GOP presidential contender Ben Carson detailed his plan Monday to overhaul the federal tax code, calling for it to be scrapped in favor of a 14.9 percent flat tax on individual and business income.
Mr. Carson’s plan distances the retired neurosurgeon from most of his rivals by wiping way the charitable tax and mortgage interest deductions.
It also calls for the flat tax to only apply to those earning more than 150 percent of the federal poverty line, while abolishing the “death tax.”
“My plan for a simple, fair and transparent flat tax will not only eliminate the onerous burdens the IRS places on taxpayers, but it will grow the economy,” Mr. Carson said in a statement.
“Everyone will be on the same footing, from the largest corporation to the local family business. No one will be able to hide from their tax burden, but neither will anyone be ruined by an incomprehensible tax code,” he said.
Mr. Carson said his proposal will increase nation’s annual economic growth to 4 percent and yield 5 million new jobs over the next decade.
He has been fading in the polls and recently had two top aides to his campaign resign from their posts.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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