Americans spend over 28% of their year just working to pay a variety of taxes. (Tax Freedom Day was April 13th in 2009.) The Internal Revenue Code in 2005 stood at 7 million words in 736 code sections, up from 718,000 words in 103 code sections in 1955.

Tax Day Tea Party Syndrome
By Eva Rosenberg, EA

Your TaxMama® www.TaxQuips.com

As I understand from my old civics classes, the original Boston Tea Party took place essentially due to two issues:

1. Taxation without representation
2. Taxes assessed upon taxes

Oh, there’s more to it than that. And part of it had to do with making it clear to King George that American colonists would not permit him to impose taxes that they’ve already rejected. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm

So what’s bugging us today?

You’ve got to be kidding!

Well, first of all, Americans spend over 28% of their year just working to pay a variety of taxes. (Tax Freedom Day was April 13th in 2009.)

Next, the proliferation of tax laws has gotten out of control. Nina E. Olson, IRS’s Taxpayers Advocate quantified the current complexity of our Internal Revenue Code in a Wall Street Journal article last week calling for a simpler tax system. She spells out that “Since the beginning of 2001, there have been more than 3,250 changes to the tax code — an average of more than one a day — including more than 500 changes last year alone.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123933106888707793.html

According to The Tax Foundation The Internal Revenue Code in 2005 stood at 7 million words in 736 code sections, up from 718,000 words in 103 code sections in 1955. By contrast, the King James Bible has 788,280 words in 66 books, the Harry Potter series has just over 1 million words in 7 books, and the English translation of War and Peace has 560,000 words. http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/24620.html

IRS is auditing a disproportionate number of very small businesses. While most auditors are quite reasonable, some of those auditors are downright pigheaded, tormenting truly innocent and compliant taxpayers – and treating honest folks like liars and criminals.

The smallest business-owners, often single parents running home-based business to keep home and hearth intact, suffer huge volumes of licensing and compliance demands. It’s practically impossible for a small business to track and address all of them, without overlooking any and getting into trouble. When it comes to compliance, one glimmer of hope for small businesses is a service called BusinessLicenses.com http://snurl.com/license-tax. Even so, why should we be subject to so many reporting demands?

And the inequities! This morning, a tax professional in Virginia just discovered that folks who buy new homes in Washington, DC may not use the new first time homebuyers credit of $8,000. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf They are limited to the special DC credit of only $5,000. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8859.pdf

People who bought homes (outside DC) in 2008 got shortchanged. Not only did they only get $7,500. But they have to pay that money back. Buyers in 2008 get to keep the whole credit.

And then look at where the money is being spent!

42% goes to military spending. Yet I doubt that 42% of Americans want to spend that much of our money to wage wars. Though, it’s perfectly obvious we would spend less than half of that if the stewards of our monies made sure we weren’t being ripped off by American and foreign contractors. http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/outrageous-baghdad-boondoggle/article118977.html

22% goes to health care. If the government had better control over the funds that are spent, don’t you think that we actually provide adequate health care and education for much less money? http://www.usdoj.gov/dag/pubdoc/hipaa00ar21.htm

Nearly 9% of our taxes goes to pay for anti-poverty programs. That’s another word for welfare. While Americans do want to help the less fortunate, they sorely resent having their generosity abused by folks who make a living working the system, instead of working. And intensely resent those who’ve become wealthy stealing from the social services systems by lying and filing multiple claims. It’s time to focus that money on helping people get training and jobs to bootstrap themselves.

Living in poverty is no excuse. Look what Tahiera Monique Brown and her neighbors were able to do! http://www.usdoj.gov/dag/pubdoc/hipaa00ar21.htm

See what major leaguer Dave Valle started with micro-loans and minimal funding in the Dominican Republic. He gave people pride and purpose – and fun!

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/majorleague-baseball-player-helps-the-impoverished-start-businesses/article125462.html

Why isn’t our government controlling costs better and encouraging and rewarding self-help style behavior?

Why are we giving billions of dollars to billionaires who not only reaped huge rewards while getting us into this global financial crisis, but have the nerve to get bonuses for making these very same bad investments?

Of course Americans are revolting!

And I’m proud of every one of us!

Tax Day Tea Party Syndrome by Tax Mama Eva Rosenberg originally appeared on Rights Radio™ with Dr. Joyce Starr - An Independent Voice on April 15, 2009.