Should the U.S. convert to a Zero Personal Income Tax

Should the U.S. Convert to a Zero Personal Income Tax?

Assignment 1: Should the U.S. Convert to a Zero Personal Income Tax?

In a recent news article located at http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/heres-where-your-federal-income-tax-dollars-go-f654971 NBC News reported that the U.S. Government spends $3.6 trillion per year to fund Social Security, Medicare, homeland defense and safety, education, transportation, and the interest on debt obligations. In spite of the services and benefits that the government provides, many taxpayers dread paying income taxes but consider them a necessary evil. Consequently, there is much debate about the inequities contained within the tax code, due to tax shelters and tax credits provided to some taxpayers which thereby increase the tax burden on others.

Using the internet, research at least two (2) countries that have a zero income tax rate.

Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:

• Analyze the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

• For the countries that you have chosen, determine whether or not he U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business. Justify your response.

• Suggest at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Provide a rationale for your response.

• Create a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. In your response, provide specific recommendations concerning the following:

• The prosed tax base.

• Whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxations.

• The Primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

• The primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

• Speculate on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from person income taxes, and ascertain the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Justify your response.

• Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Examine the types of taxes imposed at the federal, state, and local levels; the federal tax formula; and the rules for arriving at personal and dependency exemptions.

• Analyze the concepts of gross income and distinguish between the economic, accounting, and tax concepts of gross income and strategies to minimize gross income, maximize deductions, and minimize disallowance of deductions.

• Use technology and information resources to research issues in federal taxations.

• Write clearly and concisely about federal taxation using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 280

Assignment 1: Should the U.S. Convert to a Zero Personal Income Tax?

Criteria

Unacceptable

Below 60% F

Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% D

Fair

70-79% C

Proficient

80-89% B

Exemplary

90-100% A

1. Analyze the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely analyzed the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

Insufficiently analyzed the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

Partially analyzed the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

Satisfactorily analyzed the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

Thoroughly analyzed the way in which the two (2) countries that you have researched provide services and benefits to its citizens without collecting personal income taxes.

2. For the countries that you have chosen, determine whether or not the U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business. Justify your response.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely determined whether or not the U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business for the countries that you have chosen. Did not submit or incompletely justified your response.

Insufficiently determined whether or not the U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business for the countries that you have chosen. Insufficiently justified your response.

Partially determined whether or not the U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business for the countries that you have chosen. Partially justified your response.

Satisfactorily determined whether or not the U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business for the countries that you have chosen. Satisfactorily justified your response.

Thoroughly determined whether or not the U.S. could adopt their taxation model without reducing its total amount of revenue generated by collecting personal income taxes from individuals and business for the countries that you have chosen. Thoroughly justified your response.

3. Suggest at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Provide a rationale for your response.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely suggested at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Did not submit or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.

Insufficiently suggested at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Insufficiently provided a rationale for your response.

Partially suggested at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Partially provided a rationale for your response.

Satisfactorily suggested at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your response.

Thoroughly suggested at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the U.S. adopting a zero income tax model. Thoroughly provided a rationale for your response.

4a. Create a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. In your response, provide specific recommendations concerning the proposed tax base.

Weight: 5%

Did not submit or incompletely created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Did not submit or incompletely provided specific recommendations concerning the proposed tax base.

Insufficiently created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Insufficiently provided specific recommendations concerning the proposed tax base.

Partially created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Partially provided specific recommendations concerning the proposed tax base.

Satisfactorily created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Satisfactorily provided specific recommendations concerning the proposed tax base.

Thoroughly created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Thoroughly provided specific recommendations concerning the proposed tax base.

4b. Create a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. In your response, provide specific recommendations concerning whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxation.

Weight: 5%

Did not submit or incompletely created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Did not submit or incompletely provided specific recommendations concerning whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxation.

Insufficiently created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Insufficiently provided specific recommendations concerning whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxation.

Partially created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Partially provided specific recommendations concerning whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxation.

Satisfactorily created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Satisfactorily provided specific recommendations concerning whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxation.

Thoroughly created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Thoroughly provided specific recommendations concerning whether or not tax payers at certain income levels should be exempt from taxation.

4c. Create a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. In your response, provide specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

Weight: 5%

Did not submit or incompletely created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Did not submit or incompletely provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

Insufficiently created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Insufficiently provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

Partially created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Partially provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

Satisfactorily created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Satisfactorily provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

Thoroughly created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Thoroughly provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which the IRS would calculate the tax rate in order to ensure that the same level of tax revenue would still be collected.

4d. Create a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. In your response, provide specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

Weight: 5%

Did not submit or incompletely created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Did not submit or incompletely provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

Insufficiently created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Insufficiently provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

Partially created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Partially provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

Satisfactorily created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Satisfactorily provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

Thoroughly created a proposal for where the revenue would be derived if the U.S. were to adopt a zero income tax model. Thoroughly provided specific recommendations concerning the primary way in which your plan will achieve equity.

5. Speculate on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from personal income taxes, and ascertain the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Justify your response.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely speculated on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from personal income taxes; did not submit or incompletely ascertained the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Did not submit or incompletely justified your response.

Insufficiently speculated on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from personal income taxes; insufficiently ascertained the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Insufficiently justified your response.

Partially speculated on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from personal income taxes; partially ascertained the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Partially justified your response.

Satisfactorily speculated on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from personal income taxes; satisfactorily ascertained the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Satisfactorily justified your response.

Thoroughly speculated on the primary way in which the federal government could make up any shortfalls if it does not collect its targeted revenue from personal income taxes; thoroughly ascertained the most significant way in which the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the IRS, can still adhere to its fiscal and monetary policies. Thoroughly justified your response.

6. 4 references

Weight: 5%

No references provided

Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices.

Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices.

Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.

Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.

7. Writing Mechanics, Grammar, and Formatting

Weight: 15%

Serious and persistent errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

Error free or almost error free grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

8. Appropriate use of APA in-text citations, reference section and format

Weight: 5%

Lack of in-text citations and / or lack of reference section.

In-text citations and references are given, but not in APA format.

In-text citations and references are provided, but they are only partially formatted correctly in APA style.

Most in-text citations and references are provided, and they are generally formatted correctly in APA style.

In-text citations and references are error free or almost error free and consistently formatted correctly in APA style.