Sales tax, like many taxes invade privacy to some degree.
Yes.
Nearly everything you own is purchased.
Yes, but you can choose not to purchase something.
So, commit a crime? This highlights how sales tax invades privacy and how easily it entices people to be tax-cheats and hence criminals.
Yes. Unironically yes. I know this assumes a rational government, but we're deep in the realm of theory anyhow. If the government is losing out on $100 in revenue because their tax is too high, there should be an incentive to lower taxes to a reasonable level so the act of avoiding the tax isn't worth the effort.
Sales taxes are by far the easiest tax in existence to plan for and pay on both the consumer and the business side of things. You don't submit a manifesto of what you sold item by item the state. You give them a total, usually separated out by county / tax district if you're a remote seller. "I sold this amount of goods to various counties so I owe this amount of money". Sales taxes are FAR less invasive than any other tax.
Property taxes are the most harmonious with the John Locke style of private property. The property is protected by the government, and hence the property should pay for it's government. The property would logically be linked to voting rights.
No. Property Taxes are a fucking wealth tax. I should have every right to do nothing but shit on my land and not have to pay rent to the government. If you exist on a property chances are you're going to have to engage in commerce with those around you so just use that to generate the revenue for what you want.
Property rights are bestowed by legal entity nation-states. Usually hierarchically (Country > State > County > Municipality).
Property rights aren't bestowed by shit. They're natural rights! What the fuck are you talking about!?
This is my rock. I own this rock. And if you try to take this rock from me, I'll use this smaller metallic rock accelerated to supersonic speeds to keep you from taking MY ROCK. Occasionally I will partner with other people and even reimburse them to do what I would otherwise have to do to ensure that other other people don't take MY ROCK, but that doesn't change the fact that this is MY ROCK and you can't just take MY ROCK without risking also taking my other smaller metallic rock to center mass.
A Land Tax avoids taxing improvements. Taxing improvements (like a building) penalizes those who make use of their land.
No it doesn't. Just about every property tax is based on the value of your property. What are you smoking? I add a Outhouse to my land the government suddenly decides my land is worth more and they tax me on it on a recurring basis making it even less likely I'll want to make improvements!
But, people get understandably upset with throwing grannies out of their homes. A kind of "reverse mortgage" or lean that doesn't throw out grannies is a good idea.
AND THIS BRINGS US TO THIS RETARDATION. You have no recourse when your property increases in value! "I haven't worked in decades, I'm decrepit and incapable of making money for myself, but I subsist off savings because I was prudent in my youth, but NOW I HAVE TO LOSE MY FUCKING HOUSE BECAUSE A STRIP MALL BOUGHT THE SURROUNDING LAND AND SKY ROCKETED MY PROPERTY VALUE 100 FOLD AND NOW I OWE MORE IN TAXES THAN I'VE EVER EARNED!"
You are glossing over one of the biggest problems with property taxes. They prevent the transfer of generational wealth, they are a tax on the mere act of existing in a location no matter how long you've been in that location. You can't plan for sudden increases. They're fucking awful and you're retarded.
