Where is the proof that taxes (in the US) are illegal?

Question

I heard people say this for years. It seems the ones who have tried to "legally" not pay, have been spanked, sometimes quite harshly. I can't find any evidence to support this "illegality", but I am certainly no authority.
Is it just that in this country the crackpots have a right to speak, as well?

Answer 1

The income tax is perfectly legal, and it is also constitutional. To suggust that the income tax should be abolished and replaced by some other source of revenue does not make one a "crackpot" -- it merely makes one a person with a particular opinion. However, anyone who refuses to pay income tax based on a theory that income taxes are illegal or unconstitutional is simply refusing to obey the law because they disagree with it. If you refuse to obey the law, for whatever reason, you can reasonably expect to be penalised.

For a good, detailed discussion of the various arguments reguarding the legality of income tax, see http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/friv_tax.pdf . Please at least read this before you start refusing to pay income tax, so that you can evaluate the consequences of doing so for yourself.

Answer 2

There is not Constitutional Amendment that says taxes are legal, the legality of Congress' authority to tax sits in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution. Which reads in relevance

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States"

Answer 3

The proof is being held in a secret vault along with the proof of global warming, alien invasions of the 50's and the truth about man having never walked on the moon.

Answer 4

Have you ever read the US Constitution? My guess is that you haven't. The original Constitution reads "taxes and duties will not be lain on private properties, income, " etc. Good luck finding an original online, but it's always possible.

Answer 5

It's in a constitutional admendment.

It's been challanged on the basis that the amendment was not properly passed, but the Supreme Court ruled it was.

Answer 6

Its not illegal to have to pay taxes. Its a required part of living in any society apart from anarchy.

Answer 7

A couple days of lurking here will answer your question about crackpots.

Answer 8

well without taxes we would lack alot of services. I cant even fathom what kind of realm we would live in without them. I am all for limiting spending from taxes but we do need them.

Answer 9

you heard it from "People"
Then ask direct to those "People"