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The Pros And Cons Of America's Taxation System

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Everyday, American citizens are under obligation to pay their taxes in order to be classified as an upstanding citizen; however, the efficiency and fairness of America’s taxation system is a controversial topic which, in truth, places many hard-working Americans at a disadvantage. More often than not, tax reform is volleyed and utilized as a tool in elections rather than being addressed as the problem it is. In addition, the current system places many young people, namely college bound students, in a difficult situation in regard to financial assistance. While efforts toward taxation reform have been made, further progress and transformation are necessary in order to assist in the relief of inequity. Currently, the tax system is riddled …show more content…

Earning an income between $25,000 and $75,000 defines who is a part of the middle class; however, based on the 2014 tax brackets, a person making $25,000 will pay 5.2% less in taxes than a person making $75,000. While it appears to be reasonable to tax one who makes more money, it also places the people in the higher spectrum of the middle class at a disadvantage. This image of being of a higher monetary status greatly hinders many opportunities middle class students have in regard to college expenses. Many scholarships and grants are exclusive only to students whose families make a certain amount of money, meaning that several students are excluded from such opportunities although they may still be struggling financially. While tax deductions are made for having dependents, such as children, spouses, et cetera, the amount deducted from the total amount of money paid in taxes is not enough to make a drastic difference in the family’s quality of life, and if the family has multiple dependents, this places them at a severe disadvantage. The state and scholarship committees will only see the gross income of the family rather than the take-home pay which can differ starkly due to the tax …show more content…

While this may be true, the fact of the matter is that the current system in place, with all of its loopholes and room for manipulation, has much room for even the simplest of reform. For one, taxing the profits made off of the stock exchange from the market’s biggest players would greatly decrease the inequities in the taxation process and would prevent from more severe monopolization of the market. But this alone is not enough to avert from the problems at hand; in order to achieve the most positive results, tax reform must extend beyond the system itself. For the struggling students about to embark for a higher education, yet unable to qualify for many grants and scholarships due to their family’s ‘stable finances’, a reevaluation in the scholarship foundations must be made. If the foundations and boards took into account the total take home pay of the family rather than the gross pay, far more students would qualify for the financial aid due to the severe decrease in

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