I think there's a couple of options. First if one was to consider the US government a charity they would have a zero star rating on charity navigator; for tax dollar collected versus put to good use. So starting with the end in mind and measuring the result would be the alternative.

Government prints as much money as it needs to pay itself. Now inflation and interest rates might be different type of pain but at least it's not the same pain of filing taxes, figuring out laws or finding someone to do that for you.

This would be mathematically equivalent to a wealth tax on savings in cash or cash-equivalent, no? Meaning that the burden would fall mostly on those who have enough money to save it, but not enough to invest into real estate etc.

Or you know, you could simplify filing taxes?

Inflation -- the government prints money, devaluing all existing money. It's a tax with no paperwork involved.

Wouldn't this tend to cause overinvestment in durable goods? Instead of putting your money in a bank, you put it in something physical to resell later. Seems inefficient.