Any tax reform that lowers the top rate and scraps deductions should be rejected

[King]

How about a 9.75% sales tax rate nationally and no income tax?

If you enjoy a tax hike sure.

90% of the tax burden for most people is how difficult it is to file.  Real tax reform would collect the same money from the same places with less paperwork. 

[King]

How about a 9.75% sales tax rate nationally and no income tax?

If you enjoy a tax hike sure.

90% of the tax burden for most people is how difficult it is to file.  Real tax reform would collect the same money from the same places with less paperwork. 

It is not difficult to file your taxes. Have you never heard of FreeFile/eFile on the IRS website? If you make under something like $50,000, you can file your taxes for free online, either with a PDF form you fill in or through H&R Block/TurboTax/etc. And if your state has an income tax, you can file that through them at the same time, also for free. The whole thing takes maybe 20 minutes and is practically idiot-proof.

It boggles my mind when I drive through poor neighborhoods and see a tax prep place on every corner charging absurd fees and pushing refund advances at 300% APR on people. I can sympathize with people who get into the payday loan racket because they literally have no other way of getting credit, but this is just dumb. Why would you pay some urban entrepreneur $150 to do a service for you that you can get absolutely for free somewhere else?

Yes, for low middle income individuals, taxes are not difficult.  For those who have to itemize and for small business owners, there are hassles.