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Pros And Cons Of A Flat Tax System

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The modern concept of a flat tax was popularized by Stephen Forbes in his 1996 presidential campaign when he proposed a universal income tax rate of 17 percent. Republicans have been advocating for a flat tax plan ever since and the latest crop of presidential hopefuls eclipsed by Donald Trump, proposed similar plans. Ted Cruz was talking about a flat 10 percent while Bush, Huckabee, Carson, Rubio and Rand Paul all had similar ideas. The 2016 Republican nominee, Donald Trump, also advocates for a reduction in tax brackets closely resembling a flat tax rate, since he is a reported billionaire. (Shlaes, 2015) The current tax system employs a progressive tax rate, which means the percentage of income taxed rises with the amount earned. Currently, earners who made up to $8,375 paid ten percent while those who made more than $373,650 paid the top rate of 35 percent. Under the progressive tax system, a taxpayer pays a base rate on the first dollar earned and rates rise as earnings rise so that making more money means moving into a higher tax bracket. In a flat tax system, top earners pay more in dollars but pay at the same percentage rate. (Shlaes, 2015)
History:
There have been two instances of a flat tax being levied in the United States, both times utilized to respond to a major crisis. Both times, the flat tax revenue was never actualized. The first time was in 1861 at the onset of the Civil War and the Lincoln Administration’s need to finance the war effort. Until then,

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