Premium Essay

What Makes a Good Tax Structure

In:

Submitted By chitling
Words 389
Pages 2
By Joseph Haslag and Haleigh Albers
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Have you ever looked at Chapter 143 of Title X of the Missouri Revised Statutes? This chapter applies to individual and corporate income taxes. Rather than go through a list of each subsection, we collected data on the number of subsections in Chapter 143 from 1973 through 2012. We plotted the number of effective subsections for each year in Figure 1. Clearly, things have changed over time, with the number of subsections increasing from 54 in 1973 to 154 in 2012.

The next question is, why have the number of subsections in Chapter 143 of Title X increased? Several possible answers apply. For one thing, no law is ever written perfectly the first time. So, new subsections refine things, such as loopholes that were not evident when the law was initially written and to redefine what income is subject to taxation. Additionally, the state assembly sees opportunities to use tax laws that seek to stimulate economic development by changing the amount of income subject to the state income tax. By implementing such changes, the carrot-and-stick approach aims to modify people’s behavior so that the Missouri economy will grow faster.

Third, if we started from scratch, would we implement the same set of subsections? The calls for tax reform are based on the notion that tax code becomes unnecessarily complicated over time. The view is that the number of laws that adjust taxable income changes over time complicate things by altering the set of deductions, exclusions, and credits that apply to taxpayers.4 Each filer must keep up in order to comply. Each new subsection adds a layer of new questions that taxpayers confront when filing their taxes. Do I qualify for the new tax credit? Does the new deduction apply to me? On the other hand, the filer risks either not complying or paying too much in taxes if he

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Accounting

...Chapter 1 An Introduction to Tax SOLUTIONS MANUAL Discussion Questions: 1) [LO1] Jessica’s friend Zachary once stated that he couldn’t understand why someone would take a tax course. Why is this a rather naïve view? Taxes are a part of everyday life and have a financial effect on many of the major personal decisions that individuals face (e.g., investment decisions, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education expenses, gift or estate planning, etc.). 2) [LO1] What are some aspects of business that require knowledge of taxation? What are some aspects of personal finance that require knowledge of taxation? Taxes play an important role in fundamental business decisions such as the following: • What organizational form should a business use? • Where should the business locate? • How should business acquisitions be structured? • How should the business compensate employees? • What is the appropriate mix of debt and equity for the business? • Should the business rent or own its equipment and property? • How should the business distribute profits to its owners? One must consider all transaction costs (including taxes) to evaluate the merits of a transaction. Common personal financial decisions that taxes influence include: choosing investments, retirement planning, choosing to rent or buy a home, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education...

Words: 6943 - Pages: 28

Premium Essay

Tax Manual

...Chapter 01 An Introduction to Tax SOLUTIONS MANUAL Discussion Questions (1) [LO1] Jessica’s friend Zachary once stated that he couldn’t understand why someone would take a tax course. Why is this a rather naïve view? Taxes are a part of everyday life and have a financial effect on many of the major personal decisions that individuals face (e.g., investment decisions, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education expenses, gift or estate planning, etc.). (2) [LO1] What are some aspects of business that require knowledge of taxation? What are some aspects of personal finance that require knowledge of taxation? Taxes play an important role in fundamental business decisions such as the following: * What organizational form should a business use? * Where should the business locate? * How should business acquisitions be structured? * How should the business compensate employees? * What is the appropriate mix of debt and equity for the business? * Should the business rent or own its equipment and property? * How should the business distribute profits to its owners? One must consider all transaction costs (including taxes) to evaluate the merits of a transaction. Common personal financial decisions that taxes influence include: choosing investments, retirement planning, choosing to rent or buy a home, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education expenses, and doing gift or estate planning. ...

Words: 7204 - Pages: 29

Premium Essay

Project

...Journal of Public Economics 6 (1976) 55-75. 0 North-Holland Publishing Company THE DESIGN OF TAX STRUCTURE: DIRECT VERSUS INDIRECT TAXATION* A.B. ATKINSON University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, England J.E. STIGLITZ Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, U.S.A. Revised version received February 1976 1. Introduction The recent literature on optimal taxation may be seen as attempting to clarify the structure of the arguments advanced to support changes in the tax system, tracing the implications of taxes and quantifying (analytically) the trade-offs between the various objectives of tax policy. This literature has examined the optimal structure for particular types of taxation taken in isolation, such as the optimal rates of excise tax and the optimal income tax schedule. Our purpose, on the other hand, is to provide a broader framework and to consider the interaction between different kinds of taxation. To illustrate this, we reexamine the age-old question of direct versus indirect taxation and the relationship of these taxes to the goals of efficiency, vertical equity and horizontal equity. After describing in section 2 the general framework of the analysis, and arguing that any treatment of the choice of tax structures must be centrally concerned with distributional considerations, we begin in section 3 with the extension of the classic Ramsey formula for optimal excise taxation to include vertical equity objectives. This was considered by Diamond...

