🚀 go-pugleaf

then again, maybe not. It depends on how many of us get off
our duffs and tell our congresspersons to get off theirs as
well to suppor H.R. 3039.  

What is H.R. 3039?  It is a bill indtroduced by Representative
Dan Schaefer to replace the Income Tax with a fifteen percent
national sales tax.  

If you want more details read on... but whether you do or not I 
certainly hope you give your representative and two senators    a call,
fax, email or smoke signal to tell them you want this bill supported.

Thank you for listening. We now return you to your regularly 
scheduled netnews.

Rudy Vener, Private Citizen Who Pays Too Much Income Tax


Summary of H.R. 3039 THE NATIONAL RETAIL SALES TAX ACT OF 1996
  
   
   
    Income Tax Repealed
    
   The personal and corporate income taxes, estate and gift taxes and all
   non-trust fund dedicated excise taxes are repealed.
   
    IRS Abolished
    
   The Internal Revenue Service is de-authorized, as of FY 1999, allowing
   time to close out previous tax years. No successor agency is
   established.
   
    Sales Tax Imposed
    
   A tax of 15 percent is imposed on the gross receipts from the sale of
   any taxable property or service sold in the United States. The amount
   of tax paid on every transaction must be disclosed to the consumer.
   
    Use Tax Imposed
    
   A tax is also imposed on the use or consumption in the U.S. of any
   taxable good or service for which the sales tax was not paid (i e.
   goods purchased outside ofthe U.S.)
   
    Exemptions
    
   No tax shall be imposed on any good or service:
     * purchased for resale;
     * purchased to produce a good or service for resale; or
     * exported from the United States.
       
    Savings and Investments
    
   Income going to savings and investments is not taxable until consumed.
   Investment income is not taxable until consumed.
   
    Personal Consumption Refund
    
   To ensure that the basic nccessities of life remain tax free, every
   wage earner receives a refund equal to the sales tax rate times the
   poverty level (adjusted for the number of dependents claimed) in every
   paycheck. As a result, every wage eamer will eam up to the poverty
   level tax free.
   
    Supermajority Required
    
   A supermajority vote of 2/3 of both Houses of Congress is necessary to
   raise the sales tax rate or to create any exemptions to the sales tax.
   
    Burden of Proof
    
   The burden of proof lies with the govemment in any dispute with a
   taxpayer.
   
    Seller Compensation
    
   Any business required to collect and remit the sales tax may keep 0.5
   percent of tax receipts to offset compliance costs.
   
    State Administration
    
   Any state choosing to do so may administer, collect and enforce the
   sales tax. In order to qualify as an "administering state," a state
   must conform its sales tax base to the federal base. States may keep
   1.0 percent of their collections to offset expenses.
   
    Mortgage Interest
    
   Home mortgage interest is not "consumption" and therefore is not
   taxable.
   
    Principal Residences
    
   Sales tax on mortgage principal is payable in equal installments over
   the life of a 30-year mortgage. Persons who are homeowners on the date
   of enactment will be deemed to have paid the sales tax on their home.
   
    Used Property Credit
    
   In the case of a taxable good being resold as used (i.e. home or car),
   a credit shall be given to the seller equal to the amount of tax paid
   by the buyer of the used property.
   
    De Minimis Sales
    
   The sales tax does not apply to any "casual or isolated sale" by any
   person not engaged in an active trade or business, so long as the
   gross receipts from the sale do not exceed more than $2,000 in any one
   instance or more than $5,000 in a year (i.e. garage sales or private
   sales).
   
    Liability to Collect
    
   In general, the seller of any taxable good or service has the
   liability to collect the sales tax, unless the buyer has an exemption
   certification.
   
    Conversions
    
   Any good purchased for business use and converted to personal use
   shall be taxable. Any good purchased for personal use and converted to
   business use shall be subject to a credit.
   
    Governments
    
   Federal, state and local governments must collect taxes on any sales
   and pay taxes on any purchases.
   
    Non-Profits
    
   Dues and donations to non-profits are not taxable. Sales of
   non-profits and purchases by non-profits are taxable.
   
    Financial Services
    
   Financial intermediation services are subject to a tax on both
   explicit and implicit service fees.
   
    Credits and Refunds
    
   Credit and refund mechanisms are established for overpayments.
   
    Penalties
    
   Penalties for failure to register or to collect or remit taxes are
   established.