I think to generate simplification ideas, we need to look at every tax rule or calculation and ask at least two questions. First, should this rule even be part of this type of tax? After all, the federal income tax has over 160 “tax expenditures” which are special rules that are not part of the basic income tax structure (see OMB FY2024 report). Next, is there a different way to draft the rule or handle the computation? We get so used to certain rules, forms, and practices that we often act as if that is the only way something can be done.

I want to offer an example of an out of the box idea that does have some basis in an existing tax rule. I recently suggested this in comments I submitted for the written record of a June 7 joint hearing of the Senate Finance Committee and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, on tackling tax complexity for small businesses. Among my suggestions, I offered this:

Allow co-owners of a start-up business to elect qualified joint venture status for the first few years.

IRC Section 761(f) allows a married couple to elect to treat a business they jointly own and operate as a “qualified joint venture” rather than as a partnership. The couple files two matching Schedules C rather than a Form 1065 partnership return. This is simpler for the couple and enables both spouses to pay into the Social Security system. [see IRS information]

Filing two Schedules C is much easier than filing a partnership return including a Schedule K-1 (as well as Schedule K-3) for each partner.
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