Page 138 - issue
P. 138
Letters continued from page 30 divest their holdings to avoid conflicts stranger. We are exhorted to be chari-
charitable and compassionate. of interest.
table and compassionate.”
I am an attorney and have been a Closer to home, how many families
tax practitioner and advisor for more in the Jewish community are paying The Torah says that when you are
than four decades (longer than I care for child care and elder care off the compassionate to the cruel, you end
to admit). I found the tone and impli- books, not filing Schedule H, and not up being cruel to the compassionate.
cations of Eli Pollack’s article to be providing those immigrants with W- Allowing hundreds of thousands of
appalling. I am very troubled by the 2s or 1099s each year? How many people to enter the country illegally in
way in which he has distorted and large corporations, like Microsoft, the name of compassion harms work-
manipulated the percentages used in converted wage earners to independ- ers in this country by taking away jobs,
his examples to demonstrate his posi- ent contractor status to avoid paying strains government resources (schools,
tions on income redistribution. I am overtime and employment taxes, only welfare, health system) for citizens,
even more dismayed by his allegation to lose their cases in court and pay and puts an untenable burden on tax-
that illegal immigrants are the most millions in fines and back wages? Just payers. It will also bring increased ter-
flagrant tax evaders in such a way as to this month, Fairfax County, Virginia rorism (it has already started) and cre-
imply that they should be sent back to was ordered to pay almost $8 million ate religious and political chaos, as is
where they came from. in overtime to its fire captains. And happening in France.
how many Jews are sitting in prison
What Pollock doesn’t tell you in his today for tax evasion and illegal prof- 4) “I am very troubled by the way in
examples is that the couple is paying iting from yeshiva tuition scams,
several tiers of lower rates on the rest financial Ponzi scams (Scott which he has distorted and manipulat-
of that income. Therefore, when the Rothstein and Bernie Madoff immedi-
different rate tiers are blended togeth- ately come to mind) and nursing ed the percentages used in his exam-
er, there is a difference between the home operations?
higher marginal tax rate and the lower ples to demonstrate his positions on
effective tax rate. Mr. Pollock is entitled to his political
views, but in the future, I hope that income redistribution.”
In fact, his examples are very mis- your editorial board pays closer atten-
leading. Pollock tells us at the end of tion to the quality and political content My examples are real and accurate.
case one, the family will be in the 90% of the articles you print, using the I ran tax returns before and after and
plus tax bracket. That’s amazing con- basic Torah values that guide our inter- copied the tax liabilities into the arti-
sidering the highest statutory federal action with our fellow man as a bench- cle.
tax bracket for 2016 is 39.6% (and mark for journalistic integrity.
that’s only the marginal rate on tax- 5) “I am even more dismayed by his
able income over $466,950.) In case Sincerely,
two, the marginal tax rate is 25% on STEVEN C. SIESSER, JD allegation that illegal immigrants are
the extra $30,000 earned by Mom, and
even if you add in 15% for self-employ- Eli Pollock responds: I will counter Mr. the most flagrant tax evaders in such a
ment taxes, that’s 40%, not the 51% Siesser’s claims one by one:
Pollock claims. Same with case three. way as to imply that they should be
There is no 70% marginal rate, and 1) He begins with a gratuitous
since he doesn’t tell you the difference insult: that menial labor is beneath sent back to where they came from.”
between the couple’s gross income “my dignity.” Does Mr. Siesser know me
and taxable income, there’s no way to and my attitude toward physical This is an assumption on Siesser’s
guess what their true effective tax rate labor? I was criticizing a tax system part. I said nothing about how the
is. that discourages work. immigration problem should be
solved. At present, however, deporting
When referring to the underground 2) He says I disparaged hard-work- illegal immigrants is the law. Does
economy, Pollock states, “Let’s start ing people. Siesser recommend not following the
with the fact that a large percentage of law?
the populace pays no taxes at all.” I I said nothing at all about the work
agree. Starting with President-elect ethic of these people; I only addressed 6) “What Pollock doesn’t tell you in
Trump, who will become our first part- whether low-income workers report
time president, so he can retain his their income, as is required by law. I his examples is that the couple is pay-
real estate developer’s status under said that government policy should
IRC Section 469, and his billionaire encourage work; at times, it unfortu- ing several tiers of lower rates on the
cabinet appointees who will pay no nately does not.
capital gains taxes pursuant to federal rest of that income. Therefore, when
ethics law Section 2634 when they 3) Siesser asks, “What has hap-
pened to simple Torah values? The the different rate tiers are blended
Torah reminds us repeatedly to assist
and aid the widow, the orphan, and the together, there is a difference between
the higher marginal tax rate and the
lower effective tax rate.”
My article was extremely clear that
it was all about upper marginal rates
and specifically not about effective
rates.
7) “In fact, his examples are very
misleading. Pollock tells us at the end
of case one, the family will be in the
90% plus tax bracket. That’s amazing
considering the highest statutory fed-
eral tax bracket for 2016 is 39.6% (and
that’s only the marginal rate on tax-
134 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
charitable and compassionate. of interest.
table and compassionate.”
