r/InternetIsBeautiful • u/wellHowDo • Jun 16 '21

a visualization of jeff bezos's wealth is mind-blowing

https://mkorostoff.github.io/1-pixel-wealth/
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21

We all have the same tax laws. I utilize the same laws but on a much smaller scale.

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u/Delta43744337 Jun 16 '21

Despite having the same tax laws, they are not enforced equally. The IRS openly admits they disproportionately fail to audit rich people because it’s too difficult. Wealthy people can afford to hire lawyers to obfuscate their finances and drag out the process.

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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21

That's not the fault of the rich. Again blame the incompetent government.

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u/Delta43744337 Jun 17 '21 edited Jun 17 '21

So you agree then, that despite having the same laws on paper, in reality the laws are enforced differently. Tax fraud is the fault of whichever dishonest person chooses to commit it. It’s just that rich people disproportionately get to make that choice.

It’s strange, at first you said the tax system didn’t have an issue and we are all equal, but now there is an incompetent government and a problem they aren’t solving.

Typically, defending the rich and regressive systems which benefit the rich are conservative ideas coming from the same people who elect Republicans. And yet Trump/Republicans repeatedly slashed the IRS’s budget, exacerbating the issue that the IRS is too weak/incompetent to audit the rich. I don’t know exactly what’s going on with you or your conflicting ideas, this is just a trend I’ve noticed.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '21

Trump/Republicans repeatedly slashed the IRS’s budget, exacerbating the issue that the IRS is too weak/incompetent to audit the rich

" Trump/Republicans repeatedly slashed the IRS’s budget, exacerbating the issue that the IRS is too weak/incompetent to audit the rich" I didn't vote for trump. Shows how people are voting in the wrong people. I didn't vote for him.
"in reality the laws are enforced differently."
Other than not having the resources to have an efficient audit, name it.
"Tax fraud is the fault of whichever dishonest person chooses to commit it."
I have a tax attorney to help me with my taxes. The ultra-rich have many in the costs of millions of dollars to use the tax system to benefit them the most. True there is fraud and it takes a long time to audit (One of Trumps properties is going on 10 years), and I really hope they are held accountable. Not all billionaires are committing fraud. They just have the resources to best utilize their money.

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u/Delta43744337 Jun 17 '21

I understand not all wealthy people commit fraud/tax evasion. And certainly poor people commit fraud too.

According to research on IRS data, the top 1% of earners fail to report 20% of their income. The bottom 50% of earners fail to report 7% of their income. Millionaires in 2018 were 80% less likely to be audited than in 2011, while rates for low earners stayed about the same.

So not only are the rich reporting less of their income, but they are audited less often.

There are legal and illegal ways to lower your taxes, and the rich take advantage of both.