I think it could mostly be automated. Your tax filing from the previous year is put in a system and can figure out if you get money. They could even do an equation based on cost of living and other factors like number of dependents. They could either send out a check or direct deposit it.
If something changes (like a job loss) you submit a form and they send you the money. They can figure out if you owe them the money back on your next tax filing.
This does work for children since they would be counted as a dependent. This would probably change your tax filing which could change the calculation.
This would also work for elderly since they would still be filing taxes.
It would be easier to do it universally but it would likely cause other issues like more inflation.
"a system", "an equation", "They could either...", "a form", "they can figure out"
This posits the capability of the government to put together a really remarkably competent administration, that knows everyone's tax filings, everyone's citizenship status, where everyone lives, the cost of living in every part of the country (or the world?), and can speedily process paperwork continuously throughout the year. Certainly no such administration currently exists. It would probably be very expensive, and the individual-filing-based workflow would be burdensome both to all people and to the administration. Lose your job? File a form. Get a raise? File a form. Get an inheritance? File a form. Move? File a form. Get married or have a kid? File several forms! There's a reason individuals only have to file taxes once a year. Bureaucracy is waste.
Aspects of this hypothetical administration would need to exist for any UBI scheme, but in a UBI scheme with equal payments the burden on the individual would not be more than ensuring the bank account or address they use to receive their tax refund is current throughout the year, and continuing to file taxes once yearly.
How does immigration work without knowing who your citizens are? How would you prevent a non-citizen from getting a passport without having such a record?
If you want to get a passport the onus is on you to provide sufficient documents to prove citizenship. Because the US has birthright citizenship this is generally as simple as proving that you were born in the US or that either of your parents was a US citizen.
On a case-by-case basis it's generally pretty straightforward to determine whether someone is a citizen, but there isn't a list. The closest thing is probably the social security administration's register of people who have applied for a social security number, but even that doesn't cover everyone.
>This posits the capability of the government to put together a really remarkably competent administration, that knows everyone's tax filings, everyone's citizenship status, where everyone lives, the cost of living in every part of the country (or the world?), and can speedily process paperwork continuously throughout the year.
I agree that it would be more difficult than just doing UBI. I am not a fan of just taking the easier path just for the sake of ease. Only giving money to people who need it would be better for everybody.
The US already has cost of living numbers. Just to be clear I am saying they could use these numbers not that they have to use them. Receiving $5,000 in the Bay Area is different than $5,000 in Wyoming and making $50,000 in the Bay Area is different than making $50,000 in Wyoming. This is why I was suggesting using the cost of living numbers.
>Certainly no such administration currently exists.
UBI doesn't exist either so it already would need to be set up.
If they can set up actual tax equations it would allow for a more stream lined IRS. This would help modernize the whole tax process which would be beneficial for all of us. I recall a country (maybe state?) that released the tax program they wrote. You could download it and run it yourself if you wanted. This would be great for people. There would be no need for most people to buy Turbo Tax or go to a tax guy.
>It would probably be very expensive, and the individual-filing-based workflow would be burdensome both to all people and to the administration. Lose your job? File a form. Get a raise? File a form. Get an inheritance? File a form. Move? File a form. Get married or have a kid? File several forms! There's a reason individuals only have to file taxes once a year. Bureaucracy is waste.
You would not have to file forms. You would only need to file a form if you wanted to receive money or stop receiving money. If you are fine waiting until the next tax filing you would be free to do so.
This is no different than the current welfare system. If you wish to receive welfare or stop receiving welfare you have to fill out a form. What I am suggesting is less manual validation than the welfare system since I would go with the assumption the person should get the money. It would automatically be fixed after filing your taxes.
>Aspects of this hypothetical administration would need to exist for any UBI scheme, but in a UBI scheme with equal payments the burden on the individual would not be more than ensuring the bank account or address they use to receive their tax refund is current throughout the year, and continuing to file taxes once yearly.
I am in favor of replacing welfare with a negative income tax. If you want money from the negative income tax and your income did not automatically qualify you from your previous year's filing then you fill out a form. This would be less work for many people since there would be an automatic enrollment based on the previous year's tax filing.
I agree that UBI is easier. I just don't think people like Jeff Bezos needs government money. If Bezos receives a few thousand extra he is probably not going to spend more or invest more. It would be a waste to give to somebody like him. We could in turn provide extra money for people who actually needs help. The people who need help are more likely to actually spend the money than Bezos so it could benefit the economy.
If something changes (like a job loss) you submit a form and they send you the money. They can figure out if you owe them the money back on your next tax filing.
This does work for children since they would be counted as a dependent. This would probably change your tax filing which could change the calculation.
This would also work for elderly since they would still be filing taxes.
It would be easier to do it universally but it would likely cause other issues like more inflation.