IRS Withholding on US Tournament Winnings Starts in 2008

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I don't understand why poker players haven't been supporting the national sales tax also known as the Fair Tax

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The "fair" tax creates a strong incentive for people to hoard and save money instead of spending it. Remember that a dollar can only be made when someone else spends a dollar. Fewer dollars spent means fewer dollars to be earned by you and me.

In the context of poker the buy-in (or cash-out) would likely be considered spending, and incur the tax. It would be extremely naive to think that greedy politicians are going to leave poker money untaxed. Even proponents of a sales/use tax admit that one of the big dangers is that we wind up with a sales tax PLUS the current income tax.

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Apparenly you are under the mistaken impression that Americans (in general) don't spend every dollar which hits their pockets. A large majority spend every dollar they bring in (and then some), this will continue with the fair tax, the biggest difference is they will have more money to spend.

You said that the fair tax penalizes the poor. Do you really belive that the poor are able to utilize deductions that are available to the rich??? Ask how many folks in Harlem will be utilizing the new deduction this year for home security systems??

Also, the HB that is proposed as the fair tax would repeal the income tax amendment and end income taxes. A lofty goal but one which must happen for the fair tax to work. Please read more about it before condeming it.

The current system incourages people to hide income. And it happens a LOT. Do you think illegal aliens are currently paying a fair shar of the tax burden?? How about drug dealers? Strippers??? and a lot of cash poker players????