Nu2salt, a flat tax does not meet your objectives. The tax codes today are a redistribution of wealth, those who make more money pay more taxes, and with the alternate minimum tax, which everyone has to calculate and it applies to more and more middle class people every year, the tax burden is also graduated as you go up the income scale. That is why the rich pay most of the tax bill under personal income taxes. Having savings programs like IRAs, 401Ks, the education plans, etc. are key for folks of average means to save towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Your proposal taxes everyone and takes away the savings initiatives. You don't really want that, it is not a way to help the less fortunate trying to get ahead of the financial power curve.