Posted on 02/05/2012 4:09:11 PM PST by Jean S
Well, I pay my taxes, too. but only because I feel no need to go to prison. As for what is Caesar's, as I have often said before, he and I have serious disagreements about what that is.
>> In other words, I comply with use taxes even though I don’t agree with them, probably wouldn’t get caught if I ignored them, and would certainly vote to eliminate them.
I agree with you. I hate taxes and do everything *legal* within my power to avoid them.
Nevertheless, I pay what I owe.
There is an eternal reward for doing that which is lawful and righteous.
FRegards
chesley: “Well, I pay my taxes, too.”
Then we seem to agree. I don’t like the use tax. It’s ridiculous to expect people to keep receipts for all out-of-state purchases and submit payment. The vast majority don’t comply, and so it makes those who pay seem like fools. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to obey even bad laws so long as they don’t violate my faith. I try to do the right thing even when no one is watching, but lawmakers are foolish if they think that’s a good basis for ensuring compliance with any law. Most people, in other words, will simply ignore it.
BTW, use taxes aren’t primarily directed toward individuals. They’re typically written for businesses that buy out-of-state merchandise for business use. Since businesses keep detailed records of their purchases, it’s easier to enforce their compliance.
Your picture summed it up perfectly! No law should make one feel like a fool when they comply. Except in my case, I’d rather be a fool for Christ and do the right thing.
My state had a Use Tax amnesty going back some years. I went back through my records and submitted my best estimation for the years I could. Some things my wife and I got for others and helped reduce the bill.
We've been submitting our best knowledge of the use tax each year since. It's the right thing to do if I chose to live in such a state.
For my job, I can't take a chance of something looking the least bit illegal coming out of the woodwork at some random future time.
I hope at least a few politicians read this site, because use taxes are a joke for the reasons I listed. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the tax code was designed to make everyone criminals. They don’t make it easy to comply even when one wants to do the right thing.
I used to have to send a form to the state of WI for my business quarterly to declare (and pay) any tax I owed for out of state purchases for office supplies, etc. for my business. Materials used in building a product we build for resale are not taxed. So, this report and tax were for office supplies, etc. As a result I make it a practice to never buy from businesses (such as Quill which is in IL) who don’t charge me tax at the point of purchase. It is just too much trouble to figure out taxes owed.
I no longer am required to file that form. I don’t know why that changed, but I’m glad. If you forget to file it, they just assess an arbitrary tax. So I’d go from $0 tax owed to their estimate of $800 tax owed. Ouch!
Wisconsin Internet Tax Ping
If you want to be on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list, just FReep Mail me.
My wife and I sold our house in California in 2003 and moved to Indiana. A few months later, California tried to mail us an add-on property tax statement. We told them to forget it.
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