What makes a tax code "fair"? Applying the same set of rules to everyone. Applying different rules to everyone based on their individual needs and circumstances. Nothing. Taxes will never be fair, so we must simply do the best we can with what we have to work with. FairTax Short Summary 32.0 KBs Section by Section Summary 83.5 KBs Find out what your state is doing to promote the FairTax: AL - Alabama AK - Alaska AZ - Arizona AR - Arkansas CA - California CO - Colorado CT - Connecticut DE - Delaware DC - District of Columbia FL - Florida GA - Georgia HI - Hawaii ID - Idaho IL - Illinois IN - Indiana IA - Iowa KS - Kansas KY - Kentucky LA - Louisiana ME - Maine MD - Maryland MA - Massachusetts MI - Michigan MN - Minnesota MS - Mississippi MO - Missouri MT - Montana NE - Nebraska NV - Nevada NH - New Hampshire NJ - New Jersey NM - New Mexico NY - New York NC - North Carolina ND - North Dakota OH - Ohio OK - Oklahoma OR - Oregon PA - Pennsylvania PR - Puerto Rico RI - Rhode Island SC - South Carolina SD - South Dakota TN - Tennessee TX - Texas UT - Utah VT - Vermont VI - Virgin Islands VA - Virginia WA - Washington WV - West Virginia WI - Wisconsin WY - Wyoming   Browse by:   -- Month -- January February March April May June July August September October November December -- Year -- 2006 (18) 2007 (7) 2008 (13) 2009 (1) 01/08/09 - The FairTax in the 111th Congress On January 6, 2009, the first day of the 111th Congress, I reintroduced H.R. 25, the FairTax, with 34 original co-sponsors. This is more original co-sponsors than the FairTax has ever had at the time of its introduction. These 34 co-sponsors represent 18 different states throughout the country. more 11/17/08 - FairTax Rally a huge success! Yesterday, I was joined by Mike Huckabee, Neal Boortz, and Saxby Chambliss at an inspiring FairTax rally. There was standing room only at the Gwinnett Civic Center as thousands of Americans showed their passionate support for this revolutionary tax reform bill. Many of the featured speakers at the rally focused on how the FairTax offers a solution to our current economic struggles. Their resounding message was that the FairTax offers much needed fundamental change that will revitalize our economy and bring jobs back to America, rather than simply funneling an exorbitant amount of taxpayer dollars to failing organizations. It is my hope that all those who attended this rally left reenergized and focused on the importance of our efforts to spread the FairTax message. more 10/30/08 - Hustle and Con I am sure that in recent weeks many of you have seen the negative ads that are running against FairTax supporters. Typically, these ads say that the FairTax supporter wants to increase taxes by placing a 23 percent tax on every good and service you buy. These ads conveniently forget to mention that the FairTax is a replacement for all current Federal income-related taxes. It is no wonder that people are so cynical about their government when deliberate misinformation like this is so often spread. more 09/17/08 - Turning the innocent into criminals Did you know, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), more than $3.5 billion in taxes is owed by almost half a million Federal employees and retirees? Of the nearly half-million Federal employees, 1,000 work on Capitol Hill. How can we expect Americans throughout the country to decipher our complex tax code when those who are helping to legislate the tax code are themselves confused? For too long, our convoluted tax code has been turning innocent people into criminals. Recently, Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, whose responsibilities include overseeing the tax code, was informed by the IRS that he owed back taxes on rental income. What we need is a tax system that simplifies the process and removes the possibility of one miscalculating his or her taxes. As I said last week, the cost of enforcing our broken tax code is increasing yearly; we need a simplified system; what we need is the FairTax. more 09/10/08 - The Cost of Enforcement The Cost of Enforcement more 08/13/08 - FairTax Debate on CNN Today I had the pleasure of joining my FairTax compatriots, Neil Boortz and Mark Darrow, for a roundtable discussion with FairTax opponents: Jay Bookman, Allen Buckley, and Hayden Keppner. Although the debate lasted over an hour, CNN plans to air only a ten minute segment this weekend. However, you will be able to find the debate in its entirety at CNN.com. Once it is posted on CNN.com, I will provide a link to the debate. It is my hope that Americans unfamiliar with the FairTax will see this debate and be encouraged to join the movement for fundamental tax reform. more 07/25/08 - Tax Compliance under the FairTax According to a recent study found on the Americans for Fair