The US system is complicated because of deductions. You can still have a progressive (and I would argue more fair) tax system that is very simple. For example h

The US system is complicated because of deductions. You can still have a progressive (and I would argue more fair) tax system that is very simple. For example here in NZ there are various tax brackets but most people don't ever file a tax return - your employer deducts the correct amount from your paychecks and sends it to the govt. What in the US would be deductions are benefits here - the govt send you a check if you qualify (poor with children, disability, etc) but you still pay your normal tax rates. It makes the system much simpler to understand and for most people they have zero interaction with the tax authorities at all - the only people who do are the poor and the rich.