Why do So many Americans believe that income tax is not legal?

Question

By the number of questions on the matter I've seen, not to mention exposure out of YQ&A, it seems the belief is widely endorsed.

So, why is it that, in spite of the sixteenth amendment, so many people stilll seem to believe they don't have to file tax returns, or pay income tax... also, how is it you needed a constitutional amendment to hammer the point of taxation (the State needs money to function, and it needs taxes to have money) in?

As a secondary question, is it possible that those who are in this belief share other common points? (conservative republicans, born again/evangelical christians, or whatever)

As to where I read that : well, over the months, I've seen questions concerning the legality of taxation several times on this very site, plus a number of debates on various forums, most of which I did not frequent long enough to remember.

Mike, I'm not sure about the US procedure (or I'd not be askin' in the first place), but...

a) who needs a law, threre's an appendix to the constitution, dating back nearly a century, that allows it.

b) In Europe, every year, legislatures pass a so called "finance law" that fixes the budget of the state, both in what expenses are to be made, and in what taxes are to be levied... I expect congress to do the same, even if it's one of those "basic work" laws that are passed eevery year and nobody ever notices.

Answer 1

I've once enquired about whether or not I had to pay taxes, when I was under 18. It was never becuase I didn't want to, I just didn't know anything about it, neither my parents or employer said anything to me so, I asked. If there is a commonality, its probably the lack of knowledge that the American public has of taxes. Especially younger people, who are fresh out of high school and asking questions we should already know like "Taxes, Credit, Loans...etc" Things that the education system or our parents should've taught us. Therefore to answer your other question, the only commonality I can safely say those people might have is either "uneducated in the matter of taxes", any other type, like people who cheat out the goverment, can be of really any ethnic origin, reliogion, and political liason. It would be incorrect to just put them in one group, unless there was some type official poll.

Answer 2

The original Constitution had no provision made for the federal collection of income tax, although many state constitutions do, thus requiring the 16th amendment. It was originally intended that the federal government be funded - as I understand it from memory - by way of tariffs and other such methods.

One of the reasons many people feel they do not need to file is simple : the governments (federal and state) have already skimmed our paychecks throughout the year by way of withholdings, plus the not-insignificant amounts additionally siphoned off for Social Security. Especially since the advent of computerized payroll systems, there bluntly remains no need for income tax filing. They already take enough of my gross wages as is, on top of which you can add on sales taxes, property taxes, the varied taxes you see in the utility bills, the taxes tacked on to the price of fuel, prepared meals taxes ...

Answer 3

First of all, because there is no law clearly stating that Americans must give a portion of their annual income to the federal government. Second, the government never discloses (no matter how often it is asked) what all the collected income tax is used for. Of course, those of us who did our research know that the federal government really uses the collected income tax to pay off it's mounting debt to the private bankers that print our money; with interest! Not much of that money (if any) is used to pay for the functions of government or for the public good. To pay for highways or libraries, we have excise taxes.
To date, no legilator or IRS representative has been able to pinpoint the exact law stating that we must pay federal income taxes every year. Many good people have been put in prison for "breaking" an unwritten law. In other words, the IRS rules by fear and ignorance.

Answer 4

Precisely, recently all the hubaboo is about Brown vs I.R.S. Brown was taken to court for non payment of taxes. Brown asked for a law stating he had to pay taxes. Nobody in the I.R.S. or any government body could produce such a document. Brown won...of note the majority of people want to pay tax. It is that they are growing incensed at how their money goes to wars and oversight obscene unaccountable waste while giving and proving almost nothing to the majority...Mary.

Answer 5

There are plenty in Congress who p.c. to close the IRS down and flow to a flat tax or the honest tax, yet Obama is antagonistic to that and would veto such legislations, and Romney has shown little pastime in pursuing that.

Answer 6

It doesn't say in the Constitution that the gov't has the right to tax our income.

I'm all for a fair tax. Pay a 25% consumption tax. That'd be great.

Answer 7

They know better, They are just trying to get out of their obligations to pay for the benefits they are getting from the government. If they were smart enough they would probably be class action lawyers.

Answer 8

Because the constitution didn't allow it,until the 16th amendment.

Answer 9

Where did you read that any American disputes the legality of federal income taxes?

Answer 10

income tax was designed to pay for world war 2 after the war it was suppose to of been done away with. but it wasnt. legally you can fight it.