April 15, 2009
What Not to Say About Why You Don't Owe Income Tax
On the subject of Tax Myth #1 in Gerald and Joe's post earlier today ("You aren't legally required to pay the federal income tax") the IRS has a handy list of claims not to make when you tell them you don't have to pay income tax. Arguments listed as verboten include:
- Men and women are not "persons" as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and therefore are not subject to income tax;
- You don't have to pay Social Security tax if you agree to forego Social Security benefits;
- U.S. dollar compensation is not "income" subject to tax because the dollar is a fake currency not backed by precious metal;
- The Sixteenth Amendment was never ratified;
- The First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Thirteenth or Fourteenth Amendment either bars the imposition of income tax or allows you to refuse to pay under certain conditions;
- And over 40 other claims.
I suggest you pay attention to the list: the IRS website notes, "Taxpayers who file a tax return or make a submission based on one of the positions on the list are subject to a $5,000 penalty."
