Reddit and freedom of speech.

[SQLGeek]

I itemized, and it's right around that $25k (+/- a couple of thousand over the past couple of years). Sounds like it may be best to not itemize if this plan gets implemented?

I would think for people around the threshold, it would certainly reduce the tax incentive to make charitable contributions and donations.

[cyphur]

I itemized, and it's right around that $25k (+/- a couple of thousand over the past couple of years). Sounds like it may be best to not itemize if this plan gets implemented?

I would think for people around the threshold, it would certainly reduce the tax incentive to make charitable contributions and donations.

I only donate to a select few charities as it is - all smaller, credible, military and veteran related - and that won't change regardless of the tax deduction. I'm already getting railed by the Feds on taxes.

If they were to not let me deduct my mortgage interest, my property taxes, and my max'd out 401(k) contributions, I'd be in a real pickle every year. That's thousands upon thousands of dollars of additional taxes I wouldn't get back.

I always get my effective tax rate below 20%. I'd gladly pay 15% flat tax on every dollar I earned without question. No need for a tax form, nothing. I'll cut a check every year with a smile for any money that isn't on a W-2(which is none, anymore).

It will never get that simple.

[Pariah3j]

I think deductions need to be done away with period. Everyone should pay taxes on an equal footing, rich, poor and middle class alike should play the same flat %. I believe if this was done, taxes would go down, because those who have the money to lobby and do something about the tax rate would be incentivized to make it a low as possible.

[Soccerdad1995]

I think deductions need to be done away with period. Everyone should pay taxes on an equal footing, rich, poor and middle class alike should play the same flat %. I believe if this was done, taxes would go down, because those who have the money to lobby and do something about the tax rate would be incentivized to make it a low as possible.

The main reason for deductions, IMHO, is to incentivize behavior. Historically, we wanted to encourage home ownership, so we gave a tax break for mortgage interest, etc. But I agree with you that life would be a lot simpler if we just got rid of all deductions.

At that point, you could even take it one step further and replace the income tax with a national sales tax. It would be fairly easy to keep it progressive, as well. Just make groceries and essential items tax free, and then charge a much higher percentage for luxury goods. You wouldn't ever again need to worry about doing a tax return.

[OneGun]

Getting back to the original Reddit problem, I wish "they" would publish a book with all the new rules. When I took civics class, I was learned that the 1st Amendment said I was free to say anything I desired. However, the 1st Amendment did not protect me from the consequence of my speech, such as calling my former supervisor at my former place of employment a knucklehead which he still is to this day. I turned down his offer to return to work with him.

Now, it seems that free speech only applies to people with certain political opinions. All others are silenced in the name of inclusiveness. But, I have never picked up on inclusiveness via silence. How does that work. In addition, I learned at lunch yesterday that when my wife put a package of Oreo cookies in my lunch, that I was actually making a racist statement. I've always enjoyed Oreo cookies and always thought that a cookie is just a cookie, not an instrument of racism. Does this mean I have to give up chocolate chip cookies as well? My wife uses my grandmother's recipe. She was an immigrant.

To make matters worse, I told one of my colleagues that my wife and I were about to celebrate another milestone anniversary. I was looking forward to her and I going out on the town. However, one of my liberal staffers said that by celebrating my anniversary, I was being intolerant towards same-sex marriage. However, I said I was just celebrating a milestone with my wife (maybe I should have used the phrase life-mate) and expressed no opinion about same-sex marriage. By celebrating, I was being intolerant.

Exactly when did the world get infected with craziness. I just want to eat an Oreo cookie and celebrate my anniversary with my wife. I was not trying to up-end the world social order.

[Pariah3j]

Well 1st Amendment is a restriction on government, preventing them from enforcing or passing laws against free speech. Private entities do not have this same burden. So Facebook, Reddit, Twitter don't have to have a good reason for banning you from using their service. Unless maybe you are gay and asked them to bake a cake

As discussed previously, other then the standard ruleset of Reddit, the sub 'forums' on Reddit make their own rules. The moderators are free to ban you from their forum for whatever they deem if I understand correctly. So its more up to the individual subs to post their rules.

