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You can do that in US too. You can take itemized deduction (similar to A you mention) or you can take standard deduction which is flat amount (similar to B). Bu

You can do that in US too. You can take itemized deduction (similar to A you mention) or you can take standard deduction which is flat amount (similar to B). But the US government lets you apply many more deductions after taking either of these and that is where the complexity comes. You can choose to do just itemized or standard deductions in US and not bother about other ways of saving money and then your taxes will be simple like Taiwan. That's your decision.

random_comment 10y ago
> But the US government lets you apply many more deductions after taking either of these and that is where the complexity comes. I feel you've missed my point. Most countries offer the ability to consolidate some deductions into a standard deduction. But in Taiwan they consolidate ALL the deductions, as far as memory serves; and the way they do it isn't a fixed amount (e.g. 5%) but the sum of what the other people achieve who go the long route, plus a bonus. So literally it's 1-page 'sign here', or a complex form. And it's literally a statistically 'guaranteed' win if you make things easy on everyone (average + 10%). The US doesn't offer anything like that.