Words: 9114 - Pages: 37

Premium Essay

Frrf

...Chapter 01 An Introduction to Tax   True / False Questions   1. | Taxes influence many types of business decisions but generally do not influence personal decisions.    True    False |   2. | Taxes influence business decisions such as where a business should locate or how a business should be structured.    True    False |   3. | Tax policy rarely plays an important part in presidential campaigns.    True    False |   4. | Margaret recently received a parking ticket. This is a common example of a local tax.    True    False |   5. | George recently paid $50 to renew his driver's license. The $50 payment is considered a tax.    True    False |   6. | A 1% charge imposed by a local government on football tickets sold is not considered a tax if all proceeds are earmarked to fund local schools.    True    False |   7. | One key characteristic of a tax is that it is a required payment to a governmental agency.    True    False |   8. | Common examples of sin taxes include the taxes imposed on airline tickets and gasoline.    True    False |   9. | One benefit of a sin tax (e.g., a tax on cigarettes) is that it should increase the demand for the products being taxed.    True    False |   10. | In addition to raising revenues, specific U.S. taxes may have other objectives (e.g., economic or social objectives).    True    False |   11. | The two components of the tax calculation are the tax rate and the taxpayer.    True    False...

Words: 17604 - Pages: 71

Free Essay

Unit 1 P6

...are many different factors that come into this including financial state, predictability and reliability. If a country has not got a stable political system, it will be affected and this will show. Tesco will be able to determine how well they will do depending on how stable the political system is. They will see the country’s plans for the future and be able to forecast how well they will do. If the country makes changes, for example to minimum wage, this could affect Tesco. If the government put the minimum wage up this will affect how much money Tesco have to pay out for wages. Also if Tesco want to open a store in a country, they will look at the political stability of the country which will determine whether they open the store or not. Great Ormond Street is also affected by political stability. If the country has good stability, Great Ormond Street will be able to get funding for their charity and hospital. Also if the country is stable, people will have more money to donate to GOSH. If the country is unstable, it will affect the decisions that the charity makes. Government support Government support means the way the government helps out the community by giving their support in order to help others. Things such as funding come from the government to help businesses grow. Tesco isn’t really helped out by the government as it is a well-recognised business that has established itself to become one of the most successful food stores in the UK and the world. The government...

Words: 1871 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Business Structure Advice

...Business Structure Advice To: John Owner From: Brittany Rice Date: April 21, 2014 Subject: Business Structure Thank you for contacting me. There are many different business structures to choose from, but only one would fit what you are looking for. The different business structures to choose from are limited liability company structure, sole proprietorship, partnerships, and corporation structures. Each one of these is different from each other and has their advantages and disadvantages, and there are also many different tax consequences for each one as well. A limited liability company structure is a great way to go if you have the monies upfront to form it and for the startup costs. This type of structure covers the owners from company debt to where their personal belongings would not be touched, but in the beginning it is very expensive to start up. So if you don’t have enough money to put in from your pocket this may not be a very good idea. For the tax consequences the profits will go through the owners, but not be taxed double for it. The owner here will also be able to participate in the company. A sole proprietorship is very easy to start up and they are not as regulated laws to follow as other structures are. You would also have complete control over the company and what happens. The negative part of this structure is the banks are very hesitant to lend money to start the company and then if something happens personal property can be sought after...

Words: 592 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Textile Industry Analysis

...employs upto 50 million and indirectly upto 60 million people (approximately). The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is the biggest tax reform in India...