I hope you are trolling about the cookies... If you work with someone who thinks Oreos are 'racist' or 'offensive' then I wouldn't talk to them. Or you can turn their own silly rhetoric around on them. If you can say it deadpanned enough you might say something like, "Keep your bigoted microaggressions out of my food" - something along those lines. I wouldn't be able to get away with it, I'd laugh too much.

For the staffer who said celebrating your marriage was intolerant of gay marriage, I'd say something like gay people have the right to be just as equally unhappy and miserable as straight people, that's why they legalized gay marriage. They can celebrate their 10 years(or insert however long) of marriage once they have done the time.

Of course, I don't work with anyone like that, I'd probably have been written up for fired if confronted with 'one of those' people.

[Soccerdad1995]

Oreos are, of course highly racist. They imply that white people are soft and mushy, while folks with darker skin are hard and strong. Also that white people cannot properly function without their darker skinned brethren to support them and quite literally to "hold them together". Just another example of "black privilege" in action.

Don't even get me started on the "double stuff" oreos....

[philip964]

I itemized, and it's right around that $25k (+/- a couple of thousand over the past couple of years). Sounds like it may be best to not itemize if this plan gets implemented?

I would think for people around the threshold, it would certainly reduce the tax incentive to make charitable contributions and donations.

So pbwalker you would be a winner most likely year one.

Your itemized deductions I'm going to assume will drop to let's say $18,000 assuming your sales tax deduction is $2000, and your property taxes are $5000. The standard deduction rises to $25,000, so it is the one you choose. If there is any reduction in the tax rate, that's where your savings will be. If the standard deduction is indexed for inflation everything should be ok, your property taxes increase but hopefully the standard deduction increases to match it. If not in a few years you could be paying more since your right on the break even point. Your charities may suffer as you notice giving more doesn't give you a real deduction.

Potential unintended consequences besides charitable contributions being no longer a real tax deduction for you, you may realize your property taxes are not getting you a deduction either. You may begin voting against any bond issue your local government proposes. You may see mayoral candidates promising to reduce property taxes by any possible means, including reduced services or not honoring pensions, etc. You may see your chances of selling your home reduced as many of the financial insentives for home ownership have been elliminated.

[Liberty]

Potential unintended consequences besides charitable contributions being no longer a real tax deduction for you, you may realize your property taxes are not getting you a deduction either. You may begin voting against any bond issue your local government proposes. You may see mayoral candidates promising to reduce property taxes by any possible means, including reduced services or not honoring pensions, etc. You may see your chances of selling your home reduced as many of the financial incentives for home ownership have been eliminated.

Winners and losers. Property values seem to have skyrocketed lately, I've been lookin' for a piece of property lately and am amazed how much the prices have increased. It will be nice if the tax reform puts the brakes on things and makes ownership more affordable.

[philip964]

Potential unintended consequences besides charitable contributions being no longer a real tax deduction for you, you may realize your property taxes are not getting you a deduction either. You may begin voting against any bond issue your local government proposes. You may see mayoral candidates promising to reduce property taxes by any possible means, including reduced services or not honoring pensions, etc. You may see your chances of selling your home reduced as many of the financial incentives for home ownership have been eliminated.

Winners and losers. Property values seem to have skyrocketed lately, I've been lookin' for a piece of property lately and am amazed how much the prices have increased. It will be nice if the tax reform puts the brakes on things and makes ownership more affordable.

Exactly. Sellers may lose, buyers may win.

If property values fall or fail to rise, local governments used to a 10% raise every year, will try and raise taxes. They will find resistance from voters who now can't deduct it. I see bankruptcy in the cards for Dallas and Houston, due to their pension problems.

Tax reform at work.