Tax Ideas from Flat to VAT

Looking for ways to make the bite on income less unfair

Once again, the dread mid-April deadline looms. It is time for the annual agony of Form 1040. Struggling through the labyrinth of loopholes, millions of Americans will complain this week that they must be paying more than their fair share of taxes. They will grumble anew about fat cats who can afford high-priced accountants to find tax shelters.

Since 1950 the percentage of federal revenue that comes from the income tax has risen from 40% to 48% (see chart), and politicians sense that...