Why do we pay income tax?

Question

When it is unconstitutional and illegal? It runs against the definition of liberty when the government has control over the produce of your life.

Can we not simply refuse to pay?

I don't recall the details, but the 16th Amendment actually does not technically allow the income tax.

The income tax only accounts for 1/3 of the government's tax revenues. if we remove 1/3 of what the government spends, we would be back to the same level they had in 2000. And a lot of you seem to be under the impression that the government plays an indispensable role in distributing services, which is just plain free market ignorance. The government is really only necessary for an extremely small number of services.

Answer 1

As Coragryph said, it is neither unconstitutional or illegal.

Yes, you can refuse to pay, but expect to end up paying later in the form of penalties, interest, tax liens, garnishment of your wages and possibly jail time.

The 16th amendment states,

"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."

The wording specifically refers to "taxes on incomes", so how do you figure the 16th amendment doesn't allow the income tax?

Also, there has been an income tax law in effect since the passage of the 16th amendment in 1913. Since the U.S. didn't enter World War I until 1917, how do people figure the taxes were enacted to pay for the war?

Some interesting facts for you, in 1936, the lowest tax bracket was 4%, but the highest tax bracket was 79%. Near the end of World War II, income taxes reached their highest levels. Bottom tax bracket was 23% and was taxed on incomes as low as $500. Taxpayers with incomes over $1 million had a taxrate of 94%.
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/taxes/ustax.shtml
BTW, if you don't believe the U.S. Treasury fact sheet, you can look all of this up for yourself by actually doing some research through the U.S. Statutes at Large. The Internal Revenue Acts are in there.

Oh, you're wrong that if the income tax was abolished that the amount of revenue collected by the U.S. Government would be back at 2000 levels.
Total revenue collected in 2000: $2.03 trillion
Revenue collected from individual income taxes in 2000: $1 trillion
Total revenue collected in 2006: $2.41 trillion
Revenue collected from individual income taxes in 2006: $1.04 trillion
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/TaxFacts/Tfdb/TFTemplate.cfm?DocID=203&Topic2id=20&Topic3id=21
So, if all individual income taxes were eliminated and nothing was enacted to replace it, total revenue receipts would be $1.37 trillion which would take us back to 1995 levels. Also, notice how revenue from individual income taxes has only risen 4% in 6 years.

Now, if you don't like how much the government spends, complain to your congressmen. Especially congressmen that use a lot of earmarks. Earmarks are additions to other bills that spend money on special projects and is probably one of the greatest sources of government waste. Google, "Bridge to nowhere" to get an example of a bad project funded by an earmark.

Answer 2

Because they will hunt you down like an animal for refusing to pay. They have pulled people through the broken windshield of their car to repossess it for non payment of taxes. They will take a man's work tools to pay for non payment of taxes. In this nation money always takes precedence over people! We live in a capitalistic society when it should be a Socialistic society where people come first! A capitalistic society has only one focus and that is generating more wealth above and beyond all else including and especially people. There are stiffer penalties for crimes involving money vs taking another persons life in this society! This tells all what society values more!

Answer 3

It's neither unconstitutional nor illegal.

It's Constitutional because the 16th Amendment (which the US Supreme Court confirmed over 90 years ago was ratified) allows it. And it's legal because Congress passed all of Title 26 of the US Code, which sets forth the laws that require it.

I personally oppose it, on many grounds. But it's legal.

And we pay because that's the easiest way for the govt to take money from us -- which is why they continue doing so.

Answer 4

The tax act of 1913.

The tax was originally only supposed to be levied in times of war or national emergency.

The corruptos in Congress loved it far too much to ever let it lapse after that...

Answer 5

how else is the government supposed to run any programs? it needs money somehow. everyones quick to say taxes should be lowered but then complain when the government is unable to help them because of decreased funding. how else should police, firefighters, social workers, teachers... etc be paid?

Answer 6

think about what you are saying......no infrastructure, no old age benefits, no police, fire, mail, NO INTERNET. Is that how you want to live. Hope you never have to rely on public aid. No safety measures, no dams/locks on our rivers, in interstate, etc. Now ask your question Einstein.

Answer 7

No we have to pay. The politicians have to get a raise, war expenses, bridge and road inspections (maybe if there is leftover), all those studies and on and on ......

Answer 8

To pay for...
cops, fireman, teachers, schools, roads, street lights, a court system, judges, politicians and everything else thats provided to us that we never think about.

Answer 9

Most pay because it's that, or go to jail.

Answer 10

that how we pay for people's mistake and the goverment
mistake.