Anti-Amnesty
3-13-13 WOSO Commentary
It seems that every new administration faced with the need
to raise funds comes up with the strategy of offering an amnesty. This administration
is headed in the same direction.
I am totally against further amnesties for the following three
reasons:
First of all, I am convinced that there are citizens out
there that accumulate debts in order to pay when the periodic amnesty appears.
I would call them amnesty payers. Others who are relatively up to date stop
paying pending invoices in order to take advantage of the amnesty law.
Secondly, amnesties are unfair to those who timely comply
with their obligations and this unfairness will lead some to not be as
responsible.
Thirdly, if we want a society of law and order, then we have
to enforce strict compliance with all our laws.
Bottom line, amnesties hurt Government cash flows in the
long run, incentivate irresponsibility, and do great harm to the creation of a
society of law and order.
In closing, I want to clarify that my anti amnesty position
is not to say that tax evaders who voluntarily come forward, or taxpayers who
are facing financial hardships, should not be able to negotiate reasonable
plans in accordance with the particular facts of each case.
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