In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes — well maybe not exactly certain because this year we get three extra days (April 19th instead of the 15th) to submit our returns. But why April? Why the 15th? Apparently the first income tax was paid only by the very wealthy, and they tended to spend their summers vacationing. Thus, the IRS Commissioner argued, “The collection of taxes would be much easier if an earlier assessment was made, before they leave town.” Seems early to start vacation but whatever, that was many years ago.
I’ve been thinking about taxes and I’ve come to the conclusion: the IRS could mange them a lot better — again a pretty simple solution is the answer: Rolling Returns. I see absolutely no reason why every single American has to submit their taxes on the same day. Why not just vary the date so that not everyone pays on the same day? For simplicity sake make everyone’s yearend be their birthdays. Yes, that’s right I’m suggesting that we all pay our taxes on our birthdays. This accomplishes a couple of things: 1) it lessens the amount of workers the IRS has to have on staff— this could be a HUGE SAVINGS.
No reason these returns all need to be collected on one day
Returns would come in all year long and greatly reduce the paperwork overload. 2) the U.S. Post Office also would benefit from having to process so much mail in one short time span. 3) Having a constant cashflow would ease budgeting in Washington. 4) People wouldn’t forget what day their taxes were due and they’d pay on time. They’d also have a few extra dollars in their pockets from cash gifts. 5) There would be less automobile accidents because fewer drivers would be on the road at the same time trying to drop off their returns at the post office.
6) Companies like H&R block and accountants could have a much more normal workload — and afford to keep preparers on fulltime instead of the hundreds of thousands that are employed for March and April and then let go and then go on unemployment — (costing the government more money.
To me this seems like a no-brainer, but then again who am I to judge how the IRS runs its business, I’m just another stressed out last minute taxpayer. Oh, and if you are wondering Douglas Shulman is the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service. It would be great to get his take on this. Doug, any thoughts?
Doug recounts his latest fishing expedition for a Senate hearing.
Next up: The Tax Deduction We’ve all been Waiting for!
Let George Do It 