CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO TAX PRACTICE AND ETHICS TABLE OF CONTENTS Discussion Questions...................................................................................................................................1 Exercises ....................................................................................................................................................19 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. In a modern, industrial society, the tax system is derived from several disciplines. Identify the disciplines that play this role in the United States. Explain how each of them affects the U.S. tax system. Answer: In the United States, the tax system is an outgrowth of the following five disciplines: law, accounting, economics, political science, and sociology. The environment for the tax system is provided by the principles of economics, sociology, and political science, while the legal and accounting fields are responsible for the system‘s interpretation and application. Each of these disciplines affects this country‘s tax system in a unique way. Economists address such issues as how proposed tax legislation will affect the rate of inflation or economic growth. Measurement of the social equity of a tax and determining whether a tax system discriminates against certain taxpayers are issues that are examined by sociologists and political scientists. Finally, attorneys are responsible for the interpretation of the taxation statutes, and accountants ensure that these same statutes are applied consistently. Page 4