Proportional Tax

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Definition of 'Proportional Tax'

A proportional tax is a tax in which the rate remains the same regardless of the amount of income earned. This means that a person who earns $100,000 will pay the same percentage of tax as someone who earns $1,000,000. Proportional taxes are also known as flat taxes or uniform taxes.

Proportional taxes are often seen as being more fair than progressive taxes, which have higher rates for higher incomes. This is because proportional taxes do not take into account a person's ability to pay. However, proportional taxes can also be seen as being regressive, as they can take a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income earners.

There are a number of different types of proportional taxes. Some of the most common types include:

* **Income tax:** This is the most common type of proportional tax. Income tax is levied on a person's annual income. The rate of income tax varies from country to country, but it is typically progressive, meaning that the higher a person's income, the higher the rate of tax they pay.
* **Sales tax:** This is a tax levied on the sale of goods and services. The rate of sales tax varies from country to country, but it is typically a flat rate, meaning that the same rate is applied to all goods and services.
* **Property tax:** This is a tax levied on the ownership of property. The rate of property tax varies from country to country, but it is typically based on the value of the property.

Proportional taxes are a common source of revenue for governments. They can be used to fund a variety of government programs, such as education, healthcare, and social security.

Proportional taxes are generally seen as being more efficient than progressive taxes. This is because they are easier to collect and are less likely to lead to tax evasion. However, proportional taxes can also be seen as being less fair than progressive taxes. This is because they do not take into account a person's ability to pay.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use a proportional tax is a political one. There are both pros and cons to using proportional taxes, and each government must decide what is best for its own country.

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