NLXSK1
Well-Known Member
There are a few issues that have struck me as not being discussed yet which are going to fundamentally change some significant tax issues under Obamacare.
First, at this time, if you do not pay the penalty for insurance the government simply takes it out of your return. How many times are people going to get a short tax refund before they figure out they can make more deductions and owe the government money at the end of the year rather than having to pay the fine? I predict within 5 years that most people will owe the government money at the end of the year (including the Obamacare fine) and they may not even be able to pay what is due. This is going to create a real issue for the revenue office and the income stream. It is going to alter that considerably with much less coming in.
Second, how much more fraud do you think this is going to cause? Having the subsidies tied to your income and 400% of poverty level is going to put an increased pressure on people to lie about their income to gain subsidies or decrease the penalties they have to pay at the end of the year. Combine this with what you have above and the government is going to have to hire a lot more IRS agents (maybe that is why they are in the legislation).
First, at this time, if you do not pay the penalty for insurance the government simply takes it out of your return. How many times are people going to get a short tax refund before they figure out they can make more deductions and owe the government money at the end of the year rather than having to pay the fine? I predict within 5 years that most people will owe the government money at the end of the year (including the Obamacare fine) and they may not even be able to pay what is due. This is going to create a real issue for the revenue office and the income stream. It is going to alter that considerably with much less coming in.
Second, how much more fraud do you think this is going to cause? Having the subsidies tied to your income and 400% of poverty level is going to put an increased pressure on people to lie about their income to gain subsidies or decrease the penalties they have to pay at the end of the year. Combine this with what you have above and the government is going to have to hire a lot more IRS agents (maybe that is why they are in the legislation).