or web page. Simply total up taxable earnings and multiply by a single rate that is applicable to all people regardless of income level to determine how much you owe. That, in essence, is a flat tax system.  Read More…

10 Comments

  1. Every decade there is always talks of trying to slip in a simplified tax code via flat tax. Its a bad idea. Plain and simple.

  2. I doubt Canada is stupid enough to want to go this route but i think things will be different in 10 years.

  3. Why doesn’t Canada just test drive it in some province and see how things go and then if its good then move to another province, etc?

  4. The math says it all — a flat tax implementation would shift the burden of taxes onto the lower earners. Its a giveaway to the rich.

    No thank you!

  5. Even the US is troubled by the idea of a flat tax. If their country isnt going to do it despite being so corrupt we are safe.

  6. I am glad to see Conservatives still have some principles let by rejecting it.

  7. If you are rich you love the flat-tax system.

  8. I love the idea that the tax code can be simplified and only need a single sheet of paper because right now it takes me a month straight to work out the details. And evne then i still have many errors.

  9. I am still amazed that after several other countries have shown it can work we still dont even consider it here.

  10. There is a reason why most countries refuse to move to a flat-tax system. It unfavorably puts the burden on the lower/middle class.

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