Does the Constitution force us to pay federal income tax?

Question

i know we have to pay our taxes, but is it the constitution that forces us to pay?

Answer 1

Congress has the power to "lay and collect" income taxes according to the 16th Amendment. Couple this with the "Necessary and Proper Clause," and Congress clearly has the authority under the Constitution to force you to pay your income taxes.

16th Amendment to the Constitution: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

Answer 2

You are getting a few things confused here. First the Federal Income Tax is completely different than taxes in general. We don't have to pay Federal Income Tax. There was a book called The Law That Never was by Bill Benson and M.J. "Red" Beckman. In the book they essentially conclude that there wasn't enough states that actually passed the 16th amendment. This would mean that the 16th amendment shouldn't be enforced.
Also previous Supreme Court cases struck down laws that Congress passed before the 16th amendment was not even thought of.
When people challenge the government, they ussually do what they do best apply force to the citizen or bring in twelve lawyers to your one or if you ask the IRS show me the law. The IRS just stonewalls ya.
Something I think hasn't been brought up is that Congress also doesn't have the power to a direct tax must be proportioned among the states(Article 1 Section 9 Clause 4). This is note worthy because the income tax is progressive and thus can't proportioned among the states.

Getting to your other point about just plain taxes, while most taxes the government gets is pretty much out of our control. The federal excise for highways is automatically paid when your at the gasoline pump. This also goes for all sales tax as well. These taxes are constitutional thus have to be paid (Article 1 Section 8 Clause 1).

Answer 3

Actually it doesn't unless you are doing business with the United States. Up until 1913 income was not taxable. Seeing a new source of revenue to help fund the government, in 1901 a proposed amendment was sent to the states on July 12. On Feb. 3 1913 the 61st Congress rayified the 16th Amendment, causing tax on income.

Answer 4

Not exactly. The 16th ammendment authorizes Congress to levy income taxes. But Congress passes the laws saying if and how much we pay.

It s the Infernal (excuse me, Internal) Revenue Service that does the "forcing us to pay" part.

Answer 5

Mr. Ryan, Mr. Yupchagee, & Mr Info Police, all gave you the correct answer, the 16th Amendment.

What they didn't give you was the year it was passed.
It was ratified {passed} on Feb. 3, 1913.
The Same Year The Federal Reserve Banking System came into being.

So, before 1913, apparently the USA functioned quite well without Taxes & without a Federal reserve central bank.

The 1890's was said to be an era of Peace & prosperity on the Gold standard in the USA.
Please Think About This!
Thank you.
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Answer 6

Nope taxes aren't written about in the constitution. You know you could just search online for a copy of the USA Constitution and come to your own conclusions as to what the Constitution means.

Answer 7

The Constitution, specifically the 16th amendment, gives Congress the power to impose income taxes. They choose to use this power.

Answer 8

The 16th ammendment to the constitution allows it, laws passed by congress authorize it and the executive branch's dept of treasury enforces it.

Answer 9

The Constitution of the United States says absolutely NOTHING (nada/zip) about income taxes.

Answer 10

Federal income tax is not addressed directly in the constitution.