American Tax Officer

"Director David, no need to thank me, as a Congressman, reminding the general public to pay their taxes actually falls within the scope of my duties."

Looking at the do-gooder facade Phipps was putting on, everyone in the tax bureau system became even more incensed, but at that moment, a cold smile appeared on the corner of Director David's mouth. Phipps might be jumping for joy now, but soon he was going to be in for a rough time!

"Since you, Director David, have already explained the issue regarding the small fees for the Human Rights Organization, let's change the subject."

Phipps picked up a briefcase from under the table and took out a document, saying, "The Black Tax Bill has been in effect since December 3, 2021, and it's almost been three to four months now. Although the tax bureau has not announced the specific amount of tax revenue collected, I've gathered through various channels that the total amounts to approximately 120 to 150 billion US Dollars, correct?"

As he finished speaking, the expressions of the higher-ups at the Washington D.C. Headquarters, in particular, tightened because they could tell that Phipps was about to make an issue out of the tax revenue amount.
Your next chapter is on empire

"According to the regulations, the specific amount of revenue collected from the Black Tax Bill will not be officially announced until the end of this year, so there is no need for me to answer this question now."

"It doesn't matter if you don't answer."

Phipps raised the document in his hand and continued, "As I said, I've learned about the approximate figures through various sources of information. Last year, America's total national tax revenue was 3.422 trillion US Dollars. This included personal income tax (22.1%), social security tax (33.5%), corporate tax (7.6%), consumption tax (17.5%), property tax (1.4%), and other taxes (17.9%)..."

"Yet, according to the demands made by the Congressional Black Tax Bill Committee at the time, it is required that the tax bureau's Black Tax Bill should account for more than 1.5% of the share. However, looking at your current tax share, on a monthly basis, it does not even reach 0.5% of the total national tax revenue."

"The Black Tax Bill has given you nearly all the powers of taxation, along with various resources, channels, and funds, yet your tax bureau has failed to achieve even half of the committee's expected targets. Should this law continue to be in effect then?"

Phipps knew that no matter how much he attacked the tax bureau for the abuse of private punishments during this debate, he would not be able to shake the foundation of this law.

Because whether Director David used this law against the Human Rights Organization or against those bureaucrats, it was all based on taxation. In layman's terms, he had always been executing the original intentions of the law's establishment.

To shake this law, he would need to tackle the law's original intention directly, such as launching a direct attack on the serious shortfall of the Black Tax's expectations, which could cause a considerable number of Congressmen to waver in their support for the law.

As long as these Congressmen began to waver, it would be possible to truly shake this law.

This was his ace for today's debate!

"Damn it, this damned Phipps, the Black Tax Bill has only just been passed, isn't it normal not to meet expectations? And he uses this to attack us?"

"It's only been a few months, and by the end of the year, we should be able to present achievements that will satisfy the committee. What's the rush, Phipps?"

At the Washington D.C. Headquarters, many high-ups had already burst into curses.

Obadiah Welton Heng and a few others, however, had their brows tightly furrowed and looked very serious.

They, of course, knew very well that the current tax revenue from the Black Tax Bill indeed had not met expectations, and as Phipps had said, it hadn't even reached half of the expected results.

Now that Phipps had gotten his hands on this data from somewhere and publicly disclosed it in front of the whole country, there was bound to be instability coming from Congress.

On the live broadcast, Director David sneered, "The Black Tax Bill has only been in effect for a few months, so it's normal not to meet expectations. Besides, there's still a long way to go until the end of the year. Of course, we at the tax bureau are confident that we'll be able to increase our share in the remaining part of the year. Bringing this up now seems a bit premature, doesn't it?"

"Moreover, Senator Phipps, although you are a Congressman, you are not a member of the Black Tax Bill Committee, are you?"

"Technically, matters concerning the revenue share of the Black Tax Bill should not be your concern, especially since I've heard you haven't been handling your own constituency, voters, and various tasks well. Shouldn't you take care of your own duties before worrying about our tax bureau's revenue share?"

Phipps did not get angry at David's words but replied with an unchanged expression, "Although I am not a member of the Black Tax Bill Committee, as I said before, as a national lawmaker..."

"Wait a minute, Senator Phipps!"

Before he could finish, Director David interjected, "Right from the start, you've been throwing various accusations at our conduct and the Black Tax Bill, and I've already explained them one by one to you. Remember, this is a television debate, not a hearing about the Black Tax Bill. Isn't it my turn to ask you some questions now, Senator Phipps?"

At that, Phipps was momentarily taken aback, but upon reflection, he realized that what David said was indeed true.

It was indeed just a television debate, not a congressional hearing on the Black Tax Bill; he really didn't have the right to insist on answers from David.