Perry’s tax plan is both optional and retains huge standard deductions. A family of four has to make over $50K before they become taxpayers. Voting while not paying taxes is called tax freeloading.
It’s my understanding that the optional aspect is a temporary transitional feature of the plan and that the current tax code would be completely eliminated after the first eight years.
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/Perry-plan.cfm
Just looking at the proposed Tax Return “Form EZR” it’s clear that a family of four would have $50,000(4x$12,500) in standard exemptions plus four other eligible deduction categories.
http://www.rickperry.org/content/uploads/2011/10/sample-tax-return.pdf
Obviously a family of four would probably pay all kinds of taxes other than a federal flat tax, so the “tax freeloading” charge needs to be defined.