Justice Holmes, Ralph Kramden, and the Civic Virtues of a Tax Return Filing Requirement

Posted: 25 Sep 2008

Date Written: September, 22 2008

Abstract

A major goal of some tax reform proponents is the elimination of the return filing requirement for many or all Americans. Although the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform heard several hours of testimony concerning the possibility of a "return-free" income tax system, the Report of the Panel failed even to discuss the issue. This Article contends that the Panel was right to recommend (by implication) the retention of a return-based tax system, given the Panel's recommendations for major tax simplification. As long as the return filing obligation is not unduly burdensome which it would not be under the Panel's simplification proposals a filing obligation has significant civic virtues. A return-based system represents an appropriate compromise on the level of visibility and painfulness of taxation, and the filing of an tax return can serve an important ceremonial function as an expression of fiscal citizenship. The civic potential of return filing is not now realized because of the tremendous complexity of the income tax, but that potential could be realized under a simplified system.

Suggested Citation

Zelenak, Lawrence A., Justice Holmes, Ralph Kramden, and the Civic Virtues of a Tax Return Filing Requirement (September, 22 2008). Tax Law Review, Vol. 61, No. 1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1272094

Lawrence A. Zelenak (Contact Author)

Duke University School of Law ( email )

210 Science Drive
Box 90362
Durham, NC 27708
United States

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