There is a general consensus that we need tax reform. The current taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. code is too complicated, burdensome, and uncompetitive, and undermines our economic potential. This assessment is true, but much of what people believe tax reform should accomplish stems from common misconceptions about the distribution and administration of taxes in America.
Before we decide where we want to go, we need to know where we are. The second edition of our chart book, Putting a Face on America’s Tax Returns, maps out the landscape of the U.S. tax code and helps us understand the implications it has for taxpayers and the economy.
We’ve compiled this chart book not only to put a face on America’s taxpayers but also to provide all of the must-know background information to the key issues involved in reforming our nation’s tax code and refocus the discussion on the search for solutions to the fundamental problems with current tax policy in the United States.
We hope Putting a Face on America’s Tax Returns serves as your guide to understanding the long-term implications of tax policy and how we can best craft a tax code that leads to greater economic growth and greater prosperity for America.
