Taxes on Inheritance and Lottery Winnings

[nclib]

*If you think either tax should be eliminated, vote 'lower'.


I vote Option 2. The absence of an inheritance tax makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. A lottery, however, can be won by anyone.

[nclib]

Taxes on wealth gained by luck (including the luck of being born into a wealthy family) are some of the most important taxes we have.

You have a point, but I would say that wealth that there is a fundamental difference between inheritances and lottery winnings.

Lottery winnings are simply a redistribution of wealth from those who buy tickets to those who happen to pick the right combination of numbers.

Inheritance is the passing of wealth that has been in some way earned, presumably, by a loved one onto the people of his/her choosing.

As I said, I'm not necessarily for total elimination of the inheritance tax, but I can't view inheritances in the same light as lottery winnings.

Although I agree with Preston about luck being taxed highly, I feel it is more important to tax inheritance since large inheritances can only be gained by certain people while a lottery is open to everyone.

Inheritance taxes, unlike lottery taxes, alleviate the caste system.