Professor Elam

Accounting & Investing Info for San Antonio A & M

recent posts

about

Norway to Post Tax Returns on Line

Norway another wonderful European social democracy is going to post personal tax returns on line for all to see. Wanna know how much Liv Ullman makes, well, stand by!

Most countries as the article says would take this as a privacy invasion. It is just as a tax return combing through every thing one does is a privacy invasion. The amendment allowing income tax in this country should be repealed. time spent doing tax returns is non value added time. 

Would you want your tax return on display for all to see?  Hint, the only ones this appeals to are those with nothing but  a W 2 on their return. 

Posted in

2 responses to “Norway to Post Tax Returns on Line”

  1. Michelle Garcia Avatar
    Michelle Garcia

    Dr. Elam, are there other countries also posting tax returns?
    My main question is what is the intent of posting tax returns online; what purpose does it serve? Publicly held corporations have their financial information available for investors/potential investors to review. However, why would one citizen need to know the details of another citizen’s taxes?
    I would hope that my tax information is kept private from others, but I don’t feel invaded by the IRS either. By providing the IRS with my 1040 I feel that I am establishing a relationship similar to that with my doctor. Although the IRS relationship is not voluntary, I don’t have a particular issue with taxation in the U.S.

    Like

    Reply
  2. uaRTERL Avatar
    uaRTERL

    America is or has been or was all about getting ahead, that is why people want to come here and leave there. Europe is all about keeping everyone pretty much the same ecomically. Posting tax returns is the ultimate expression of that idea. Making a lot of money, gee we should all be so lucky, it is of course not luck, at least not consistently in making money. I suppose the idea is to embarass those that are making money, certainly it is difficult to do that given a high tax rate system like many European countries have.
    The tax system is a gift that allows politicians to dispense favors to groups that favor the politicians. The relationship the tax man has with you is quite a bit different than you doctor, the tax man just wants more money…..and an excuse to pry into all your affairs.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Michelle Garcia Cancel reply