I am an attorney and have been a Closer to home, how many families
tax practitioner and advisor for more in the Jewish community are paying The Torah says that when you are
than four decades (longer than I care for child care and elder care off the compassionate to the cruel, you end
to admit). I found the tone and impli- books, not filing Schedule H, and not up being cruel to the compassionate.
cations of Eli Pollack’s article to be providing those immigrants with W- Allowing hundreds of thousands of
appalling. I am very troubled by the 2s or 1099s each year? How many people to enter the country illegally in
way in which he has distorted and large corporations, like Microsoft, the name of compassion harms work-
manipulated the percentages used in converted wage earners to independ- ers in this country by taking away jobs,
his examples to demonstrate his posi- ent contractor status to avoid paying strains government resources (schools,
tions on income redistribution. I am overtime and employment taxes, only welfare, health system) for citizens,
even more dismayed by his allegation to lose their cases in court and pay and puts an untenable burden on tax-
that illegal immigrants are the most millions in fines and back wages? Just payers. It will also bring increased ter-
flagrant tax evaders in such a way as to this month, Fairfax County, Virginia rorism (it has already started) and cre-
imply that they should be sent back to was ordered to pay almost $8 million ate religious and political chaos, as is
where they came from. in overtime to its fire captains. And happening in France.
how many Jews are sitting in prison
What Pollock doesn’t tell you in his today for tax evasion and illegal prof- 4) “I am very troubled by the way in
examples is that the couple is paying iting from yeshiva tuition scams,
several tiers of lower rates on the rest financial Ponzi scams (Scott which he has distorted and manipulat-
of that income. Therefore, when the Rothstein and Bernie Madoff immedi-
different rate tiers are blended togeth- ately come to mind) and nursing ed the percentages used in his exam-
er, there is a difference between the home operations?
higher marginal tax rate and the lower ples to demonstrate his positions on
effective tax rate. Mr. Pollock is entitled to his political
views, but in the future, I hope that income redistribution.”
In fact, his examples are very mis- your editorial board pays closer atten-
leading. Pollock tells us at the end of tion to the quality and political content My examples are real and accurate.
case one, the family will be in the 90% of the articles you print, using the I ran tax returns before and after and
plus tax bracket. That’s amazing con- basic Torah values that guide our inter- copied the tax liabilities into the arti-
sidering the highest statutory federal action with our fellow man as a bench- cle.
tax bracket for 2016 is 39.6% (and mark for journalistic integrity.
that’s only the marginal rate on tax- 5) “I am even more dismayed by his
able income over $466,950.) In case Sincerely,
two, the marginal tax rate is 25% on STEVEN C. SIESSER, JD allegation that illegal immigrants are
the extra $30,000 earned by Mom, and
even if you add in 15% for self-employ- Eli Pollock responds: I will counter Mr. the most flagrant tax evaders in such a
ment taxes, that’s 40%, not the 51% Siesser’s claims one by one:
Pollock claims. Same with case three. way as to imply that they should be
There is no 70% marginal rate, and 1) He begins with a gratuitous
since he doesn’t tell you the difference insult: that menial labor is beneath sent back to where they came from.”
between the couple’s gross income “my dignity.” Does Mr. Siesser know me
and taxable income, there’s no way to and my attitude toward physical This is an assumption on Siesser’s
guess what their true effective tax rate labor? I was criticizing a tax system part. I said nothing about how the
is. that discourages work. immigration problem should be
solved. At present, however, deporting
When referring to the underground 2) He says I disparaged hard-work- illegal immigrants is the law. Does
economy, Pollock states, “Let’s start ing people. Siesser recommend not following the
with the fact that a large percentage of law?
the populace pays no taxes at all.” I I said nothing at all about the work
agree. Starting with President-elect ethic of these people; I only addressed 6) “What Pollock doesn’t tell you in
Trump, who will become our first part- whether low-income workers report
time president, so he can retain his their income, as is required by law. I his examples is that the couple is pay-
real estate developer’s status under said that government policy should
IRC Section 469, and his billionaire encourage work; at times, it unfortu- ing several tiers of lower rates on the
cabinet appointees who will pay no nately does not.
capital gains taxes pursuant to federal rest of that income. Therefore, when
ethics law Section 2634 when they 3) Siesser asks, “What has hap-
pened to simple Torah values? The the different rate tiers are blended
Torah reminds us repeatedly to assist
and aid the widow, the orphan, and the together, there is a difference between
the higher marginal tax rate and the
lower effective tax rate.”
My article was extremely clear that
it was all about upper marginal rates
and specifically not about effective
rates.
7) “In fact, his examples are very
misleading. Pollock tells us at the end
of case one, the family will be in the
90% plus tax bracket. That’s amazing
considering the highest statutory fed-
eral tax bracket for 2016 is 39.6% (and
that’s only the marginal rate on tax-
134 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
