THE FACTS ABOUT: TAXES

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Don’t trust the media, here’s how to look it up yourself.

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This is the third installment of my series regarding how to research the facts about America in order to make an intelligent voting decision in the fall (my first two installments discussed Unemployment and the Economy). Basically, this is a recognition the press and politicians cannot be trusted to present the facts fairly or without spin to the public. The intent, therefore, is to provide voters with the best available tools to discover the truth for themselves.

This particular section will concentrate on taxes, particularly income taxes which, of course, falls under the jurisdiction of…

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, under the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Tax Stats – self explanatory.
Basic Tables: Returns Filed and Sources of Income (in MS Excell format)

THE FEDERATION OF TAX ADMINISTRATORS (FTA) – governed by an eighteen-member Board of Trustees composed of tax administrators representing all regions of the country. The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service is an ex-officio board member.
FTA STATE TAX DATA – excellent summary tables, revenues, and other surveys.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE (CBO) – nonpartisan analysis for the U.S. Congress
CBO TAXES
CBO “The Distribution of Household Income and Federal Taxes, 2008 and 2009″ – good summary and graphs

NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION (NTU) – America’s independent, non-partisan advocate for overburdened taxpayers.
NTU Who Pays Income Taxes?
NTU – In Your State
NTU – News and Issues (on all taxes)

TAX POLICY CENTER (a joint venture of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution)
TAX FACTS

U.S. GOVERNMENT REVENUE – a compilation of data by Christopher Chantrill
Income Tax History

SALES TAX INSTITUTE – includes state rates

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICES (CSR) – reports for the taxpayers
CRS REPORT – REDUCING THE BUDGET DEFICIT, POLICY ISSUES – discusses the cutting of taxes

Most of the data presented by the government is difficult to wade through and digest, almost by design. Is it perhaps because they do not want us to know it? As I said in my other installments, don’t wait for the media or politicians to make up your mind for you. Look it up yourself.

“Taxation without representation is tyranny.” – James Otis, Jr. (around 1761)

Keep the Faith!

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Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2012 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

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