The Big Ideas Project

We need to stop using taxes and tax breaks as incentives and disincentives. Doing so operates against the idea of taxes as the contribution that everyone owes to the government, which is to say the common good.

Submitted by Robert W. from OH in Taxes & Budget Dec. 19, 2014, 3:29 a.m.

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#1831

55 votes

AMERICA NEEDS THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY; 1) REMOVE THE FICA, SOCIAL SECURITY TAX INCOME CAP! On ALL Income! 2)DOUBLE THE BENEFIT!! 3) LOWER THE RETIREMENT AGE TO 60!!! 4) As the ECONOMY BOOMS (because GEEZERS SPEND all our MONEY) REBUILD THE COUNTRY!

Submitted by Kristopher W. from OR in Taxes & Budget Jan. 8, 2015, 7:28 p.m.

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#1863

52 votes

No income taxes below $100,000/yr....OR...only Corporate taxes for Corps with over $1,000,000 income. No evading of taxes, no matter WHERE your Hdqrs are! Taxes "off the top" of a new benevolent capitalism to pay for healthcare, infrastructure, security, etc.

Submitted by Tomaji in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 7:10 p.m.

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#1870

51 votes

Implement two corporate tax rates: one for corporations who employ only US workers and one (obviously higher) for corporations who employ workers outside the US.

Submitted by Jackie Reilly in Taxes & Budget Jan. 8, 2015, 7:22 p.m.

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#1870

51 votes

Allow people to vote on how our tax dollars are spent in non-binding form. Post a pie chart on a web site of current spending % of pertinent categories. Voters could enter a voter registration # and change percentages up or down by no more than 5%. As long as the total is 100% and the ID valid and no duplicate vote registered, the ballot can be cast. Politicians would be free to react to public wishes or defend spending allotments at election time.

Submitted by Jennifer H in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 3:37 p.m.

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#1886

50 votes

Tax all income equally.

Submitted by Don B. from CA in Taxes & Budget Dec. 17, 2014, 4:12 a.m.

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#1886

50 votes

Why does SallieMae and FreddieMac not do their own Collections instead of letting BIG BANKS get a % and encouraging them to tell Victims of the #Economy to just LET THEIR HOMES Go and giving @BOA @CITI a HUGE Windfall of FEES off Taxpayers!

Submitted by MDSWVGUY25526 in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 8:59 p.m.

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#1886

50 votes

Create a national portable pension system. A small number of not-for-profit entities would be required to invest pension funds prudentially using deductions collected in lieu of Social Security as well as the array of 401(k), Keogh, and similar "products."

Submitted by gmiller in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 1:59 p.m.

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#1897

49 votes

Tax deductions for all legitimate work expenses such as work clothing and travel costs.

Submitted by Pietro Poggi in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 9:05 p.m.

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#1897

49 votes

Citizens should have a line item veto to apportion how their taxes are used: Pay for health care? Great! Green jobs? Here is my portion. National Parks? Yes! Fund wars to steal other nations' natural resources? No, thank you.

Submitted by Napi in Taxes & Budget Jan. 11, 2015, 1:13 a.m.

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#1897

49 votes

Eliminate the corporate income tax and made up the shortfall by increasing capital gains taxes. Right now, large American companies are slow to repatriate profits made overseas, because they are not taxed on those profits until they do so. Overall, U.S. companies are sitting on an estimated $2.1 trillion in offshored profits. Eliminating the corporate tax would remove the disincentive for those companies to bring that money home where we can tax it.

Submitted by MasterOfSparks in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 5:23 a.m.

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#1923

47 votes

Minimizing population growth by crediting couples with no, 1, or 2 children. Population growth in the mother of all ills. It creates more conflicts, more usage of limited resources, creates more trash, etc.

Submitted by Mariam in Taxes & Budget Dec. 12, 2014, 12:06 p.m.

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#1923

47 votes

Double or triple the tax on luxury goods. This should include taxes on all cars costing over $30,000 and small trucks costing over $40,000.Reduce depreciation on such vehicles used for "business purposes" as people actually get deductions now for such claims that are dubious. Reasonable judgements should be made on what constitutes a "large house or large boat as well. Second homes and/or acreage should apply here too.

Submitted by the answertothegap in Taxes & Budget Dec. 29, 2014, 11:45 a.m.

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#1938

46 votes

Stop taxing wages as income. My wages are an equal trade of my time and talent for cash. If I invest my money in a business, paying wages, etc. and I get a return, that is called income. See a Schedule C or F IRS for income and you will see what a business can deduct vs your personal income tax.

Submitted by Woody Thomas in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 6:53 p.m.

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#1946

45 votes

Eliminate inheritance tax rates. Tax inheritances at the same rates as income from work.

Submitted by cjo30080 in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 2:35 p.m.

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#1946

45 votes

Eliminate federal income taxes for families making under $200,000 with a 50% rate on income in excess of $200,000 - it balances out. ($200,000 isn't magic - if numbers have changed pick whatever level would equalize for revenue to reduce to two income tax brackets - 0 and 50%). The result is progressive, simple, and fair.

Submitted by in dubio in Taxes & Budget Dec. 30, 2014, 6:09 a.m.

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#1946

45 votes

For many years, the IRS has stolen millions of dollars from the US taxpayers. They maintain that money you deposit with them is subject to confiscation if you do not use it or ask for it back within 3 year. They claim a statute of limitations on money you deposit with them. There is no such law, but they continue to steal from the taxpayers who have money on deposit to pay future or anticipated tax bills. This includes W-2 withholding from paychecks. Lets stop the thievery and return the money.

Submitted by LARRY DENNIS in Taxes & Budget Dec. 19, 2014, 11:07 a.m.

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#1946

45 votes

Congressional War Tax: This is a tax any member of the House or Senate who votes for a military action overseas. This tax can go up as high as 20% of their annual income. Plus, this tax is retroactive - meaning that any past votes (prior to implementation of this new tax law) will be counted in the tax computation based on the Congressional Voting Record. Those who do NOT vote for military action will NOT be subject to this tax. This will help prevent abuse of Congressional War Power.

Submitted by fpc in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 1:57 a.m.

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#1946

45 votes

Now that gasoline prices are at 5-year lows...it's time to RAISE the federal fuel tax...maybe 20 cents per gallon immediately and an additional 5 cents per gallon per year for the next 3 or 4 years. These are user fees, they should fund not only road, bridge and runway repairs, but capital projects like high-speed rail and Amtrak expansion.

Submitted by Chuck S. from NM in Taxes & Budget Jan. 15, 2015, 5:37 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

No executive should receive total compensation (all forms) greater than $250K per $50M in gross corp. revenue. -25% if the company produces a loss and/or pays no federal income tax. After $1B in revenue: $250K per $200M.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Taxes & Budget Dec. 16, 2014, 12:45 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

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