Thread

1. mlboss · 1790816419 · focus · HN ↗

   There is a very simple solution to the problem. Just add a tax to single people and childless couples or reverse give huge tax break to married and couple with kids.

   In past the motive for marriage was sex and companionship which was frowned in society if out of wedlock. Now it is not frowned upon. The old constraint is gone and we need to add new constraints if we want to solve the problem.

   1. itake · 1790829433 · focus · HN ↗

      The USA has a flavor of this: tax discounts for married couples and kids.

      But your proposal really f's over people with real trauma and medical conditions that prevent them from having kids. I've met several people that don't want kids due to the trauma they endured as children or men and women that are just infertile.

      1. pikma · 1790831896 · focus · HN ↗

         In the US, if both partners earn similar wages, they pay more taxes once they marry. So it's a tax penalty.

         1. pvdebbe · 1790836662 · focus · HN ↗

            I don't think you're forced to file jointly?

            1. ctchocula · 1790847795 · focus · HN ↗

               Married filing separately (MFS) tax brackets are just MFS divided by 2, which is worse than Individual tax brackets.

               Also various things get cut in half e.g. SALT cap phase-out income limit, mortgage deduction limit that MFS is almost never worth it except in a few niche situations and it acts as a last resort option if you are no longer on speaking terms with your spouse but haven't divorced yet, yet need to file taxes for the year.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.