The tax bucks stop here - Resisters withhold payment in protest of U.S. sending troops to Iraq

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/3/7 | Pia Sarkar

[SmithL]

Dorothy Hansen used to pay her taxes faithfully every year -- until the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Since then, the 87-year-old Sebastopol resident has stopped filing her income tax returns to show her disapproval of the war.

"I am very sure that I don't want to have any part in killing people and I certainly don't want a part in any wars that do just that," Hansen said.

With the tax-filing deadline just two weeks away, some Bay Area residents are using it as an opportunity to protest the war by withholding their tax dollars to fund it.

Known as war tax resisters, they consider it an act of civil disobedience. Some withhold only a symbolic portion of what they owe -- $10.40, for example, to represent the 1040 tax form -- while others, like Hansen, refuse to pay anything at all. Many will redirect their tax dollars to a charity of their choice.

The risks can be costly if a resister is caught. The Internal Revenue Service recently increased the penalty for people who fail to pay their taxes to $5,000 from $500. Some resisters have had their wages garnisheed or property seized.

"There is no law that permits taxpayers to refuse to file a tax return or refuse to pay their taxes based on an estimate of what the government spends on programs or policies with which they disagree on moral, ethical, religious or other grounds," the IRS said in a statement. "These frivolous positions are variations of arguments taxpayers have made in the past about religion and taxation, and that courts have repeatedly rejected."

[SmithL]

Elizabeth Boardman is among those refusing to pay part of their taxes this year. She plans to withhold 41 percent.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Good luck with that sister....

[Always Right]

Note to IRS, check out Dorothy Hansen....

[A message]

Liberals are idiots. What about tax dollars that go to Planned Parenthood and are used to kill unborn babies. In the whacked out liberal world that’s ok.

[MrB]

Conservatives should refuse to pay taxes because the federal government is spending it on unconstitutional budget items.

Yeah... that’ll work.

[marlon]

So I guess she also didn’t pay taxes from 1940-’44. Or during much of the 50’s, sixties and early 70’s and again in the 80’s and then again in the mid-nineties? Hey IRS, go get her, for once I’m root’n for you!

[P-40]

the 87-year-old Sebastopol resident.

I'm betting she has a zero tax liability anyway.

[rhombus]

Um... but there’s plenty of things I don’t agree with the majority with respect to how our taxes are spent. Can I just stop paying my taxes because I disagree with the majority? Of course not and I believe that’s been tested in court before. Why don’t you just secede from the union... oh wait that’s been tested too. Boo freakin' hoo. I guess you'll just have to respect the will of the majority. ;-)

[Basheva]

I think this is a great idea.

I urge ALL LIBERALS not to pay their taxes.

Then when they end up in jail and are felons -they can’t vote!

(Well, in some cities they can’t vote.)

[concerned about politics]

If she gets away with it?
I'm against all federal government social programs. Therefore, I would be tax exempt, too.
As a matter of fact, we'd all be tax exempt. I'm sure there's something every American disagrees with. I think a tax revolt is a great idea. The only way to kill our massive, oppressive government beast is to starve it to death. I'm all for it.
I would donate to the military fund, though. National security is about the only government system I support.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Whadda Dumba$$.

[retrokitten]

For some reason this reminds me of a King of the Hill episode:

“Well, ‘33 to ‘45, FDR was President, so I was on the welfare. Then in the ‘60s you had Kennedy and LBJ, so I was on the welfare, and ‘77 to ‘81, Jimmy Carter was in the White House, so I was on the welfare.”

[Brad from Tennessee]

Hopefully, these same people will protest the “corrupt electoral process” by not voting. Maybe they will realize “we never asked to be born” and commit suicide.

[massgopguy]

I’m interested what kind of income an 87 year old lady can have. I wonder if it’s “Earned Income”?

[Hostage]

Anyone that is an enemy of the personal income tax is a great American and a Friend of the People.

That said, taxes should and must be paid but

not by your Labor

; for you and you alone own yourself, a self-evident and inalienable natural right.

All you need to know and should learn immediately is here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4312730277175242198

[spikeytx86]

“I am very sure that I don’t want to have any part in killing people and I certainly don’t want a part in any wars that do just that,”

Now forgive me I am young so I was not personally around for much of the wars of the twentieth century, but for those who were can I ask you a question? Did any of them involve tickle fights?

[ikka]

The IRS probably figured, why harass an 87-year-old lady? In a few years we can send a tax bill to her estate.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Some nuts did this during the Vietnam War, and would up in prison.

[Gay State Conservative]

The IRS can seize bank accounts,auction real estate and do all sorts of other fun stuff.

[mutantcoil]

I agree, let’s hope it catches on!