It's a common headline: a billionaire public petitions for higher taxes on the ultra-rich. Yet, you rarely see those same individuals cutting voluntary checks to the U.S. Treasury .

That's because the American tax system isn't built for donations, but rather for taxable income , deductions, and incentives. So, even if a high-net-worth person sent money to the federal government, that extra cash would simply go toward the nation's $39 trillion national debt — without changing the donor's tax liability.

This disconnect is key since it helps explain a broader frustration with the IRS tax code.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor.…