The FairTax Book:
Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS, by Neal Boortz and Rep. John Linder


(Click for Amazon book review)

BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

The FairTax is the preferred tax simplification plan for hard-core conservatives, and for many in the Tea Party movement. Few people actually realize what exactly the FairTax is; this book introduced the concept and explains the bill which is introduced in each Congress. One of the authors, John Linder, is a member of Congress, and is the leading proponent of the FairTax.

Those not in-the-know will write "Fair Tax" and assume that it means a fair tax system (or a fairer tax system). It is properly written as one word with an interior capital letter, "FairTax", as on this book's cover.

Those not in-the-know also describe the FairTax as a 23% sales tax, the US equivalent of the VAT common in Europe. The authors go to great lengths (p. 153) to explain the differences between the VAT and the FairTax. However, most Americans don't really care -- they support the FairTax because it is simple , not because it differs from a VAT. There are many other detailed distinctions explained herein.

Under the newly-elected Tea-Party-oriented Republican majority, the House of Representatives will certainly debate a FairTax bill, and likely pass one (it is mush less likely to pass in the Senate). Hence this book, although a few years old, has suddenly become relevant.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, December 2010

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Budget & Economy     John Linder: Economic freedom is a component of political freedom.     John Linder: Our tax code has chased $10 trillion to offshore deposits.     Milton Friedman: Economic freedom is a component of political freedom.

Corporations     John Linder: Businesses don't pay taxes; they merely collect & pass on.     John Linder: Offshore financial centers, OFC's, avoid all US tax.     John Linder: Most IRS actions are against small businesses for FICA.

Free Trade     John Linder: Punishing corporate tax structure moves HQ's abroad.

Government Reform     John Linder: Lobbyists manipulate and game the system.

Social Security     George W. Bush: Allow investing in government-certified stocks & bonds.     John Linder: Social Security is on the verge of financial collapse.     John Linder: Payroll tax increase is a lousy way to reform the system.

Tax Reform     Jimmy Carter: 1970s: Tried to extend withholding to interest and dividends.     John Linder: Tax withholding camouflages the actual tax burden.     John Linder: More complicated tax code means higher compliance costs.     John Linder: FairTax repeals AMT; estate tax; gift tax; & capital gains.     John Linder: Politicians should not decide who "needs" tax cuts.     John Linder: FairTax is absolutely not a VAT.     John Linder: AMT was introduced as a "spite" tax in 1969.     John Linder: Income taxes are seized; consumption taxes are voluntary.     Milton Friedman: VAT is most efficient way to raise government revenue.     Ronald Reagan: 1982: Extended withholding to interest and dividends.

Technology     John Linder: FairTax Card: register with feds for monthly prebate.     John Linder: Tax Internet sales the same as store sales.

Welfare & Poverty     John Linder: Over 25% of cost of EITC is fraud.     John Linder: Americans don't give to charity for tax deductions.

Click for quotations from other sources by: George W. Bush Jimmy Carter John Linder Milton Friedman Ronald Reagan