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I have a solution that both sides will hate. Reduce the complexity and size of the tax code to the point where an average taxpayer can complete it.
by WaitWaitWha 3y ago
I have a solution that both sides will hate.
Reduce the complexity and size of the tax code to the point where an average taxpayer can complete it.
- mdaniel 3y agoI'll see your 'reduce complexity' and raise you "laws that compute things and have hyperlinks to other parts of the law should be written in a programming language" or even a con-lang designed for specificity. Hell, it's even called "the U.S. Code". I believe there's some precedent from the French but I believe it's a proof of concept: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.03198.pdf https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.03198.pdf https://hn.algolia.com/?q=catala https://hn.algolia.com/?q=catala The asterisk to such a thing is that my understanding is that "ignorance of the law is no excuse" so changing from the official language of the country over to ... something else ... runs the risk of bringing back a "the clergy reads the laws and tells you what it says" style setup, but TBH even right now with the IRS tax code written in English I still cannot reasonably read it and conceptually author my own copy of Turbo Tax so I'll take my chances with the unintended consequences hazard