Flat tax: What is it, what will it mean for Iowa

DES MOINES — In four years, every Iowan’s income would be taxed at 4 percent by the state under a new proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Reynolds introduced her flat income tax proposal during last week’s annual Condition of the State address to the Iowa Legislature, encouraging the lawmakers to pass her idea.

“Flat and fair,” Reynolds proclaimed during the speech.

Flat taxes have been an idea for years, and have their fair share of both supporters and critics.

Steve Forbes ran on a national flat tax platform as part of his 2000 presidential campaign. Supporters say a flat tax is fair and simple. A common pitch has been that a flat tax would make filing taxes simple enough to fit on a postcard.