Words: 1896 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Goods and Service Tax in India

...What is GST? The Goods and service tax is an initiative towards a reform in which this tax will replace all the indirect taxes in the Centre as well as the State, which can be levied in case of a sale being made or a service being provided. It is especially necessary in the current scenario, due to the degrading effects of the present tax system of CENVAT and State Vat system and the other complexities that prevail in the tax system of India. Some of the taxes that will be replaced under the central taxes are Service Tax, Surcharges, Central Excise Duty, Customs Duties and other Excise Duties. Some of the taxes that will be replaced under the state taxes are Luxury Tax, Entertainment Taxes, Tax on gambling and betting, Lottery Taxes, surcharges etc., as long as they are related to entry tax and the supply of goods and services. Due to reasons, which are social, environment related as well as those related to import dependence, certain products like high-speed diesel, alcohol (human consumption) is not included. Also, the direct taxes will be exempted from the GST, including capital gains, corporate and income tax. To better understand GST, consider the following: There exists a manufacturer, retailer and dealer (wholesaler). Goods and Service Tax is 10%. Now assume that the manufacturer buys the raw materials worth Rs 100 for Rs 140. Therefore, the total GST he will pay is Rs 4 by getting a tax credit of Rs 10 on the raw materials he had purchased. Now, the...

Words: 2236 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Ahp Inc

...Comments: The case provides an excellent vehicle for exploring and challenging the notion of optimal capital structure in theory and practice. American Home Products (AHP) is a very successful firm that has not debt in its capital structure. Because of its efficiency in asset management and its high level of profitability, AHP does not need debt to finance its operations. The case focuses on the theory of optimal capital structure and the practical problem of determining an optimal debt ratio. Questions   1. How much business risk does American Home Products face? Some of the pros/cons affecting AHP’s business risk are: PROS: • Sales stability, net sales has grown steadily from 1972-1981 • Strong Marketing expertise • Tight financial control • Stable, consistent financial growth and profitability • Risk aversion can work in favor of the company(no licensing costs, R+D costs) • Threat of new competitors is low because the pharmaceutical industry requires high start-up costs and the companies controlling the industry are very stable and mature. CONS: • Conservative Corporate Culture affect innovations • High cost in marketing to erode competitor’s head start. They are heavily depending on current products and marketing skills. But competitors can also strengthen their marketing strategies. • Hard to expand into new markets due to low R+D • Reticence does not provide confidence to the public • Threat of substitutes...

Words: 2021 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Business Startup

...Business Structure Types for Forming a Business Business Law/LAW 531 Business Structure Types for Forming a Business When I person decides to be an entrepreneur, choosing the type of business structure that would be right for the business they plan to open can be a daunting task. The reason is being is that there are many different types of business structures a person can choose from. Before making the decision on the type of business structure for the business, there are a few things that should be done before hand. The entrepreneur would first need to have a business plan that will guide them on how they would start the business and run it successfully. Next they should get any necessary assistance or training on how to go about forming a business. Once this has been done, a business structure can be determined after researching each type of structure to see which would fit their business idea the best. In the process of starting a business, choosing the type of legal business structure for a business will be one of the most important tasks a new entrepreneur will do. The reason is that whichever structure is chosen will have an impact on items like taxes the entrepreneur will pay, the amount of paperwork required for the business structure picked, the personal liability the business will have, and the ability to raise the money for the business structure picked. When going forward with the formation of the business, a person will have to know...

Words: 2959 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Taxation Principles

...What is Taxation? Taxation defined in the Essentials of Jamaica Taxation, 3rd edition volume 1 state,’ it is a form or another which has been levied on citizens from ancient times.” Further reading also suggests that taxation is a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied on individuals and businesses by the government. Taxes are deemed a necessity by its government in order to provide infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, welfare programs, national security, pensions and aid in the government’s legal and financial legislation. The Encyclopaedia Britannica states that the purpose of taxation is for Redistribution - transferring wealth from the richer section of society to the less fortunate, Repricing - which is tax imposed on goods and services that are considered hazardous to our health such as tobacco, bleaching products and alcohol; and Representation - which indicates that the citizens demand accountability from their government. Taxation Structure Seventeenth-century French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert expressed that “the art of taxation is the art of plucking the goose so as to get the largest possible amount of feathers with the least possible squealing.” Today’s economists have rather different ideas of what constitutes a good tax system. There is a popular belief that a tax system should follow two main principles: fairness and efficiency. Scottish economist Adam Smith laid out these principles in his landmark treatise The Wealth of...

