Crabby Fat Guy

As we head into this tax season I am again reminded exactly how complex taxes are.  Most tax forms are so unclear and intimidating that most will require the use of a tax service to file even the simplest tax return.  We now file Federal, State, City, and School District returns.  At the bare minimum hours of work are involved in the filling out of the forms, copying, and mailing of the forms.

Recently I had an unusual question about my taxes so I filled out the details online with the IRS.  I got an email acknowledging the receipt of the question but as of a week later, no answer to my question.

I know a lot of people that could not figure how much 10% of $5.00 is without a calculator and yet the various government entities are asking individuals to fill out these forms?

Tax laws are simply way too complex.  Did you know that the tax code is 71,684 in length?  Probably longer by now.  While congress frequently holds hearings about “tax simplification” hey have yet to take the first step to simplifying taxes.

In today’s LEG there is an article that says that smokers will not be hired at the Columbus Casino. I just have to laugh at the comments that people make about it. In comment after comment they say “It sounds like discrimination”.

Well of course it’s discrimination. Discrimination is not illegal in most cases. Discrimination is simply recognizing the differences between one thing and another. If you pick one pizza over another that is discrimination. It becomes illegal when the distinction of one over another is based on certain protected classes like age, sex, religion, and a few others. Frankly, I think that it is a reasonable step to keep health care costs down.

There are comments about boycotting the casino, but I would bet that few will walk the walk.