Taxes
The Intentional Complexity of the Tax Code
By Mark Harris
July 11, 2025
With the passing of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” federal tax law is once again being changed in ways that affect everyone. As with all changes to federal tax law, it benefits some, hurts others, and generally leaves the public confused – unless you are an insider or tax professional. Even if you are generally more aware than the average person about tax law, the length of the tax code and the new law makes parsing your tax situation difficult.
The complexity of the tax code is intentional and designed to benefit large businesses and the wealthy. Multinational corporations pay professionals to study the tax code, argue on their behalf in disputes of tax law, and can even afford to lobby to see tax law changed. Wealthy individuals pay personal financiers to move their money around to dodge as many taxes as possible, while families and small businesses struggle to keep in compliance.
The argument for a simpler tax code, perhaps, has never been clearer, and yet it does not seem to be in the cards anytime soon. Many argue for a flat tax or some other hyper-simplistic solution to the tax system, which may be an improvement on the current system, but is unlikely to win the support of those who benefit from the status quo. Can a middle ground be found, and will it survive congressional polarization?
Keep Cool and Think It Out
The Editors
Citizens Digest Staff
- Ruth McLatchie, Editor-in-Chief, Written Media
- Mike Gonzalez, Technical Editor, Writer
- Donald Wiggins, Chief Legal and Organizational Officer
- Daniel DeLuca, Chief Financial Officer
- Mark Harris, Operations Manager
- Elizabeth Frost, Circulation and Volunteer Manager
- Alicia Meckstroth, Contributor
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