Words: 2617 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Business Structure Advice

...Business Structure Advice Jennifer Yacovazzi FIN/571 May, 12, 2014 William Stokes Business Structure Advice In beginning a business people will start one for a variety of intensions. Some people think they have a merchandise or service that will transform a business or make them wealthy. Others might live in an area where there is no job openings, and starting a business is the only way to earn a living. Other people simply want to be their own boss. Whether any of these reasons can help a person to decide to start a business. We will discuss the organizational forms of business, advantages and disadvantages of each, and possible tax consequences for each business structure. Some of the more common basic forms of business organizations are a sole proprietorship, partnership and corporation. A sole proprietorship is the least expensive business to start. “To start a sole proprietorship, all you have to do is to obtain a business license required by the local and state governments” (Parrion, Kidwell, & Bates, 2012). A limited partnership can be more costly to form because an attorney will need to be hired to write and uphold the partnership contract. The partnership agreement identifies the type of the association among the partners. “If a corporation is what you would like to start an attorney will need to be hired to write up documents to spell out things like how many stocks can be distributed, what voting rights the shareholders will have, and who the...

Words: 796 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Cyber Crimes

...enjoyed the study of tax system of Bangladesh in various aspect of tax. First of all, we are indebted to our guide teacher Ms.Rehana Frowzier Lecturer, Department of Business Administration, Stamford University Bangladesh. His views, suggestions save us from more difficulties. We are also grateful to our group members’ most valuable cooperation, inspiration and suggestions. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This dissertation report highlights on our practical experience in different types and categories ‘Tax System’ especially Tax System Of Bangladesh. During our short working period, we tried to gather information from News Paper, web sites. But the NBR does not provide information in the web site directly and even it does not publish tax structure implement in Bangladesh. So, we take much information about tax in our personal concept and view of Tax System of Bangladesh. To complete this report, we have gained practical knowledge about various type of Tax System. For example, Tax System Of Bangladesh, canon of taxation and implementation the canon of Bangladesh in Tax System Of Bangladesh. In this way, we are getting knowledge not only the tax system but also the implementation of canon on tax system of Bangladesh. As, tax is an important part of our country development. so, day by day, people are getting more conscious and informed about tax. Object of this study We can gain knowledge about the tax system of Bangladesh by studying this topic. As following aspects of tax we can learn from...

Words: 3647 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Gst in India

...ro Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India: prospect for states by Mohd. Azam Khan1 and Nagma Shadab2 Department of Economics, Aligarh Muslim University, India Abstract: Goods and services tax (GST) is a broad based and a single comprehensive tax levied at every stage of the production and distribution chain with applicable set-off in respect of the tax remitted at previous stages. It is basically a tax on final consumption integrates the union excise duties, custom duties, services tax and state VAT. Presently around 140 countries have adopted the GST pattern, including India. The GST would be beneficial for the consumers as it reduces the final burden of taxation. For Government it leads the reduction of tax compliance efforts and administrative costs and for business units it leads transparency, complete set-off and removal of cascading effect of taxation. It is in this background that the present paper tries to explain the significance of GST in India and its prospects for states to generate revenue and ensure transparency in tax structure. This paper is organized into seven sections. Section two presents justification for dual structure of GST in India. The third part presents the rate structure under GST work in India. The fourth segment is concerned with the working of GST in India. The fifth part shows the international experiences of GST at state level in India. The seventh and final part is related to conclusion and policy recommendations. Keywords: Goods and service...

Words: 8698 - Pages: 35

Free Essay

Law-Non Profit

...I. What is a Non-Profit Organization? A. The basic definition of a non-profit organization is not established for the purpose of making a profit; not entered into for money: a non-profit organization (dictionary.com). In a society where everything costs, how can it be that an organization can exist that is not established for the purpose of making a profit? What is their purpose? By answering these questions, one will gain an understanding of what a non-profit organization is as well as the history of how non-profit organizations came into existence. B. Digging a little deeper, the premise of a non-profit organization is that a non-profit organization is an organization which exists for educational and charitable reasons, and from which its shareholders or trustees do not benefit financially from. Any money earned must be retained by the organization, and used for its own expenses, operations, and programs. Many non-profit organizations also seek tax exempt status, and may also be exempt from local taxes including sales taxes or property taxes. (investorwords.com). Bottom line, their purpose of existence is for the greater good of the community by the services they offer. A few well-known non-profit organizations are Kaiser Permanente, Easter Seals, Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, and United Way. Although many of the aforementioned organizations have a different look and feel, they all share the same unique key characteristics of a non-profit organization. C. Some of...

Words: 5147 - Pages: 21