Unveiling Bias: How the U.S. Tax System Inadvertently Discriminates Against Communities of Color
It’s tax season, and suddenly, I am married and have to file jointly. Well, it has been years of marital bliss. We try to keep everything straight and narrow with a qualified CPA, but it may not matter eventually. In a nation where the axiom “nothing is certain except death and taxes” holds sway, the impact of economic policies and tax laws often goes unquestioned in its fairness and equity. This is another topic I touched on in my book, Economic Racism.
Our tax system is biased and disproportionately affects communities of color. It’s not surprising since racism is weaved into every fabric of our financial systems and reinforcing economic disparities that have long been ingrained in American society. I am drawing inspiration from NPR’s Code Switch episode “WTF does race have to do with taxes?” (see link at the end) and personal experiences. This article delves into how the U.S. tax system, perhaps inadvertently, perpetuates economic racism.
Access to Information and Resources
For many in historically marginalized communities, the labyrinthine nature of the U.S. tax code is a daunting hurdle. Seriously, why does it have to be more complicated than rocket science? Hiring help is not easy. The lack of…
