Goodlatte fights to scrap tax code

WASHINGTON - Rep. Bob Goodlatte has once again introduced legislation to scrap the federal tax code.

According to a statement from Goodlatte, R-6th, the National Taxpayer Advocate, an independent organization within the IRS, has reported to Congress that “the complexity of the Internal Revenue Code” is the most serious problem facing taxpayers today.

Even some of President Obama’s cabinet nominees have encountered problems, he says.

“These are highly educated individuals, some of whom claim specialization in the tax code and one of whom, Treasury Secretary [Timothy] Geithner, will actually be in charge of ensuring compliance with the tax code, and even they cannot correctly file their taxes.”

Efforts to reform the current tax code have stalled in recent years. Goodlatte says his bill “will force Congress to address tax reform head on.”

His Tax Code Termination Act would repeal the current code, except for those portions that deal with Social Security and Medicare, by Dec. 31, 2012, and calls on Congress to approve a new tax system by July of that same year.

Whatever new system is adopted, the key ingredients should be a low rate for all Americans, tax relief for working people, protection of the rights of taxpayers, promotion of savings and investment, and encouragement of economic growth and job creation, he says.

— Daily Staff Report