How do you define income? Would we still need an IRS? Would we still have paycheck withholding? Would we still have payroll taxes? Would we still need to keep records?, get W-2s?, need accountants? What about home mortgage interest deduction? Would it stay flat?...history says no. Would the level of exempted income change? Who would decide how much?
No income tax for me - neither flat nor round. Take a look at some of the stuff here. Methinks you'll come around.
Don't forget the Clinton-Era abuse which soured me on the Flat Tax (me, a Forbes Man!!) for all time...
Would the IRS still have the power to subject Pro-Life and other conservatve lobbying groups to audits costing THOUSANDS of man-hours? Yes, they would.
Cato Institute studies indicate that there is almost NO "economic" difference between a Flat Tax and the NRST. They're both.... highly beneficial, in a lot of different ways!!
But the real difference becomes quickly apparent... when the IRS auditor comes to your door.
But one thing that the NRST people fail to admit is that the IRS will still be needed. It will be greatly reduced from what it is today and will have far fewer powers. But it will still be needed in one form or another to assure that the taxes are being collected and properly paid.
You can NOT get rid of it entirely.