DONALD TRUMP’S PUSH TO SIMPLIFY THE TAX CODE WILL RUN INTO SPECIAL INTERESTS
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DONALD TRUMP’S PUSH TO SIMPLIFY THE TAX CODE WILL RUN INTO SPECIAL INTERESTS
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Pray for God’s will to be done in revising the Internal Revenue Code.
[Y]our kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt. 6:10)
Sometime later this year, expect the White House and congressional Republicans to wade into the muck that is the Internal Revenue Code. Whether they’ll sink and drown is a matter for debate.
There’s a reason the federal tax code has ballooned to 75,000 pages, triple what it was just 30 years ago: Powerful people like it that way. Politicians view the tax laws not only as a means of funding the government but also as a mechanism to influence behavior — a massive social engineering tool. Meanwhile, influential special interests — financial professionals, attorneys and the like — profit immensely from the code’s complexity.
Consider a recent story by ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative journalism outfit. Turns out H&R Block and Intuit, which makes TurboTax, have spent millions of dollars attempting to derail legislation that would allow the government to offer taxpayers pre-filled returns.
Under such a system, which has been proposed by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., taxpayers would have the option of satisfying the filing requirement by simply signing the government document. They would also be free to file their own returns, as they do now.
Such an initiative could make things more convenient for millions of taxpayers — particularly those who don’t itemize yet now purchase tax software or use the services of tax preparation firms. It might also be a boon to about 1 million Americans who forgo refunds each year because they fail to file a return.
But Sen. Warren’s bill now lives on life support.
“Intuit spent more than $2 million lobbying last year, much of it spent on legislation that would permanently bar the government from offering taxpayers pre-filled returns,” ProPublica reported last week. “H&R Block spent $3 million, also directing some of their efforts” toward scuttling that proposal.
There may indeed be legitimate fears about empowering the IRS to complete returns for individual taxpayers with information provided by employers. But you can bet the tax-prep lobbyists are far more concerned about the threat to the bottom line than they are about an expanding government.
“Simply put, the tax return industry, now worth $10 billion a year, is one of the most effective lobbying powers — on Capitol Hill, inside the executive branch and in state capitals,” wrote Jeremy Scott in Forbes magazine last year.
And that, in a microcosm, is one reason tax reform and simplification will likely make the current battle over health care seem like a refreshing breeze. (Contributor: By The Editor for Las Vegas Review Journal)
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Heavenly Father, Jesus said to give to You what is Yours, and to Caesar what is his. Unfortunately Caesar has been getting a lot more of what is Yours, along with what is his, because of an ungainly and punitive tax code. You know that. You know the burdens that have been placed on Americans because of this incomprehensible set of laws. I pray that You will guide the lawmakers into choosing to ignore the lobbyists and organizations who are profiting from the confusion, and cause them to establish a tax code that is simple and workable, one that allows the least to the greatest to support the government without feeling like victims. There have been so many suggestions throughout the years about how to make it simple. Common sense says it can be done. I pray for a relentless determination to change these laws so that Caesar gets what he needs, and the American taxpayer can keep what is his to distribute as he sees fit. Thank You for righteous men and women who have the best interests of all Americans at heart. Please put them at the helm of this ship, and set it on a calm sea! In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
I am a significant prayer warrior. I’ve awakened and will soon rise from the ashes of the prior onslaught against me as the Holy Scriptures declare of God’s sleeping children FORCED to fall since infancy. I fight like a soldier and rise like a warrior. Just turned 60 and still counting. What’s true, right and just can ALWAYS count on my support!!!
Lord God, help those in the position of reviewing and changing this immense tax code wisdom & understanding of the complexities and how to simplify and change them. Let not special interest groups have an influence, but your spirit. Please allow it to benefit & not penalize those people who struggle to live on their incomes who have small businesses & livelihoods with many costs that are not seen by the IRS. May people with high medical costs & student debts be factored into the changes as well. May business that supply many jobs be given the tools tax wise to keep & increase jobs, the ability to provide generous raises & benefits without going out of business. Bless both parties to have the ability to work together without it being an us or them faction, but clear thinking and understanding of what will help the people. In Jesus name, hear our prayers.
I pray for Pres. Trump in this matter that Gods Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father please give our President and his team and the Congress wisdom in this matter of simplifying our tax code for the good of the people. Thank you Father in Jesus name.
Lord God, only You know the hearts of people. However, You are either in control or You are not. I believe You are still on the throne. So my prayer is that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That you would choose and use those to accomplish your plans and solutions in America and in particular the area of tax reform. You Father are a God who loves to answer prayer. Thank you for answering this one. “You have not because you ask not.” My conclusion: I ask therefore I have. God you are so good. Thank you.
Here again this bill seems to benefit the rich and not the ordinary people. My prayer is that Vice-President Mike Pence, will be like Joseph in Egypt that will have the wisdom of God to speak words that will influence the decisions of President Trump, to look at how this will affect our Nation as a whole and not just the rich and those looking for another loop hold to get richer and hide behind a tax shelter. My prayer is for Vice-President Pence, to be as wise as Daniel and that the Lord will give him dreams and visions and that he would act on them. Also that our President Trump, will have an open heart to the people of the United States of America. I pray that that God will interrupt his plans and cause a divine reset to occur on the Mountain of Government. Causing a downfall to the spirit of Pride and Greed, in Jesus name, Amen!
Sirs:
I am surprised at this article being posted that uses ProPublica as a reference. Propublica is a clearly left-leaning organization and is not fair or balanced in what it reports on. Please consider not directing people to this journalism source, particularly since IFA is a Christian organization. I am not trying to imply that left-leaning sources of journalism should never be considered, but who Christians reference is important. Thank you for your consideration.