Most Americans say cheating on taxes is unacceptable

ap ^ | Feb 2, 2009

[george76]

An IRS survey finds that nearly nine in 10 Americans think it is "not at all" acceptable to cheat on your taxes.

Although the survey was conducted in late August, its release comes as Tom Daschle, President Barack Obama's nominee to be Health and Human Services secretary, has acknowledged failing to pay more than $120,000 in taxes. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had similar problems on a smaller scale.

[thesharkboy]

Who conducted this survey? The IRS?

[New Girl]

An IRS survey finds that nearly nine in 10 Americans think it is "not at all" acceptable to cheat on your taxes.

This is interesting since 4 in 10 Americans don't pay taxes.

[Doogle]

hummmmmm eeeyeah, I can understand that since the average citizen can have his life ruined, but the “elite” can just pay up to get promoted

[unixfox]

Most Americans say cheating on taxes is unacceptable

Most Americans don't realize that they are the ones being cheated.

UNACCEPTABLE!

[Yorlik803]

Wait til the goverment jacks up taxes. Then you would see a big change in those numbers.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Who conducted this survey? The IRS?

LOL, yes, the IRS. It's in the article.

[Uncle Ike]

” An IRS survey finds that nearly nine in 10 Americans think it is “not at all” acceptable to cheat on your taxes. “

Ummmmmmmmm, yeah...

Like anybody’s gonna tell the IRS “Sure, it’s okay to cheat — I do it every day”.....

[TimSkalaBim]

This is interesting since 4 in 10 Americans don't pay taxes.

Yep. The 4 in 10 non-taxpayers get angry when taxpayers don't fill up the redistribution pot.

[silverleaf]

nine in 10 Americans think it is “not at all” acceptable to cheat on your taxes.

The other 10% believes in tax avoidance the old fashioned way (creation of tax sheltered partnership, trusts, corporations and nonprofits) and have already booked time at Charlie Rangel’s Caribbean dacha

[napscoordinator]

Most Americans inadvertently cheat on their taxes. I had no idea until this week that we are supposed to claim on our taxes everytime we borrow someones car. Who knew? I wonder how you claim it. Do you use a fair rental car amount plus gas. I believe that if you stay at people’s home for visits it is supposed to be claimed. What about eattting at someones home? The tax code is too complicated.

[george76]

yes.

The 4 in 10 non-taxpayers get angry when taxpayers don’t fill up the redistribution pot.

[BenLurkin]

Sadly, the next time the Democrats want to talk about Republican “corruption” 54% of these people will have forgotten how many Democrats have been caught in this huge scandal.

[KC_Conspirator]

I saw this type of reporting in the 90's. The MSM would claim that Americans thought cheating, lying, and stealing were acceptable with Klinton in office.

Then there was a 8 year break where they trumped up charges against the White House.

Now I guess they are back to 90's reporting.

[VR-21]

Seems that it’s quite acceptable for the modern American political class.

[Leisler]

It’s like having the KGB call you up at home and ask if you are loyal to the Party.

[chrisser]

Most Americans?

Is that a more concise way of saying "everyone but Democrats"?

[rabscuttle385]

Every time you lend someone money, you technically must charge them a market rate of interest and report that interest as taxable interest income. And, if you don't charge them any interest, the IRS "imputes" interest.

Oh, and let's not forget about collecting sales taxes on yard sales or paying income tax on yard sale earnings!

IMHO: the tax code is a mess and must be stripped down and reduced in size so it's small enough to be drowned in a bath tub. And, as a nice side effect, it might then be simple enough for most folks to understand.

[EVO X]

Most Americans inadvertently cheat on their taxes. I had no idea until this week that we are supposed to claim on our taxes everytime we borrow someones car.

I'd like to see that link

Anybody can give you up to $12K a year tax free. Over that, they pay the tax..

[McGavin999]

It's only unacceptable unless you are a rich democrat, and then it's not only acceptable, it's the in thing.

I'm sick of this, I'm going to retire, sell my house and buy a place up in the mountains.