The Commissioner of the IRS, Douglas Shulman, recently admitted that the tax code is too complex for even the commissioner of the IRS. Click here for full story. I have long been a proponent of the flat tax as a way to ensure a higher degree of compliance. The tax attorneys at McLaughlin & Quinn, LLC represent taxpayers before the IRS and state taxing authorities on a daily basis. Many times, any errors that are found come from an honest misunderstanding of the tax code. Often, the IRS proposes changes based on uncertain areas of the law, where no one is really sure what the right answer is.
Until Congress decides to stop its social engineering experiments, and picking winners (homeowners, ethanol) and losers (renters), Tom, Frank and I will have plenty of work. In my opinion, the tax code should be used solely for raising revenue, not for dictating to people how to live their lives.
In the meantime, taxpayers, such as the IRS Commissioner, will have to rely on paid professionals.
Tags: Commissioner of IRS, Douglas Shulman, Flat tax, Frank Fiore, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, mclaughlin & quinn, Moore McLaughlin, Providence, Rhode Island, social engineering, state taxes, tax, Tax planning, Thomas P. Quinn