free4now said:This I find absolutely amazing. The American tax code is rife with opportunities to fraudulently hide tax liability. I always thought that one of the main benefits of simplifying the American tax code would be to increase compliance dramatically. I suppose corruption must be the explanation for why other countries would have low compliance.
Our financial system is probably the best documented in the world. The only way you can get money is electronically. You can do some business in cash; but if you do too much, that in itself will trigger an audit.
Most other countries are less controlled and either accept or encourage an underground economy.
Now the US tax system is one of the most regressive tax system. Our low income wage earners are slammed with over 15% SS/medicare tax. We could exempt all wage earners under $30K/yr (all taxes including SS), charge everyone else 15% of earning over $30K and we'd bring in more money. Why can't we do it? Special interests wanting their little piece of the tax code, the belief by some people in the power of "social engineering" and politicos that know that's a golden goose for campaign contributions.