Taxation website, the tax gap the difference between taxes owned and taxes collected in 2006 was an astounding $432 billion. more 06/20/08 - Power of the Purse I believe that it is important for every American to hold the Federal government responsible for spending. To do this, we must begin by making it clear to people exactly how much of their money goes straight from their paychecks to the government before they even see it. more 06/06/08 - A picture is worth a thousand words more 06/05/08 - National Small Business Association continues to endorse the FairTax Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking to members of the National Small Business Association (NSBA) about the growing success of the FairTax. When the FairTax was first introduced in 1999, with only seven co-sponsors, NSBA was one of the first national organizations to endorse the FairTax. Now, the FairTax has 10 times the number of co-sponsors it had in 1999, and the endorsement of the NSBA remains incredibly important to the FairTax movement. Representing more then 150,000 small businesses across the country, NSBA recognizes the benefit of the FairTax to small business. As a former small business owner myself it is an honor to have this organization endorse the FairTax. more 05/20/08 - Growing Success I recently reviewed the FairTax blog and I cannot believe that it has been since April 17th that I last updated you on the growing success of the FairTax movement. If you do not already know, the FairTax now has 72 co-sponsors, more than any other fundamental tax reform proposal considered by Congress in over 30 years. We continue to work towards fundamental tax reform one co-sponsor at a time, and it all starts with you at the grassroots level. I continue to work for fundamental tax reform in Washington D.C, but hardworking Americans all across the country are undeniably the driving force behind the recent success of the FairTax. more 04/17/08 - The National Taxpayers Union 2007 "Taxpayers' Friend Award" Today, I am very proud to announce that I have received The National Taxpayers Union “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” for the year 2007. This award is presented to those Members who achieve an “A” grade in NTU’s Annual Rating of Congress. The Rating is based on every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy. A “Taxpayer Score” is then assigned to each Member that indicates his or her support for reducing or controlling federal Spending, taxes, debt, and regulation. The 2007 rating reviewed 427 House and 182 Senate roll call votes. more 04/15/08 - Simply Good Common Sense Today is Tax Day and, as you can imagine, I have been doing interviews since dawn with radio stations in Georgia and around the nation that have listeners interested in passing the FairTax and changing the direction of our nation. more 02/15/08 - FairTax adds 70th Co-Sponsor It has been some time since I last posted a message about the current list of supporters that the FairTax has amassed, but it is truly remarkable that the list continues to grow in the House of Representatives. There are now 70 co-sponsors of the FairTax. The American people are looking for solutions that will provide long-term economic growth and job creation, and the time has come for a serious national economic debate about fundamental tax reform ideas that will ensure our nation’s economic growth – and the American Dream – for generations to come. more 10/23/07 - 68th FairTax Co-sponsor There are now 68 co-sponsors of the FairTax. Representative Rodney Alexander (LA-05) added his name on Tuesday. more 10/17/07 - Responding to a common FairTax misconception I have seen some concerns raised recently about price increases if we implement a national sales tax, and I’m going to take a moment today to blog about a common FairTax misconception. more 09/10/07 - FairTax adds 64th co-sponsor I am pleased to announce that the FairTax has added its 64th co-sponsor in the United States House of Representatives. more 05/08/07 - FairTax Reaches Record Number of Co-Sponsors In only four months of the 110th Congress, the FairTax has garnered more Congressional support than ever before. As of today, there are 60 FairTax co-sponsors. As many of you know, this is a new high water mark for the FairTax. I would like to express my appreciation to Representatives Darrell Issa (CA-49) and John Boozman (AR-03) for becoming the 59th and 60th co-sponsors of the FairTax. more 04/17/07 - April 17 Should Be Just Another Spring Day April 17 should be just another beautiful spring day. Unfortunately, this year it is Tax Day. It is a day that millions of Americans dread and fear because of our oppressive Internal Revenue Code. For weeks now, Americans have been filling out pages