A Fine Mess : A Global Quest for a Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient Tax System

Bestselling author T. R. Reid voyages around the world to solve the urgent problem of America's failing tax code, unravelling a complex topic in plain English and telling a rollicking story along the way. The US tax code is a total write-off. Overstuffed with loopholes and special interest provisions, it works for no one—except tax lawyers, accountants, and corporations, that is—certainly not me and you. Not for the first time, we have to tear it up and start over. That happened in 1922, and again in 1954, and again in 1986. There's a pattern here; we reach this point every 32 years. Which means the next complete re-write of the tax code is due in 2018. Can we write a new tax code that is fair and simple? Can we cut tax rates and still bring in the revenue required? In fact, we can – by learning from the world's other democracies. Around the world, wealthy democracies, from Estonia to New Zealand to the UK, have all reformed their tax codes, while... New York Times bestelling author T. R. Reid travels around the world to solve the urgent problem of America's failing tax code, unravelling a complex topic in plain English - and telling a rollicking story along the way. The U.S. tax code is a total write-off. Crammed with loopholes and special interest provisions, it works for no one except tax lawyers, accountants, and huge corporations. Not for the first time, we have reached a breaking point. That happened in 1922, and again in 1954, and again in 1986. In other words, every thirty-two years. Which means that the next complete overhaul is due in 2018. But what should be in this new tax code? Can we make the U.S. tax system simpler, fairer, and more efficient? Yes, yes, and yes. Can we cut tax rates and still bring in more revenue? Yes. Other rich countries, from Estonia to New Zealand to the UK—advanced, high-tech, free-market democracies—have all devised tax regimes that are equitable, effective, and easy on the taxpayer. But the United States has languished. So byzantine are the current statutes that, by our government’s own estimates, Americans spend six billion hours and $10 billion every year preparing and filing their taxes. In the Netherlands that task takes a mere fifteen minutes! Successful American companies like Apple, Caterpillar, and Google effectively pay no tax at all in some instances because of loopholes that allow them to move profits offshore. Indeed, the dysfunctional tax system has become a major cause of economic inequality. In A Fine Mess, T. R. Reid crisscrosses the globe in search of the exact solutions to these urgent problems. With an uncanny knack for making a complex subject not just accessible but gripping, he investigates what makes good taxation (no, that’s not an oxymoron) and brings that knowledge home where it is needed most. Never talking down or reflexively siding with either wing of politics, T. R. Reid presses the case for sensible root-and-branch reforms with a companionable ebullience. This affects everyone. Doing our taxes will never be America's favorite pastime, but it can and should be so much easier and fairer. The U.s. Tax Code Is A Total Write-off. Crammed With Loopholes And Special Interest Provisions, It Works For No One Except Tax Lawyers, Accountants, And Huge Corporations. Not For The First Time, We Have Reached A Breaking Point-- In Fact, We Reach One Every Thirty-two Years. T.r. Reid Crisscrosses The Globe In Search Of Exact Solutions To The Urgent Tax Problems Of The United States. With An Uncanny Knack For Making A Complex Subject Not Just Accessible But Gripping, He Investigates What Makes Good Taxation (no, That's Not An Oxymoron) And Brings That Knowledge Home Where It Is Needed Most. Reid Presses The Case For Sensible Root-and-branch Reforms That Will Affect Everyone. Doing Our Taxes Will Never Be America's Favorite Pastime, But It Can And Should Be So Much Easier And Fairer. -- Every Thirty-two Years -- Policy Laboratories -- Low Effort, Low Collection -- Taxes : What Are They Good For? -- Bblr -- Scooping Water With A Sieve -- Flat Broke -- The Defining Problem; The Taxing Solution -- Convoluted And Pernicious Strategies -- The Single Tax, The Fat Tax, The Tiny Tax, The Carbon Tax -- And No Tax At All -- The Panama Papers : Sunny Places For Shady Money -- Simplify, Simplify -- The Money Machine -- The Internal Revenue Code Of 2018. T.r. Reid. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 263-269) And Index. "The U.S. tax code is a total write-off. Crammed with loopholes and special interest provisions, it works for no one except tax lawyers, accountants, and huge corporations. Not for the first time, we have reached a breaking point -- in fact, we reach one every thirty-two years. T.R. Reid crisscrosses the globe in search of exact solutions to the urgent tax problems of the United States. With an uncanny knack for making a complex subject not just accessible but gripping, he investigates what makes good taxation (no, that's not an oxymoron) and brings that knowledge home where it is needed most. Reid presses the case for sensible root-and-branch reforms that will affect everyone. Doing our taxes will never be America's favorite pastime, but it can and should be so much easier and fairer"--Adapted from the book jacket The U.S. tax code is a total write-off. Crammed with loopholes and special interest provisions, it works for no one except tax lawyers, accountants, and huge corporations. Not for the first time, we have reached a breaking point-- in fact, we reach one every thirty-two years. T.R. Reid crisscrosses the globe in search of exact solutions to the urgent tax problems of the United States. With an uncanny knack for making a complex subjects not just accessible but gripping, he investigates what makes good taxation (no, that's not an oxymoron) and brings that knowledge home where it is needed most. Reid presses the case for sensible root-and-branch reforms that will affect everyone. Doing our taxes will never be America's favorite pastime, but it can and should be so much easier and fairer. -- Adapted from dust jacket Presents an international investigation into America's failing tax code to share plainspoken assessments of current problems and what can be learned from other democratic nations