Taxes in America: What Everyone Needs to Know® - Softcover

Burman, Leonard E.; Slemrod, Joel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199890269 ISBN 13: 9780199890262

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2012

Synopsis

Despite their passion and fury, contemporary Americans are remarkably clueless about how their tax system works. But with heated debates over taxation now roiling Congress and the nation, an understanding of our tax system is of vital importance. Taxes in America: What Everyone Needs to Know®, by preeminent tax scholars Leonard E. Burman and Joel Slemrod, offers a clear, concise explanation of how our tax system works, how it affects people and businesses, and how it might be improved. Accessibly written and organized in a clear, question-and-answer format, the book describes the intricacies of the modern tax system in an easy-to-grasp manner. Burman and Slemrod begin with the basic definitions of taxes and then delve into more complicated and indeed contentious concerns. They address such questions as how to recognize Fool's Gold tax reform plans. How much more tax could the IRS collect with better enforcement? How do tax burdens vary around the world? Why do corporations pay so little tax, even though they earn trillions of dollars every year? And what kind of tax system is most conducive to economic growth?

What Everyone Needs to Know® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.

About this title

About the Author

Leonard E. Burman is director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and the Paul Volcker Professor of Behavioral Economics at Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Joel Slemrod is Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and the Paul W. McCracken Collegiate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, at the University of Michigan.

Reviews

Burman and Slemrod explain for the average tax payer as well as those seeking more tax information how the U.S. tax system works, how it affects people and businesses, and how it might be improved. They contend that the timing of this book is good because both candidates for president in 2012 embrace tax reform, albeit with very different visions, and the debate about taxes has become a proxy war in the battle about the size and scope of government. Part 1 provides an overview of personal and business taxes in the U.S., and part 2 explains the costs and benefits of taxation. Part 3 reviews tax policies and tax reform. The authors conclude by explaining sensible tax reform ideas, including those developed by President George W. Bush’s blue-ribbon panel and President Obama’s Bowles-Simpson Commission. This is an excellent, understandable book on a topic important to a wide range of library patrons. --Mary Whaley

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199890269
• ISBN 13: 9780199890262
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304