On Apr 28, 2:17 pm, oprah.cho...[at]gmail.com wrote:
- quote -

Why limit it federal/state tax items? While many people do not read
the instructions,
that relates to ANYTHING not just taxes, it takes 'special' type of
person to actually
read something as basic as an IRS Publication 17. Not to mention the
volume of other things.

But consider the number of people who seem perplexed at the ATM. The
homeowners who have
no idea how to read their utility bill (that's taxes on there??), and
the sterotype of flashing "12:00" on
the VCR didn't come from thin air! Not to mention VCR+!

The world is populated by people who can't do and don't know LOTS of
stuff!




========================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
- when my 7 yr old saw the label on a hair dryer "do not use while
bathing or showering" she asked how stupid they thought people were. I had
to explain that every label like that represented a number of people who
likely died or were injured. STD deduction? I bet 9 of 10 people have no
idea what a Roth IRA is. And no, the readers here are not your average
population.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article
<97a5dabb-7e8f-4744-b25c-24712a1b4f2a[at]r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com> ,
oprah.chopra[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

It's not typically taught in schools, so it has very little to do with
the level of education you've achieved.

Most citizens are ignorant of most laws on the books, yet we're all
expected to obey them.

--
Barry Margolin, barmar[at]alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

<oprah.chopra[at]gmail.com> wrote
- quote -

I expect it is worse than the 30% error rate attributed to
the IRS employees who staff the IRS toll free help hotline,
per a late 1990s study, for one.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

<oprah.chopra[at]gmail.com> wrote in message
news:97a5dabb-7e8f-4744-b25c-24712a1b4f2a[at]r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
- quote -

I'm certain that even greater number can't tune their cars but I'm that that
concerned, that is why we have auto mechanics.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

oprah.chopra[at]gmail.com wrote:
- quote -

not one -- I say "Bless them all".

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Are there any studies on the ignorance of the average taxpayer? I
wonder what percentage can explain the difference between a standard
deduction and itemized deduction? I know I couldn't until recently
and I have a Masters degree in engineering. I would think the vast
majority can not as well considering 70% of US population does not
even have a Bachelor's degree.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >