Policymakers Should Learn from Tax Complexity in Brazil and the United States

As we approach the end of tax filing season, Americans are facing the complexity the tax code imposes on them and their businesses. In 2017, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) estimated that Americans spend collectively over 8.1 billion hours to comply with tax requirements. The challenges imposed on taxpayers in America and abroad by tax complexity show that simplifying the tax code is a worthy goal for policymakers, as the costs of tax complexity keep entrepreneurs and businesses from investing and contributing to economic growth.

Comparisons of tax codes internationally reveal a large variation in......

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Why Tax Complexity Still Matters

Many Americans will be filing their tax returns next week. As Americans work on this, it’s worthwhile for us to consider why tax complexity still matters. There was a kerfuffle last month over this subject; Senator Ted Cruz, who advocates a simpler tax system, pointed out that the tax code has more words than the Bible (which is true), and the Washington Post’s fact checker column took the opportunity to editorialize on the subject, asking “does any of this matter?”

The Fact Checker column was mocked on some conservative blogs for acknowledging a true fact, stepping into an editorial role, deciding that the fact didn’t matter, and declaring it a nonsense fact, worthy of neither a Geppetto Checkmark nor a Pinocchio. Since this kerfuffle, Senator Cruz has at times fired back at fact checkers he deems untrustworthy.

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The Cost of Tax Compliance

Over the years, the tax code has been altered by changes to statutes, regulations and case law, adding up to over 70,000 pages of instruction to filing taxes. It is the IRS’s job to enforce tax policy, so they keep track of the time and cost of filing taxes for individuals and businesses.

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How Many Words are in the Tax Code?

The tax code is huge and complex. But how huge and complex is it?

Andrew Grossman, the legislation counsel for the Joint Committee on Taxation that helps write tax laws, attacked us in Slate yesterday for saying that the tax code runs 70,000 pages, countering that it’s “only” 2,600 pages.

So how long is it really? There are a couple ways to look at it.

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MODAS solution closes the homework gap...

A recent FCC decision to put subsidized broadband expansion on hold to clean up existing fraud and abuse through the Lifeline program is leaving millions of low income families without internet access. However, there is a solution with MODAS to deliver digital equity to students and it’s beginning in Texas.

Within secondary education (K-12), it’s estimated that 30% of students do not have internet access outside of the classroom. As it appears in the near term, subsidized broadband for the financially disadvantaged, school kids included, is indefinitely out of reach because of another broken government program. Low income students are being left behind due to technological advancements in the classroom and no broadband at home. Text books are transforming into digital format, lesson plans are digital and homework is completed/submitted electronically. If you are a student without internet how do you complete your homework or a research project, book report…etc.? I hear routinely that “our kids go to "McDonalds" for internet.” Not to knock the “Golden Arches,” but is McDonalds really a viable “homework gap” strategy or a reasonable place for students to concentrate on learning? Many students need more than Chromebooks or iPads, they also need data plans in order to keep from falling behind. There are non-profit programs for broadband directed at low income families, though they are often attached to qualification processes that can be obstacles for obtaining service, particularly when connected to credit history or other residential stability requirements.

MODAS believes the power to deliver digital equity should reside in the hands of the school or school district. Our managed service accomplishes just that. We’ve developed a unique program that delivers public sector (CL) pricing for wireless service to employees and then leverage wireless carrier incentives and other funding mechanisms to reduce, even eliminate the homework gap. Best of all, the program is managed by MODAS but the funding benefit that’s created is administered by the school to close the “homework gap” or allocated toward other needful programs.

If your school or district is struggling to close the homework gap or you would like to provide the lowest pricing for wireless service and create funding – contact MODAS at info@modassystems.com. We will customize a program that produces results based on your school district's needs.

MODAS Systems, Inc. is based in Dallas, Texas and specializes in Billing, Tax & Compliance As a Service. MODAS was recognized by CIO Review as one of the “20 most promising” IoT solution providers for 2017.

#homeworkgap, #digitaldivide, #digitalequity, #fundingforeducation

CIO Review: feature article & top 20 M2M solution provider for 2016

Congratulations to MODAS on the December feature article in CIO Review and being selected as one of the 20 most promising M2M solution providers for 2016.

Thank you CIO Review for the recognition! 

modassystems.com

http://machine-to-machine.cioreview.com/vendor/2016/modas_systems

MODAS cost recovery solutions for business - limit data overages and create employee flexibility for BYOD programs...

MODAS delivers "split billing" solutions that will help your organization recover costs for wireless data overages. We provide a complete managed service that includes: invoicing, collections, customized reporting, tax compliance and customer service related to billing.

If you offer an employee BYOD program with a company enabled data plan - how are you managing data overages?  MODAS will not only limit your financial risk for data overages, we'll deliver your employees flexibility for handset upgrades and wireless features add-on's. Our managed service mitigates your financial risk for operating an employer enabled BYOD program.

You simply define usage parameters and MODAS designs our cost recovery solution based upon your requirements. We’ll bring your BYOD program into balance, ensuring cost limits for you and flexibility for your employees. To learn more visit modassystems.com/the-solution/cost-recovery/

MODAS specializes in telecom tax, regulatory compliance for IoT/M2M industry and providing cost recovery solutions for organizations of any size. Please note that MODAS is not a wireless carrier reseller, we provide billing and cost recovery solutions for wireless telecommunications.