According to Odaily, the U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) recently highlighted the increasing complexity of the American tax code. In a statement on platform X, the department noted that in 1955, the U.S. tax code comprised fewer than 1.5 million words. Today, that number has ballooned to over 16 million words. This complexity has significant implications for taxpayers, who collectively spend approximately 6.5 billion hours annually preparing and filing their taxes. The department emphasized the urgent need for simplification of the tax code to alleviate this burden on American citizens.
The growing intricacy of the tax code has been a point of contention for many years, with critics arguing that it places an undue burden on individuals and businesses alike. The sheer volume of regulations and requirements can be overwhelming, leading to increased costs for tax preparation services and a higher likelihood of errors. Simplifying the tax code could potentially reduce these costs and make the process more accessible to the average taxpayer.
Efforts to streamline the tax code have been discussed in various governmental and public forums, but significant changes have yet to be implemented. The call for simplification is not only about reducing the time and effort required for tax preparation but also about enhancing transparency and fairness in the tax system. By making the tax code more straightforward, the government could improve compliance rates and ensure that all taxpayers are contributing their fair share without unnecessary complications.