of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms and paying money to accountants and tax attorneys in an attempt to comply with over 60,000 pages of rules and regulations. Over the past 94 years, the American people have been forced to deal with the heavy burden of income taxes, and I believe that now is the time for change. more 04/02/07 - FairTax Press Conference Just a brief note to let you know that I will be joining Senator Saxby Chambliss, Representative Tom Price and Ken Hoagland of Americans for Fair Taxation for a news conference and rally in Atlanta tomorrow morning. more 01/04/07 - FairTax 2007 This is a very exciting time for the FairTax. The grassroots effort in support of the FairTax becomes more powerful each day. Individuals across the nation, such as Lawrence Stevens of Dallas, Texas, are continually spreading the FairTax message in new and creative ways. The link below will allow you to listen to a portion of a podcast created by Mr. Stevens detailing some of the benefits and common misconceptions of the FairTax. The efforts of Mr. Stevens, and those like him, who are pushing hard to get the FairTax message out to the public will be the driving force behind what makes this revolutionary piece of tax reform legislation a reality. more 09/19/06 - New Cosponsor and new grassroots support It is an exciting time for the FairTax. On Wednesday, September 13, Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA) added his name to the growing list of H.R. 25 co-sponsors. Congressman Goode becomes the 59th member of this Congress to sign the bill. He joins two previous Virginia cosponsors, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and Congresswoman Thelma Drake. I am delighted to have his support. more 09/18/06 - A big problem that requires a big solution The Government Accountability Office just released the September 2006 “Nation’s Long-Term Fiscal Outlook” Update, and it reaffirms the need for fundamental tax reform. The update is entitled “The Bottom Line: Today’s Fiscal Policy Remains Unsustainable,” and confirms that “the Nation’s long-term fiscal future is at risk.” more 09/07/06 - Congressman Dan Boren of Oklahoma becomes 58th FairTax cosponsor I mentioned yesterday that the tremendous grassroots support of the FairTax would produce more cosponsors, and today I am pleased to announce that Congressman Dan Boren of Oklahoma has been added to H.R. 25. Congressman Boren joins fellow Oklahomans Congressman John Sullivan and Senator Tom Coburn as a cosponsor. more 09/06/06 - Congressman Mike Pence joins H.R. 25 as newest cosponsor I am pleased to tell you that I will soon be walking a cosponsorhip form over to the floor of the House that will add Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana as the 57th sponsor of the FairTax. Congressman Pence will be the third FairTax cosponsor from Indiana, as he joins fellow Indiana cosponsors Congressmen Mike Sodrel and Dan Burton. more 07/12/06 - A big victory is won through many small battles I spoke today to a crowded room of Congressional interns, and I am inspired by their spirit. They all came to learn more about the FairTax, and their inquisitive nature will be part of the effort that drives the FairTax forward. The FairTax is going to become the law of the land not through the large effort of a few but rather through the constant effort of the very many. These interns--mostly college students working in Washington for the summer--will return to their colleges campuses and help to build the momentum that is growing across America. more 06/20/06 - Texas Representative Kay Granger adds her name to the FairTax With the addition of Congresswoman Kay Granger, H.R. 25 now has 56 sponsors in the House of Representatives. It continues as the most widely supported and cosponsored fundamental tax reform legislation on Capitol Hill. more 06/16/06 - Washington wants to do favors for you According to the Congressional Budget Office, 80% of all American’s pay less than 6% of their income in Federal income taxes. The top 20% of income earners pay less than 14%. The top 1%--those averaging more than $1 million a year in income--pay less than 21% of their income. How can this be true when Federal income tax brackets start at 10% for the lowest income earners, go to 25% for those earning $29,000 or more, and jump to 33% for those earning $143,000 or more? Because the income tax is riddled with loopholes, exceptions and exemptions. Maybe you benefit from all of the deductions and credits, but wouldn’t it be better if we eliminated the loopholes, and you were only charged a single, low, and honest rate? more 06/13/06 - New record number of Congressional sponsors With the addition last week of Congresswoman Thelma Drake of Virginia and this week of Congressman John Mica of Florida, the