TAXES: If you could choose a new tax to implement, what would it be?

A poll of 3,000 Pennsylvania residents by PDFExpert.com found the top three — and boy are they good ones: Billionaire’s tax, Price-Gouging tax and an Employee Turnover tax.

“For all the noise around tax season, there’s one thing Americans rarely get asked: If you could invent a tax or a penalty that solves a real problem, what would it be?

“It’s a revealing question, because modern frustrations aren’t just about how much people pay. They are about who gets away with what. Rising prices, corporate corner-cutting, housing shortages, and a sense that powerful players are gaming the system have left many Americans feeling that the current tax landscape punishes the wrong people.”

Billionaires Tax: Pennsylvanians have watched prosperity cluster unevenly — booming pockets in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh contrasted with towns still navigating post-industrial transition. The call for a Billionaires Tax reflects a desire to smooth out those extremes. Residents aren’t pushing back against success; they’re asking for the wealthiest to reinvest in the infrastructure, transit, and education systems.

Price-Gouging Tax: Whether it’s winter storms spiking heating-oil costs or sudden jumps in essentials during supply hiccups, Pennsylvanians know what it feels like when prices surge at the worst possible time. A Price-Gouging Tax is embraced as a way to prevent companies from exploiting high-stress moments. In a state that prizes fairness and grit, opportunistic pricing sticks out like a sore thumb.

Employee Turnover Tax: Pennsylvanians have seen how high turnover can quietly unravel reliability. People don’t blame workers — they blame employers who don’t invest enough in training, stability, or career paths. The appeal of an Employee Turnover Tax lies in nudging businesses to treat retention not as an afterthought, but as part of their responsibility.