If Donald Trump really doesn't pay federal income tax...

[jardiniere]

Would that impress you? Would you think it was smart? Should we all emulate him?

 

[civilwarbuff]

If he did it legally, what is the problem? I don't know of anyone who does not try to pay as little income tax as possible. If people don't like the fact that he pays little or no income tax insist that the laws be changed.

 

[jardiniere]

What if it wasn't legal? Would that change your outlook on him not paying taxes?

Some people don't mind paying income tax, even if they do pay only as much as owed. A theory is that the government provides us with services, some of which we all use. And paying for those services is a reasonable obligation. If you don't pay any federal (or state) income tax, doesn't that make you a freeloader-much like Romney complained about?

 

[Armoured]

If he did it legally, what is the problem? I don't know of anyone who does not try to pay as little income tax as possible. If people don't like the fact that he pays little or no income tax insist that the laws be changed.

These would be the laws that the Usual Suspects freak out about class warfare, wealth redistribution, and socialism any time such change is mentioned, right?

If Trump is serious about "making America great again", why isn't he prepared to hekp pay for it? Who does he think SHOULD pay for it?

 

[civilwarbuff]

What if it wasn't legal? Would that change your outlook on him not paying taxes?

Some people don't mind paying income tax, even if they do pay only as much as owed. A theory is that the government provides us with services, some of which we all use. And paying for those services is a reasonable obligation. If you don't pay any federal (or state) income tax, doesn't that make you a freeloader-much like Romney complained about?

He must not have done anything illegal since he got his casino license.....and the Gaming Commission pretty much turns that stuff inside out........

 

[civilwarbuff]

These would be the laws that the Usual Suspects freak out about class warfare, wealth redistribution, and socialism any time such change is mentioned, right?

If Trump is serious about "making America great again", why isn't he prepared to hekp pay for it? Who does he think SHOULD pay for it?

I already gave my position on taxation on another thread......no deductions for anything, certain amount of income free from federal income tax per filer, all other income taxed at a reduced rate from current rates.

 

[grasping the after wind]

These would be the laws that the Usual Suspects freak out about class warfare, wealth redistribution, and socialism any time such change is mentioned, right?

If Trump is serious about "making America great again", why isn't he prepared to hekp pay for it? Who does he think SHOULD pay for it?

Please be a little more specific here. Many people are not interested in increasing tax rates and would oppose a socialist system where success is punished by confiscatory tax rates but the laws that allow for high income individuals and companies to avoid paying altogether are very different ones and I would wager only a very few crony capitalists would be against changing them. So I do not think that if Trump has legally avoided paying income tax it is because of the tax rates but because of crony capitalist laws (Obamacare for instance) that favor politically connected entrenched interests over the well being of the nation as a whole. certainly Trump has, over the years, contributed large sums of money to both parties and has most likely seen a return on that investment.

 

[grasping the after wind]

I already gave my position on taxation on another thread......no deductions for anything, certain amount of income free from federal income tax per filer, all other income taxed at a reduced rate from current rates.

Sounds like a reasonable way to tax IMO. Many deductions are simply a means for politicians to garner bribes or return favors.

 

[jardiniere]

OK. Illegal or legal, is it smart and emulation-worthy to not pay federal income tax? Should we all be doing so?
CWB, I think your desires re how taxation should be different aren't really my aim. I want to find out if people think that billionaires that don't pay income tax are smart and worth emulating.
(Emulating about paying taxes, that is. I think becoming a smart billionaire is quite possibly worthwhile.)

 

[grasping the after wind]

We should all be happy, if Trump really did not pay taxes in a certain year or a certain number of years, that he did not apply for the welfare benefits he would have been legally entitled to due to having an income too small to pay taxes. Another wonderful loophole in our system.

 

[grasping the after wind]

OK. Illegal or legal, is it smart and emulation-worthy to not pay federal income tax? Should we all be doing so?
CWB, I think your desires re how taxation should be different aren't really my aim. I want to find out if people think that billionaires that don't pay income tax are smart and worth emulating.

I do not think it takes being smart to take advantage of what is available to you. If we could do it legally then yes we all should do so. I can think of no reason not to. Just as those that do not need Medicaid but are eligible for it ought to apply for it rather than pay more for private insurance either from their employer or through exchanges. . If the government makes a rule and we can legally benefit from it the government wants us to do so. They even advertise some of those things hoping to get more people to take advantage of them. If those in government did not want people to take advantage of tax breaks , deductions and benefits they would not have put them in place to begin with or they would remove them if they changed their minds.

 

[civilwarbuff]

OK. Illegal or legal, is it smart and emulation-worthy to not pay federal income tax? Should we all be doing so?
CWB, I think your desires re how taxation should be different aren't really my aim. I want to find out if people think that billionaires that don't pay income tax are smart and worth emulating.
(Emulating about paying taxes, that is. I think becoming a smart billionaire is quite possibly worthwhile.)

I don't like the tax laws but they are what they are and it is in a persons best interest to minimize that payment so I don't have a problem with it as long as they are not violating the law. I would do the same thing in his place; I think most people would do the same. We all try to minimize our tax by taking advantage of all deductions possible; it is legal so it is OK.
Now, if you are wanting to know if I think it is fair that some high income people pay no tax or a lower % than many wage workers no, I don't believe it is fair and it should be changed. But this cuts both ways; when 45+% of the population does not pay federal income tax that simply increases the burden placed on the other 55%. All need to bleed at least a litlle except those on the lowest rung. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/45-of-americans-pay-no-federal-income-tax-2016-02-24

 

[Albion]

Would that impress you? Would you think it was smart? Should we all emulate him?

What would make you or us think he doesn't pay federal income taxes?

 

[jardiniere]

What would make you or us think he doesn't pay federal income taxes?

From watching the debate on Monday night.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html?_r=0
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...-hillary-clinton-tax-claim-ignores-years-whe/

 

[civilwarbuff]

From watching the debate on Monday night.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html?_r=0
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...-hillary-clinton-tax-claim-ignores-years-whe/

There must be a much larger benefit for carrying that real estate as personal income vs corporate......at least I understood they were talking about personal not corporate taxes paid......

 

[Albion]

From watching the debate on Monday night.

You mean because Hillary Clinton suggested it without any evidence.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Why is it so great for Trump to not pay income tax, but when "the 47%" don't pay it, they're considered freeloaders?

 

[Albion]

Why is it so great for Trump to not pay income tax, but when "the 47%" don't pay it, they're considered freeloaders?

Get back to us when Trump actually doesn't pay income taxes. This new campaign of slander doesn't speak well for Hillary or any of her devotees.

 

[civilwarbuff]

Why is it so great for Trump to not pay income tax, but when "the 47%" don't pay it, they're considered freeloaders?

Did anyone here cal them free loaders or is this just an attempted derail?

 

[Albion]

Attempted derail.

The thinking may be that two lies joined by a comma may work better than one standing alone.

Anyone who refutes either one of them without taking the time to also rebut the other one will accidentally look to be confirming the second one.