Del. Tom Gear’s tax-paying difficulties.
The Hampton Roads Daily Press is upset with Republican Del. Tom Gear — it seems that he’s paid his taxes late just about every time he’s had to pay taxes, for well over a decade. It is ironic, they point out, given that he’s staunchly anti-tax.
Like the occasional speeding ticket, I have to wonder whether this is a fair attack. I know (the hard way) that the IRS extracts both fines and interest from late payers. Though I’m no economist, it’s my sincere hope that the rate of interest and the size of the fines are sufficient to make late payment not just undesirable for taxpayers, but actually more profitable to government than paying on time.
I’m not about to suggest that Del. Gear has chosen to do us all a big favor by paying late, but given that he is not only paying his taxes (eventually), but paying extra, I’m not sure that I want to complain.
But the Daily Press is right — it is ironic.
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