FairTax has officially passed last Congress's record of 55 sponsors and set a new record of 56 sponsors. Already this year, the FairTax set a new sponsorship record in the U.S. Senate. more 06/08/06 - Blog: Tax code or social welfare code? It is easy to see that the American tax code has gone awry. The evidence is everywhere. But have your heard the one about the tax code that actually paid money out instead of taking money in? more 06/07/06 - Activity Every Day There really is not a day that goes by where something somewhere isn't happening with the FairTax. I hope that you feel that where you are because I certainly feel it both in Washington and in Georgia, and it energizes me. more 06/06/06 - Constitutional Amendments The Wall Street Journal through wsj.com asks a poll question every day for its online readers to answer. Today's question is, "Which issue most needs to be addressed with a constitutional amendment?" more 06/02/06 - The 24,000-page tax return I hope that you will take a look at the AP news story released yesterday that commented on General Electric's recent 24,000-page tax return. GE filed the return electronically using new software that reported cost nearly $1 million, but GE representatives reported that the electronic filing would save millions (plural) over the old paper process. more 05/31/06 - It takes a movement It really does take a movement to bring an idea a large as the FairTax...and I think that we are seeing the signs of that movement taking hold. You can see one of those signs scribbled in the dust on the back of this truck spotted rolling across Texas. You can see another in the overflow FairTax rally held last week in Georgia where thousands packed a convention center to capacity, forcing thousands more to be turned away. I see the another sign in the variety of FairTax bumper stickers that I see on cars in Atlanta, many obviously printed by a volunteer at his or her own expense. And, I see that sign in Washington, where with the addition of Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson as a cosponsor, the FairTax (H.R. 25/ S. 25) --with still seven months remaining in this Congress--has already reached the record level of Congressional support achieved last Congress. Already the most widely supported tax reform bill on Capitol Hill, the FairTax is certain surpass even its own historic record level of support in the coming weeks. more 05/16/06 - Congress is feeling the momentum The Congress is supporting the FairTax as never before, and this support is a direct result of voters sharing their views with members of Congress. With seven months left in the session, we are only one cosponsor away from tying the record support that H.R. 25 and S. 25 received in the last Congress. more 05/15/06 - Change is both good and bad in Washington, DC. We are experiencing a lot of change in the faces of Washington these days. The White House staff has changed dramatically. The chief of staff, press secretary, and domestic policy adviser are new among others. The Congress next month is losing Tom Delay, our long-time Majority Leader and ardent FairTax supporter. These changes are definitely good news and bad news for the FairTax. more 04/20/06 - The new Linder FairTax site is up and running My new FairTax site is now fully open to the public. I hope that this will be a place where everyone can come to find answers to anything FairTax-related that they have questions about. more 02/08/06 - Continuing to grow support across the nation. We have passed another FairTax milestone today with the addition of Congressman Todd Tiahrt to the list of FairTax cosponsors. The addition of Congressman Tiahrt to the list of FairTax supporters not only marks our first supporter from Kansas but it also marks the 49th name added to H.R. 25 during this Congress. The FairTax is well ahead of the pace set by last Congress's 55 House cosponsors. I am optimistic that we will break that record soon with your support. more 01/25/06 - Getting started It is difficult to believe that after promoting a national retail sales tax for decades and after promoting the FairTax specifically since 1999 that I could possibly title an article "Getting Started" but I have. I have because this web page represents a new start in my continuing efforts to educate the country about the benefits and burdens of tax reform. more Other groups and web sites interested in tax reform.

		The Department of Commerce reports in its most recent Economic Census that just 688 retailers (0.03%) in the U.S. make 48.6% of all the sales. Just 3.6% of retailers collectively make 85.7% of all U.S. sales. Fewer points of collection will mean higher compliance with the FairTax than with today's complex system.

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