National Sales Tax?

[R1ZOOM]

I saw the HA's online poll today asked if you supported a national sales tax instead of income taxes. I'm curious how the members of this forum feel. I know this idea has been tossed around a lot in recent years, and I doubt it would ever pass. I personally support a natonal sales tax, as I think it would do away with a lot of government waste and put some things in check. It would put everybody on a much more level playing field. Those who save their money would not be penalized as they are with income taxes now. Of course I'm sure it would be such a watered down tax that it would once again put the tax burden on a minority of people as it is now, instead of on everybody. What are your thoughts?

[aaron]

Well, I'd like to add that a national sales tax that completely replaced income taxes would be somewhere in the range of 50%-80% on everything you buy. I don't know if America could handle the sticker shock.

[R1ZOOM]

From my research somewhere between 20-33% is a much more accurate figure

[aaron]

That's the thing, no one knows. If you raised prices on things 20% or 80%, no one knows how much tax revenue this sales tax will be bringing in. So, I don't think it will ever even get in the door. I would just like to see simplication in the code so that everyone doesn't need an accountant to do their taxes.