The Fair Tax Act Aims to Abolish the IRS and Set a National Sales Tax
Oct 16, 2023 By Triston Martin

Are you tired of the Internal Revenue Service charging you a percentage of what you make year after year? Looking for an alternative to paying costly tax fees and dealing with complex tax forms? The Fair Tax Act could be just the thing for you!

This proposed legislation seeks to revolutionize taxes collected in America by abolishing the IRS and setting a national sales tax.

Learn more about how this reforming policy could change everything from who pays taxes, what counts as income, and where your money goes here. Keep reading to get all the information on this revolutionary Act!

Introducing The Fair Tax Act - What is It and What Does it Aim to Do?

The Fair Tax Act is a proposed federal law that seeks to abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and set a national sales tax as Americans' primary form of taxation. This would replace the current income tax system, which has been used since the early 1900s.

Proponents of The Fair Tax Act believe it could make taxing citizens easier, fairer, and more transparent.

The Fair Tax Act was proposed by Republican Representatives John Linder and Rob Woodall in 2011 but has yet to be passed into law due to a lack of support from both parties.

It seeks to create a single tax system for all American citizens while eliminating the need for the IRS.

Under this plan, Americans would pay taxes on purchases rather than income. The tax would be imposed at the point of sale and collected by businesses registered with the government.

To compensate for lost revenue from the current system, a monthly “prebate” (or pre-payment) would be given to all citizens equally.

How Does the Fair Tax Act Benefit Taxpayers

The Fair Tax Act aims to abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and replace all income, payroll, and estate taxes with a national sales tax. Proponents of the Fair Tax Act believe it would benefit taxpayers by:

  • Eliminating federal taxes on personal income, including wages, salaries, interest, dividends, capital gains, and other investment income.
  • Cutting Social Security and Medicare taxes - employers and employees would no longer pay these taxes, saving most taxpayers an estimated 15 percent of wages.
  • Reducing paperwork - individuals could save time by not having to file multiple federal tax forms or reports; businesses would also benefit from less paperwork and compliance costs associated with federal tax laws.

Pros and Cons of Replacing the IRS with a National Sales Tax

The Fair Tax Act of 2011 addresses many of the shortcomings in the current tax system, but it also has its critics. Supporters of the act claim that it would be simpler and fairer for taxpayers, while opponents argue that it could result in higher taxes for some. So what are the pros and cons of replacing the IRS with a national sales tax?

Pros of Replacing the IRS with a National Sales Tax

1. Simplicity: A national sales tax is a much more streamlined approach to taxation than the current system, which requires taxpayers to file complicated forms and keep an extensive record-keeping system.

It also eliminates the need for tax preparers and other professionals who help people understand their taxes.

2. Transparency:

A national sales tax is a transparent mechanism for collecting taxes. It eliminates the need for taxpayers to estimate their incomes, deductions, and credits.

As taxes are collected on purchased goods and services, it’s easy to see who pays what amount.

3. Unbiased:

A national sales tax abolishes the IRS and its associated bureaucracy. This creates a more level playing field for taxpayers, as the tax burden is evenly distributed among all citizens.

Cons of Replacing the IRS with a National Sales Tax

1. Progressivity:

Critics of a national sales tax argue that it would be regressive, meaning that lower-income individuals would be hit harder than higher-income individuals.

This is because lower-income individuals spend a larger percentage of their income on goods and services than higher-income individuals.

2. Revenue Impacts:

Another concern is that the revenue collected from a national sales tax would need to be increased to fund government programs at current levels.

This could result in cuts to essential programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

3. Corporate Tax Benefits:

Supporters of the current tax system claim that businesses would benefit from a national sales tax as they would no longer be subject to corporate taxes.

This could increase income inequality and reduce the money available for government programs that benefit low-income individuals.

How Voters in Each State Could be Affected by the Fair Tax Act

The Fair Tax Act aims to abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and replace it with a national sales tax.

The bill proposes replacing federal income tax, payroll taxes, corporate income taxes, capital gains taxes, and estate taxes in favor of a 23% uniform sales tax on consumer goods and services. This would be collected at the point of sale by businesses and paid by the consumer.

The biggest impact of this bill would be increased taxes on consumers, as they would need to pay the 23% sales tax on top of existing state and local sales taxes.

Depending on their location, some people may pay more out-of-pocket due to higher state sales taxes. Other people may pay less if their state has a lower sales tax rate or no sales tax act.

In addition to the consumer impact, the bill also proposes that businesses collect and remit taxes on behalf of consumers. This could create an administrative burden for small businesses and increase operating costs.

FAQs

1. What is the Fair Tax Act?

The Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25/S. 122) is a proposed federal law that would abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and replace it with a national sales tax system of taxation for all individuals in the United States.

It proposes eliminating income, payroll, estate, gift, and corporate taxes, replacing them with a 23% federal sales tax on all new goods and services.

2. What are the goals of the Fair Tax Act?

The main goals of the Fair Tax Act are to set a single, flat rate for taxation that is fair and consistent across all income levels, eliminate the IRS as an agency, reduce bureaucratic paperwork for business owners and individuals, and create a stronger economy by stimulating consumer spending.

The Act also seeks to provide more money for government programs while simultaneously reducing the overall tax burden on the American people.

3. How does the Fair Tax Act work?

Under the proposed system, businesses would pay taxes when they purchase goods from wholesalers or other businesses at the point of sale.

Individuals would pay taxes when purchasing goods and services from retailers but not on selling their homes or investments. The Act would include a monthly rebate to compensate individuals for sales tax paid on necessities up to the poverty level.

Conclusion

I hope this article has provided a better understanding of the Fair Tax Act and its goal of abolishing the IRS and setting a national sales tax.

This proposal could revolutionize America's taxation system with huge economic growth potential. It remains to be seen if it will become law, but it deserves serious consideration.